Greyhounds cruise into the Class A semifinals
Holly Tonini
Monessen’s Dwight Moore (2) moves the ball around Union’s Constantin Padure (24) and Devin Wilson (32) during Friday’s WPIAL Class A quarterfinal game at Canon-McMillan High School.
Holly Tonini
Monessen’s Dwight Moore shoots a 3-pointer over Union’s Devon Wilson during Friday’s WPIAL Class A quarterfinal game at Canon-McMillan High School.
Holly Tonini
Monessen’s Lavelle Rush dribbles the ball through Union’s Trevon Charles (23) and Tim Summer (3) during Friday’s WPIAL Class A quarterfinal game.
CANONSBURG — For the fifth time in the last six years, the Monessen boys basketball team advanced to the WPIAL Class A semifinals as the Greyhounds continued to frustrate the opposition after a 112-62 rout of Union Friday night in the quarterfinal game played at Canon-McMillan High School.
The Greyhounds (21-3) extended their winning streak to 15 games and the defending Class A champion is looking primed for its eighth title in school history.
“Our defense just wears people down,” Monessen coach Joe Salvino said. “As time goes on and we continue in the playoffs, you are going to expect teams to stick around and battle you from the get-go. I thought we had a nice rotation and our outside shot was working.”
Jaden Altomore led all scorers with 25 points, while Justice Rice added 24 for Monessen.
“Everybody was making their shots tonight,” Rice said. “Jaden got us going and was really hot in the first quarter. It was a team effort tonight and we know how important our balance is on offense. I just tried to go with the flow and work for my shot.”
Both Dwight Moore and Lavalle Rush collected 22 in the win.
Tre’von Charles scored 20 points for the Scotties (12-11), while Garrison Bell and Constantin Padure chipped in with 13 and 12, respectively.
The Greyhounds came out of the gates red hot in the opening quarter, as they sprinted out to an 8-0 lead that forced the Scotties to call a time out.
After the timeout, Union trimmed the deficit to 12-7 before Monessen went on a 16-9 run to close out the opening eight minutes of play for a 28-16 lead.
The Scotties got it to within 33-23 two minutes into the second quarter, but the Greyhounds once again exploded for another big run, 24-11, to end the first half and carry a 57-34 advantage into halftime.
Rice had 13 points in the quarter to give Monessen the momentum back in the contest.
“We got some buckets off of our press and it wore them down in the second quarter,” Rice said. “We have great chemistry. We are always looking for the open guy on offense. We embrace all of the pressure of being a one seed and we just want to win. We don’t care how we do it.”
In the third quarter, the teams traded baskets to start the period, but Union could never extend a run and was outscored in the third by a 32-23 margin.
Leading 89-57 to begin the fourth quarter, the Greyhounds finally invoked the mercy rule with a 12-3 run that gave them the 40-point cushion. Rice had eight points in the run and nailed two foul shots at 5:36 to start the running clock the rest of the way.
“We have to be balance on offense,” Salvino said. “All of the guys are unselfish and they don’t care who makes the shots. They just care about playing as a team and getting the ‘W’ at the end of the night. Most of our guys have the green light to shoot the three, and we are aggressive with that. These kids have to know their roles on this team.”
As a team, Monessen made 10 shots from beyond the arc and was 24-of-31 from the foul line.
“Coming into the game I thought their speed was their biggest strength,” Union coach Mark Stanley said. “Everyone talks about their defense, but they shot the ball lights out. They are a very smart team with the ball and rotated the ball very well from side to side. With a team like Monessen, you have to be able to survive their 32-minute wave.”
The Greyhounds will now play Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic in the semifinals on Tuesday at a time and site to be determined.
“I think we are thriving on being the No. 1 seed and trying to repeat,” Salvino said. “The kids don’t really talk about it that much and we know what we have to do the rest of the way. We accept all of the expectations, and we know it’s going to be a challenge.”
WPIAL Boys Playoff Sum
Quarterfinals
at Canon-McMillan High School
Union 16-18-23-5–62
Monessen 28-29-32-23–112
Union: Tre’von Charles 20, Garrison Bell 13, Constantin Padure 12. Monessen: Jaden Altomore 25, Justice Rice 24, Dwight Moore 22, Lavalle Rush 22. Records: Union (12-11), Monessen (21-3).