Trojans get back on track with win over Mikes
Carmichaels' Matt Barrish (right) drives to the hoop while being guarded by California's Ben Wilson (left) in the first half of their game at California Area High School on Friday.
Evan Sanders
California’s Kass Taylor (22) puts up a shot as Carmichaels’ Cody Brown (14) and Chris MacAfee (21) defend in the first half of their game at California Area High School on Friday. Taylor scored a game-high 21 points in the Trojans’ 64-47 victory.
California Area's Dru Miller (2) gains control of a loose ball at midcourt while Carmichaels' Dylan Wilson (4) avoids a foul in the first half of their game at California Area High School on Friday.
COAL CENTER — California badly needed a victory after suffering two consecutive losses in Section 2-AA play.
The Trojans snapped that skid with a quick start that paved the way for a 64-47 victory over visiting Carmichaels in boys basketball action on Friday night.
Five different players scored as California (9-3, 2-2) jumped out to a 15-4 lead in the first period to take control. Kass Taylor started and ended the frame with baskets on his way to a game-high 23 points.
California had suffered section losses to Fort Cherry and Chartiers-Houston.
“It was big to get another win under our belt in the section,” Taylor said.
“It’s a hard section,” Trojans coach Bruno Pappasergi said. “There are no easy games. You’ve got Fort Cherry, Char-Houston, Frazier. Carmichaels isn’t the biggest team in the world but they’re a very well coached, disciplined and fundamentally sound team.
“Every night you’ve got to be ready to play in this section.”
Carmichaels coach Don Williams is aware of that. His team opened section play with the three teams he sees as the favorites and fell to all three.
“It’s a very tough section and it just so happens we hit the top three right off the bat, Chartiers, Fort Cherry and California,” Williams said.
The Mikes fell behind 30-12 at halftime but refused to cave in.
Carmichaels (5-5, 0-3) opened the third period with 13-4 run to whittle the gap to nine, 34-25. Five points by Cody Brown, including a three-point play, and two baskets by Liam Shea sparked the burst.
Shea led the Mikes with 15 points and Brown followed with 11.
“We fought back,” Williams said. “They didn’t quit. They’ve been playing hard all year. Offensively, we’ve been struggling. Sometimes we just don’t shoot the ball very well.
“But defensively and hustle-wise, I can’t ask for anything more. Hopefully, the offense will stat clicking.”
California responded with a 3-pointer by Dru Miller and back-to-back buckets by Taylor, the latter being a dunk that lit up the home fans.
A basket by Brown pulled the Mikes within 41-27 but then the Trojans went to a full-court press that ignited an 11-2 run capped by five points from Johnny DeFranko and a jump shot and two free throws from Taylor to make it 52-29 going into the fourth period.
“He’s a very good player, very talented,” Williams said of Taylor. “We were on him but he made the shots.”
Pappasergi credited Cochise Ryan for helping turn the tide back California’s way.
“When Cochise came in he kind of helped us pick the momentum back up again,” Pappasergi said. “We went on an 18-4 run and I think he had a hand in all 18 points either with passes, steals or making shots.
“We pressed early but then we got in foul trouble so we had to get out of it. We had to go to it again to speed the game up.”
Carmichaels out-scored the Trojans 18-12 in the final eight minutes but it wasn’t enough.
DeFranko followed Taylor in the Trojans scoring column with 11 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. J.C. Conaway added nine points and Ben Wilson chipped in with six.
Matt Barrish contributed seven points for Carmichaels and Joe Spishock added six.
Pappasergi thought the game could’ve been a lot easier for his squad.
“We did a lot of good things tonight except make a lay-up,” he said. “We make some lay-ups tonight and that game’s not even close. That’s nothing against Don’s kids because Don and (assistant coach) Tim (Jones) do a great job with those kids. They’re well coached. I’m not sure if any other coach could do what Donnie and Timmy does with that team.”
California still has rematches remaining against Fort Cherry and Chartiers-Houston, but Pappasergi isn’t looking that far ahead.
“That’s way down the line,” he said. “All I care about right now is Bentworth next Friday.”
Section 2-AA
Carmichaels 4-8-17-18 — 47
California 15-15-22-12 — 64
Carmichaels: Liam Shea 15, Cody Brown 11. California: Kass Taylor 23, Johnny DeFranco 11. Records: Carmichaels (5-5, 0-3), California (9-3, 2-2).