Leopards clinch section title outright in 69-42 win over Warriors
Lori C. Padilla
Belle Vernon’s Cam Nusser attempts to steal the ball from Elizabeth Forward’s Zachary Lewis during Friday’s Section 3-AAAA game at Belle Vernon Area High School.
Belle Vernon senior Bryce Washington cuts a piece of the basketball net following the Leopards' 69-42 Section 3-AAAA victory over Elizabeth Forward that clinched the outright section title for the Leps.
Elizabeth Forward's Will Greijack puts up a shot while being defended by Belle Vernon's Joe Sabolek during Friday's Section 3-AAAA game at Belle Vernon Area High School.
ROSTRAVER TWP. — A year ago, Elizabeth Forward defeated Belle Vernon Area in the Section 3-AAAA finale to put a damper on BVA’s section title.
Friday night, it was anything but déjà vu on Senior Night as the Leopards (17-4, 12-2) left little doubt early that it would down the Warriors (8-13, 4-10) in their 69-42 win. Belle Vernon also honored its 1978 WPIAL Championship team.
“Tonight was a really emotional night for me,” said Belle Vernon coach Kyle DeGregorio while trying to fight back his emotions as tears welled in his eyes while watching his players cut down the net after the game. “It has never really been about me. It has always been about the kids and I really benefit more than anybody because I get to spend two hours a day with 21 quality young men who work really, really hard.
“I am really happy for them, they earned this, they didn’t get this because they have talent, they maximized the talent they have and have a sense of spirit about them that a lot of school districts don’t have.”
Elizabeth Forward coach Sam Kosanovich spoke about how impressed he is with the Leopards.
“They are 17-4 for a reason and that is because they come to play every night,” he said. “They are a really good team and took it right to us.”
After Will Greijack gave Elizabeth Forward a 2-0 lead, Belle Vernon (17-4, 12-2) rolled out a 10-0 run, and led, 17-8, after the first quarter.
Greijack, the Warriors’ 6-8 center, scored all eight Elizabeth Forward (8-13, 4-10) points in the first, and had the Warriors’ lone basket in the second.
Belle Vernon did not have a double-digit scorer in the game, but had eight players score between six and nine points. It put the game out of the reach in the second.
Griffin LaCarte started a 14-4 run to end the half with a pair of baskets, Matt Wobrak hit consecutive 3-pointers, Cam Nusser hit a shot and Logan Pfrogner closed the run with a layup to give Belle Vernon a 33-12 lead at the half.
The eight players in between six and nine points for the Leopards were Jared Hartman, Pfrogner, LaCarte, Nusser, Christian Murphy, Bryce Washington, Wobrak and Joe Sabolek.
Chase Vaughn became the first Warrior to make a basket other than Greijack with 4:42 left in the third, and Greijack made 11 of Elizabeth Forward’s 15 field goals.
Greijack had game-highs in points (28), rebounds (10) and blocked shots (5).
“Will has been leading us all year and he has carried us,” said Kosanovich. “He has been a very valuable piece of our puzzle this year, and he will play somewhere in college.”
Elizabeth Forward, who closes its season on Monday at Ringgold in a non-section game, didn’t get any closer in the second half than the 21 points that it trailed at halftime.
Belle Vernon, who plays Youngstown East Sunday in New Castle, celebrated after the game, but did it as it had been there before and was more focused on a bigger mission.
“This is huge to do it here and to win the section outright two years in a row,” said LaCarte after the game. “This year is even sweeter as we celebrated on Senior Night and now that we see what it feels like to be champions, we want to go after a WPIAL title.”
“This means everything and we have worked so hard since eighth grade for this,” said Washington. “I am glad it is paying off.”
“This is a dream come true and we can’t ask for anything more than two section titles in back-to-back years,” said Derek Thomas. “It is a surreal moment and feels great.”
“It is really nice to clinch it at home and we have had a really nice run these last two years,” said Sabolek. “I think we are 17-1 here, or something like that, and it means the world to the seniors.”
DeGregorio said that the emotions the Leopards felt tonight will help them.
“The playoffs are emotional and we learned that a year ago,” he said. “It was good practice and the game against Youngstown East will get us ready for the playoffs as well.”