BOYS GAME OF THE WEEK: Leopards’ quest to play in WPIAL final foiled by New Castle, 63-43
Edward K.Thompson
Belle Vernon’s Jake Rathway (1) maneuvers around New Castle’s Marcus Hooker on his way to the basket during their WPIAL Class AAAA semifinal game at Moon High School on Wednesday night.
Belle Vernon coach Kyle DeGregorio consoles a dejected Bryce Washington late in the fourth period of their WPIAL Class AAAA semifinal game against New Castle at Moon High School on Wednesday night. Washington scored a team-high 13 points but the Leopards lost, 63-43.
Edward K.Thompson
Belle Vernon’s Joe Sabolek (55) battles New Castle’s Marcus Hooker for a rebound in the first half of their WPIAL Class AAAA semifinal game at Moon High School on Wednesday night.
Belle Vernon's Cam Nusser (5) drives into the lane to put up a shot as New Castle's Georgie Eggelston (25) defends during their WPIAL Class AAAA semifinal game at Moon High School on Wednesday night.
Edward K.Thompson
Belle Vernon’s Joe Sabolek (55) puts in a hook shot against New Castle as teammate Bryce Washington (33) looks on during their WPIAL Class AAAA semifinal game at Moon High School on Feb. 28. The Leopards open PIAA play today against Hickory at Sharon High School at 7:30 p.m.
CORAOPOLIS — Belle Vernon’s hope of reaching the WPIAL Class AAAA boys basketball championship game for the first time in 40 years came up short with a 63-43 loss to New Castle Wednesday night in the semifinals.
“New Castle played well and we are disappointed with how we played,” Belle Vernon coach Kyle DeGregorio said. “There is a reason that they have been to eight semifinals, and we couldn’t stay in front of them on defense.”
DeGregorio was referring to the fact that his team gave up 25 layups.
In fact, the Hurricanes scored six points on two three-pointers, seven on free throws, and the rest on layups as they did not hit a two-point basket outside of three feet.
DeGregorio said he stayed in a man defense because that is what brought them to the dance.
“I never considered changing because man is what we do,” he said. “They hit transition layups, half-court layups, and if we had played zone, they would have probably scored 10 fewer points and we would have scored 10 fewer.
“On this day, they were the better team and would have still won.”
New Castle jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead, but Joe Sabolek scored back-to-back baskets to make the score 6-4.
A Jake Rathway three-pointer closed the scoring in the first quarter and trimmed New Castle’s lead to 16-11. The key to New Castle’s lead was its 16 points came off of eight layups.
In the second quarter, Belle Vernon turned the ball over nine times and New Castle opened the quarter on an 11-2 run to open a 27-13 lead.
A Bryce Washington eight-foot jumper made the score 30-15, and the Hurricanes took a 32-17 lead into halftime.
During the first half, the Leopards only made five out of 20 shot attempts (25 percent) while other than a three-pointer and three free throws, New Castle scored its other 26 points on 13 layups.
Washington (eight) and Cam Nusser (seven) combined for 15 points in the third quarter for Belle Vernon, but the Leopards were only able to trim one point off of the New Castle lead as it outscored the Hurricanes 20-19 in the frame and still trailed 51-37 heading into the fourth quarter.
New Castle’s biggest lead was at the final horn. Now the Leopards have to get ready for their first PIAA playoff game since the 1997-98 season.
“We talked about it in the locker room that there is still more basketball to play,” DeGregorio said. “We have to watch film of this and then move forward.”
Belle Vernon finished 14-of-46 from the field (30 percent).
Washington paced Belle Vernon with 13 points while Rathway had nine and Sabolek eight. Derek Thomas grabbed eight rebounds.
The Leopards held Marcus Hooker, New Castle’s leading scorer on the season, to eight points but four other Hurricanes hit double figures. Carington Smith led the way with 13 points and was followed by Georgie Eggleston (12), Lorenzo Garner (11) and Anthony Bailey (10).
Belle Vernon plays next Friday in a PIAA first-round game with the opponent, site and time to be determined.