Mustangs rally past Waynesburg Central behind Laskey’s 38
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Waynesburg Central’s Darton McIntire is guarded by Laurel Highlands’ Bryce Laskey during the first half of Friday’s non-section game in the Fayette County Coaches Association Tip-Off Tournament at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
Waynesburg Central’s Darton McIntire poses with his head coach, Kirk King, after the Raiders’ non-section game against Laurel Highlands last Friday at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. McIntire came into the game needing seven points for 1,000 in his career, and broke the mark with 2:26 remaining in the first quarter with a three-pointer. McIntire scored 28 points in the game. (Photo by Jonathan Guth)
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Laurel Highlands’ Bryce Laskey is brings the ball up the floor past Waynesburg Central’s Lucas Garber during the first half of Friday’s non-section game in the Fayette County Coaches Association Tip-Off Tournament at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
Waynesburg Central’s Darton McIntire scored his 1,000th career point, but Laurel Highlands’ Bryce Laskey countered with 38 of his own in the Mustangs’ 67-56 non-section victory on Friday in the Fayette County Coaches Association Tip-Off Tournament at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
The Saint Francis University recruit led all scorers with 12 field goals, including five 3-pointer, and was 9 of 10 at the foul line. The senior needs 60 points to reach the 1,000th-point mark.
“It was kind of a typical first game in a lot of ways, but coach (Kirk) King has done a really good job with that program over there, and they are getting better,” Laurel Highlands coach Rick Hauger said. “They are well coached, they hustle and they’re aggressive.
“Bryce (Laskey) has a well-rounded offensive game. He can obviously shoot the three. He can take it in the lane all the way, pull up a jump shot, or he can find the open man. A little bit of our problem is we stand around too much watching Bryce instead of moving into areas. We have to break that habit real quick.”
McIntire led the Raiders in scoring with 28 points on nine field goals, including three 3-pointers, and was 7 of 10 at the foul line.
“I was pleased with our effort overall,” King said. “We have grown tremendously since last year. We came in here last year, and to be honest with you, I thought we played scared. We don’t want moral victories, but I couldn’t ask for more hustle, determination, and they played together tonight.”
Waynesburg Central held a 29-28 halftime advantage, but Laurel Highlands went on an 8-2 run in the first part of the third quarter for a 36-31 lead with 3:51 remaining.
“We switched defenses a little bit in the third quarter,” Hauger said. “It just seemed like we were a tad slow. I don’t know if it was the opening game or what. We weren’t blocking off as well, even when we were in man, but Elijah Guynn was tremendous on the boards.”
The Mustangs took a 44-38 lead into the fourth. LH held McIntire scoreless in the third.
McIntire came alive in the fourth with 11 points, but the Mustangs outscored the Raiders, 23-18.
Laurel Highlands’ Malik Ramsey added 14 points on six field goals, and was 2 of 3 at the foul line.
McIntire reaches milestone
McIntire, a senior, didn’t play for the Raiders his freshman season, and only needed 41 games to reach 1,000 points. He played at Trinity Christian School in Morgantown, West Virginia, as a ninth grader.
He hit the milestone with a 3-pointer at 2:26 of the first to give his team an 11-10 advantage. The game was stopped for a brief moment while King and McIntire posed for pictures.
“I grew up in a basketball family, so I’ve always been playing basketball,” McIntire said. “I had a rough freshman year, but it didn’t have anything to do with where I was playing, so when I got here my sophomore year, Coach (Kirk) King believed in me 100 percent to lead these guys to not only get points and things like that, but to win basketball games and grow together.”
McIntire and Laskey had a spirited battle in the first half, and both had 17 points at halftime.
“I always get motivated to play no matter who it is, but going against Bryce, who is a heck of a player and shooter, I wanted to prove that I could hang with the best of them,” McIntire said. “I am not satisfied because we could have played way better. I am way more proud of how everyone’s grown together on this team than the 1,000 points.”
McIntire doesn’t have any serious offers but will be glad to play at the next level.
“If God gives me the talents, abilities and opportunities, I will listen to that calling,” McIntire said.
King hopes games like Friday’s will help McIntire’s college recruitment.
“Darton (McIntire) does fly a little under the radar for sure,” King said. “He is getting some looks from colleges and deserves them, and should have more of them.
“I love coaching Darton and being around him. He is just not a great player but a great kid. He is an excellent student and has excellent SAT scores.”
{p style=”text-align: center;”}FCCA Tip-Off Tournament
{p style=”text-align: center;”}at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus
Waynesburg Central 16 13 9 18 — 56
Laurel Highlands 17 11 16 23 — 67
Laurel Highlands: Bryce Laskey 38, Malik Ramsey 14. Waynesburg Central: Darton McIntire 28. Records: Laurel Highlands (1-0), Waynesburg Central (0-1).