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Lebo on an even keel in Section 4-AAAA boys’ basketball

By Eleanor Bailey 5 min read
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Jake Champagne (No. 3) drives passed a Canon-McMillan defender during Mt. Lebanon’s 51-37 victory.

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Despite the efforts of the Peters Township defensemen, J.J. Conn attempts to score a basket. In Upper St. Clair’s 59-45 victory over the Indians, Thomas Steve led the Panthers with 13 points followed by Will Ross with 11 and Conor Gallagher with 10 tallies. J.C. Brush and Rylen Faloni were tops for the Indians with 14 and 10 markers.

When Mt. Lebanon hosts Peters Township at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17 and Bethel Park at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 18, the Blue Devils have a 50-50 shot at winning both those Section 4-AAAA boys’ basketball games.

“I’d say this section is pretty even. On any given night,” trailed off Lebo skipper Joe David.

While Upper St. Clair topped the league standings with a 5-0 mark and a 9-1 overall record before last night’s fray with the Blue Devils, six of the other seven teams in the division have a legitimate shot at one of the remaining three playoff spots.

BP improved its positioning to second place in the division with a 79-35 win against winless Trinity last Friday while Lebo moved into a tie for third place with a 51-37 win against Canon-McMillan. Peters Township, which edged Baldwin, 55-51, firmed up fourth place. Moon and the Highlanders followed with 2-4 records.

Lebo lost to Moon, 53-48, as well as Peters Township, 43-36. In fact, the Blue Devils snapped a four-game losing streak with its win against the Big Macs, who struggled to score four points in a decisive third quarter. In that time frame, Lebo expanded its 24-22 halftime advantage to 36-26.

“True,” David agreed. “It wasn’t pretty but we aren’t the prettiest team out there.”

The Blue Devils certainly are the youngest. Max Li, Matt Collins and Jake Champagne are the only seniors on the club. Li scored eight points against the Big Macs; Champagne, three.

Junior Patrick Ehland led the way with 14 markers followed by sophomore Eddie Jenkins, with 12 tallies.

Jonny David, who entered the fray averaging 18.8 points, was limited to nine markers. The junior did provide six boards while Collins led with seven rebounds.

“I’m proud of my guys,” David said. “We are seeing a lot of defenses designed to shut down Jonny but I think we are proving that we are not a one-man team. Everybody all stepped up and contributed. We have great kids. Guys like Matt, who are big and strong and doing a good job for us on the boards. Guys like Patrick and Max. He’s playing with a torn ACL because he didn’t want to give up playing this year.”

As usual, under David, the Blue Devils are playing a tough schedule in preparation for what is hoped to be the post-season. In addition to tackling Chartiers Valley, the top-ranked Class AAA club, last weekend, Lebo traveled to Mississippi. Despite going 0-3 in the Travis Outlaw Tournament at Mississippi State University, the Blue Devils faced the No. 1 teams from the Magnolia State as well as from Arkansas. Against CV, Lebo dropped a 55-47 decision.

“We like to put them in situations where we challenge the players,” said David. “We think teams like Parkview, Aberdeen and Starkville and CV will prepare us. We like to think it will pay off in the end.”

Come Feb. 7 when they close out section play at home against USC, the Blue Devils are betting it will.

Earlier, Canon-McMillan beat Moon, 52-43.

Alex Hammers (12), Sam Bohn (10) and Costa Karanikos (10) all managed double figures for the Big Macs. In the loss to Lebo, Britton Beachy fired in 18 points. Bohn and Carson Miller finished with eight and six markers.

Upper St. Clair tuned up for its battle last night with Mt. Lebanon with wins at Moon, 47-36, and at home against Peters Township, 59-45.

Against the Indians, Thomas Steve fired in 13 points, including a 3-pointer that put the Panthers ahead for good, late in the first frame. Will Ross and Conor Gallagher followed with 11 and 10 tallies respectively.

Against the Tigers, J.J. Conn exploded for 26 markers.

Peters Township rebounded from its loss to USC and defeated Baldwin, 55-51. J.C. Brush and Jake Brucker led the way with 19 and 15 points apiece.

Bethel Park buried 14, 3-pointers and blasted Trinity, 79-35.

Josh Krafczynski and R.J. Pfeuffer knocked down five shots beyond the arc and finished with 17 and 16 points respectively. Also in double digits was Quentin Keibler with 12 tallies.

Chartiers Valley rolled over South Park, 86-33. Jerrad Tuite led six players in double digits with 12 tallies. Joe Antonucci, Caleb Zajicek and Coleman Vaugh followed with 11 while Haedyn Herzer and Matty McConnell tossed in 10 points apiece.

In a 55-47 win against Mt. Lebanon over the weekend, McConnell led with 24 points. Tuite followed with 17 markers. Jonny David led Lebo with 22 tallies.

Behind Taylor Lehman’s 22 points, Keystone Oaks dispatched McGuffey, 70-51. Erat Okok and Declan Hartnett both finished with 11 markers for the Golden Eagles.

KO also topped Waynesburg, 75-59. Hartnett led with 18 points followed by Nick Mikovich with 12 tallies and Kevin Tunney with 10 markers.

Behind Jack Relihan’s 20 points, South Fayette dismissed McGuffey, 61-28. However, the Lions dropped a 56-41 decision to Montour in follow-up action. Brett Brumbaugh and Nick McKee pumped in 11 and 10 points for SF.

Seton-La Salle took sole possession of first place in Section 4-AA with a decisive victory, 66-32, over Washington. Christian DelGreco fired in 15 markers followed by 12 points each by Dale Clancy and Levi Masua. Malik White finished with 11.

The Rebels also defeated Burgettstown, 81-49. Ryan Norkus paced SLS with 20 points. Masua pitched in 12 more markers.

Bishop Canevin succumbed to Brentwood, 73-43, and Fort Cherry, 54-49.

Against the Spartans, Austin Scott and Brennan Cahill pumped in 15 and 14 points. Cahill and Greg Jones finished with 12 and 10 tallies against the Rangers.

Meanwhile, Chartiers-Houston topped Brentwood, 41-39. Miles Williamson fired in 15 points for the Bucs.

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