USC sinks Bethel Park
Zack Cherup sank three free throws in the final 15 seconds of play to seal Upper St. Clair’s victory against Bethel Park, 54-50, in a key Section 4-AAAA boys’ basketball game.
“Definitely, our free throws were key,” said the senior. “It helps when you make free throws.”
It helps when you score 24 points, drain 3-pointers, pull down eight rebounds and dish up seven assists as Cherup did during the victory. His 3-pointer with 3:37 remaining provided USC a 48-37 cushion before the Hawks rallied.
Of the field goal, Cherup said that added to the Panthers’ confidence. “But, we came into the game confident because we had practiced hard and we were really prepared.
“We knew it would be a battle though because they are a good team,” Cherup continued. “When they started to foul us consistently that’s when I felt we had the game won.”
The game was not won until Cherup rebounded a missed free throw with 18.5 to play and connected on his foul shots down the stretch. Pressure, particularly from Joey Mascaro, prevented the Panthers from sealing the win earlier.
In the fourth quarter, BP forced nine USC turnovers in waging a comeback. The Hawks trailed as much as 39-26 before Anthony Bomar buried a 3-point field goal near the end of the third frame.
For the Hawks, Mascaro erupted for 29 points. The senior notched 13 points in the final frame. He had nine of BP’s 11 points in the first quarter.
“He’s very hard to guard, because he’s very quick and he’s very good at handling the ball,” said Cherup, who was saddled with defending Mascaro for much of the game. “Plus, he can stop on a dime and switch directions. You have to be on your feet.
“For us though, it’s all about team defense. No one really keyed on him. It was just a matter of being able to help out.”
Three-pointers aided both squads as BP drained six, including a pair by Sam Volpatti. Mascaro finished with three. USC connected on five shots from long-range, three by Cherup. Andrew Wheeler had one in the second stanza as USC stretched a 13-11 lead in the first quarter to 28-19 by halftime. Wheeler managed 12 tallies. Connor McGinnis and Zack Pateras finished with seven and six markers, respectively.
“To beat a team like Bethel,” said USC head coach Dan Holzer, “is huge. This puts us back in the race.”
With the win, USC improved to 7-3 in the section, a half game ahead of the Hawks. The Panthers raised their overall record to 14-4 with a win against Vincentian, 94-60, during the Hoops For A Cure Rumble Up North played at North Allegheny. Doug Wagner (25), Wheeler (17), Zach Pateras (14), Marcus McGinniss (13) and Nick Beeler (10) all finished in double digits for USC.
CV, Lebo to clash
Chartiers Valley and Mt. Lebanon led the league heading into this week’s action. Each has one loss. Lebo hosts CV at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3.
The Blue Devils were 9-1 in the section and 14-4 overall after victories against Baldwin, 67-56, and Peters Township, 49-30. Against the Highlanders, Patrick Ehland and Jonny David both finished with 24 markers while Matt Hoffman chipped in 10 tallies. David fired in 22 points against the Indians while Ehland pitched in 10.
Ben Doyle and Clay Yeates each had six points for Peters Township, which also lost to Bethel Park, 72-63. Doyle fired in 13 markers while Tim Swoope erupted for 23 tallies. For the Hawks, Levi Metheny, Joe Mascaro and Anthony Bomar provided 17, 15 and 10 points.
Meanwhile, Chartiers Valley picked up section wins against Baldwin, 87-49, and Canon-McMillan, 69-56, to go along with an impressive showing in the Pittsburgh Basketball Classic played Jan. 25 at Montour High School. In that non-league contest, the Colts drubbed Lincoln Park, 89-72.
Matty McConnell led the scoring parade, pumping in 31 points. Jake Ritson followed with 22 tallies, 18 off six, 3-point field goals. Eddie Flohr finished with 15 points and Ross Wilkerson managed nine, all off long-range shots and Coleman Vaughn tacked on eight points.
In the win against the Highlanders, McConnell topped 30 points. He had 20 against the Big Macs. Florh contributed 18 against Baldwin and 25 against Canon-Mac. Riston registered double figures for both games, 15 against Baldwin and 13 against C-M. Wilkerson had 14 markers against the Highlanders.
After the loss to the Colts, Canon-Mac split decisions with Moon. In a 60-57 victory, Britton Beachy exploded for 29 points. In an overtime loss to the Tigers, 60-53, Beachy tossed in 19. R.J. Bell and Carson Miller followed with 15 and 11 tallies. Beachy (18), Bell (6) and Sam Bohn (14) were in double digits against CV.
SF rolling
South Fayette continued its dominance in Section 5-AAA. The Lions dispatched Trinity, 56-29, to raise their league record to 8-0. With a win against Norwin, 58-51, the Lions improved to 13-1 overall.
Against the Hillers, Jack Relihan fired in 19 points while Brett Brumbaugh followed with 10 tallies. Relihan and Brumbaugh provided 24 and 13 markers against the Knights while Matt Thomas pitched in 10.
Keystone Oaks dropped decisions to Montour, 45-29, and West Allegheny, 42-32, in other Section 5-AAA play. Kobe Phillippi tossed in 10 tallies against the Spartans while Jake Wilson scored 11 against the Indians.
SLS shines
Seton-La Salle outraced Vincentian, 100-89, during the Pittsburgh Basketball Classic. Ryan Norkus exploded for 35 points while Christian Del Greco dropped in 27 markers. Paris Ford finished with 23 tallies.
In Section 3-AA play, the Rebels dispatched Chartiers-Houston, 87-62, and Brentwood, 57-14. Norkus (19), Del Greco (17), Ford (13) and John Marzina (12) led the way against the Buccaneers. With 16 points, Ford was the leader against the Spartans.
Bishop Canevin split decisions in Section 3-AA play, falling to Washington, 97-75, and beating Carlynton, 74-58. Against the Little Prexies, Mitchell King (29), Walter Bonds (11) and John Weldon (10) reached double figures. Justin Dix (23), King (15) and Nate Jancosko (15) led against the Cougars.
Chartiers-Houston also dispatched Carlynton, 63-42. Alec Ferrari and A.J. Myers both scored 19 points for the Bucs.