close

Bethel Park guns down Gateway, 55-43

By Eleanor Bailey 2 min read
article image -

Since beating McKeesport, 82-80, in its last regular season game, Bethel Park coach Josh Bears noted his boys’ basketball team spent 12 straight days practicing. “All we did was shoot.”

That was evident when the Hawks opened their WPIAL title quest against Gateway (15-7) and defeated the Gators, 55-43, in a first-round playoff game at North Hills.

Practice paid off as Bethel Park converted all five of its 3-point field goal attempts in the first half and soared to a 30-17 half-time lead. Levi Metheny and Brandon Thorsen tacked on two more treys as BP held a 44-35 advantage with 4:50 to play. A nifty dish from Dixon on a layup by Justin Gilmore made it 46-35 before the Gators rallied, pulling to within five markers, 46-41, with 2:41 to play.

It was shortly afterwards that Dixon executed critical blocks and the Hawks converted five of six free throws to seal the victory. Dixon put the exclamation point on the triumph with his game-ending dunk.

“Jake is an incredible athlete,” Bears said of the senior, who will play volleyball at Lewis University. “It’s not just that though. He has really learned to use his athleticism to improve his play around the rim.”

Dixon finished with 14 points. Thorsen led with 15 markers while Chance Wright and Josh Duda also finished in double figures with 10 and 11 respectively. Thorsen and Duda gave the Hawks their largest lead, 34-17, on easy back-door layups to start the second half.

Though John Paul Kromka fired in 18 points for the Gators, the towering sophomore center was severely hampered when the Bears switched defensive strategies. With Dixon saddled with two fouls, he had Metheny dog the Division I prospect, who stands 6 feet, 8 inches. “Levi really pestered him,” Bears noted.

All of BP’s weapons bothered the Gators. When the Hawks lost Duda for a time when he was injured in a collision, Aaron Reber and Breven Mastovich filled the void. James Gmiter also excelled in spelling Dixon for a time.

“It is such an unselfish bunch,” said Bears. “They are not too worried about themselves. It’s ourselves. We are in it for ourselves and for the program.”

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $/week.

Subscribe Today