Feb 23, 2016 By Eleanor Bailey 4 min read

Track season may be weeks away for many high school athletic teams but not the Bethel Park boys’ basketball team. For the Hawks were off to the races during the playoffs.

After opening the WPIAL Quad-A tournament with a 55-43 triumph against Gateway, the Hawks gave top-seeded Latrobe a run for its money before falling, 79-73, in the quarterfinals. The defeat dropped Bethel Park (18-7) into the PIAA play-in portion of the postseason.

To extend their season, the Hawks needed a fast start against Central Catholic. They got it, jumping off to a 17-7 first-frame advantage that ballooned to 19 points, 34-15, with 2:07 to play in the first half. The quick beginning propelled BP to victory, 69-60, and afforded the Hawks at least one more contest. They play Chartiers Valley (20-5) 8 p.m. Feb. 25 at Canon-McMillan to determine the fifth and final berth in the state tournament.

“It was really important to start well (against Central) because we knew fatigue was going to be a factor,” said BP skipper Josh Bears. “Our biggest concern was our legs. After Gateway, we were in a track meet with Latrobe. So we had our lightest practice all year.

“But,” Bears continued, “these guys are tough. They want to leave a legacy. They talk about that. They regret not having a better run last year.”

Despite not contending for the WPIAL title this Saturday at the Petersen Center, the Hawks are having a better playoff run than last year’s early exit after a thrilling upset of Fox Chapel in the first round of the 2015 tournament.

In their win against Gateway, the Hawks buried seven, 3-point field goals, including all five in the first half as the Hawks soared to a 30-17 lead.

Four players finished in double digits: Brandon Thorsen (15), Jake Dixon (14), Chance Wright (10) and Josh Duda (11).

During the upset bid against Latrobe, the Hawks led the No. 1 seed by nine points, 48-39, at halftime. They held the hot hand from outside, converting 11, 3-point field goals. Duda dropped in six treys and finished with 24 points. Dixon (18) and Thorsen (17) followed in double figures.

Levi Metheny and Thorsen set the pace as BP broke out of the gate quickly against Central. The pair buried two 3-point field goals in the first half and finished with 11 and nine markers respectively. Dixon led with 18 points. He added several blocks and dunks. Duda and Wright supplied 16 and 11 tallies.

The upcoming PIAA play-in contest marks the third meeting between BP and Char Valley. The Colts won the section title, beating the Hawks in both confrontations.

“We know them and they know us,” said Bears.

The Colts arrived at their destination after a brief stay in the WPIAL tournament. While they opened defense of their 2015 title by dispatching Hempfield, 56-39, they succumbed to North Hills, 64-60, in the quarterfinals.

In the playoff opener against Hempfield, Eddie Flohr tossed in 19 points and Joe Antonucci pitched in 16 markers. The Colts, however, started slowly and never recovered against North Hills.

The Colts, who fell behind, 20-9, after one frame, closed the gap to 50-46 with 6:16 to play. That was when the Indians’ head coach, Buzz Gabos, collapsed and was taken to the hospital. Riding a wave of emotion, North Hills held on for the victory, though the Colts drew as close as 58-56 on a trey from Ross Wilkerson. Flohr finished with 21 points and Wilkerson added 20 tallies.

CV, however, rebounded to beat Plum, 77-67, in a PIAA play-in game. The triumph set up the showdown with the Hawks. In the win against the Mustangs, Flohr (18), Wilkerson (17), Vaughn Coleman (13), Nick Jessloski (10) and Caleb Zajicek (10) all finished in double digits.

In other boys’ basketball playoff action, Mt. Lebanon ended its season with a loss to Latrobe, 72-55, in the first round of the Quad-A playoffs. In the loss, Antonio Garofoli and Mark Lamendola notched double digits, scoring 14 and 10 tallies, respectively. The Blue Devils finished 11-13 overall.

In Class AA, Greensburg Central Catholic knocked off Seton-La Salle, 82-54. In the loss, Cletus Helton led the Rebels with 13 tallies followed by Conor Pederson with 11 markers.

The Rebels dropped a 68-53 decision to Washington in their PIAA play-in game. Helton had 17 points for Seton-La Salle (15-11).

Bishop Canevin advanced to the semifinals in the Class AA tournament. The Crusaders will play Lincoln Park at 8 p.m. tonight (Feb. 24) at Ambridge for the right to compete in the championship game set for Feb. 27 at the Petersen Center.

The Crusaders reached the Final Four with wins against Brownsville, 87-49, and Quaker Valley, 72-44.