USC, Mt. Lebanon on collision course
According to Danny Holzer, Jan. 15 is going to be a “special night” when Upper St. Clair hosts arch rival Mt. Lebanon at 7:30 p.m. in boys’ basketball.
Not including Jan. 12th’s games against Bethel Park and Peters Township, USC and Lebo were both undefeated in section action. The Panthers sported an overall record of 12-0 while the Blue Devils were 11-2. They were ranked No. 3 and No. 2 respectively in Class 6A of the WPIAL.
“In this league, there are huge games every night and you can’t take an opponent for granted but any time we play Lebo, it’s always special,” said Holzer, who won a WPIAL championship in his first season at the helm in 1995.
Just watching the two squads will be an engaging experience. Both teams adhere to the one-for-all and all-for-one motto. There are no egos and no ball hogs. In fact, on any given night as many as four players can finish in double digits.
“We have a great mix,” Holzer said. “They like one another. They share the ball. And, they get it to the open man. Those things have been a key part of our success.”
That certainly was the case when USC battled Canon-McMillan on Jan. 8. While the Big Macs employed a box-and-one defense on Tanner Gensler, who came into the contest averaging 21.5 points and 7.2 rebounds a game, the Panthers circumvented the ploy thanks to their balance.
While Gensler managed seven points, his sibling, Luke, supplied 11 markers and Chris Pantelis proved the hero. The senior fired in a game-high 17 points, including the winning tallies off a layup with under seven seconds to play. Additionally, Andrew Casey finished with nine points.
“Tanner didn’t try and force bad plays,” Holzer said. “He kept his composure and screened and passed to his open teammates.
“It was another great team victory,” Holzer added of the 57-55 triumph.
While Gensler has exceeded USC’s expectations and has been dominant in games this winter, Holzer also noted that the senior has “embraced” his role as leader.
“Tanner’s really stepped up. Plus, he’s really promoted the team concept. That’s our secret. The entire team gets along and has great chemistry.”
Having played together on last year’s WPIAL semifinal squad, Lebo, likewise, has soared because of its camaraderie. Most nights multiple players have scored in double digits.
For example, in their win against C-M, 78-46, on Jan. 4, Jake Hoffman (18), Blaine Gartley (16), Sean Louhgran (13) and Andy Sapp (10) managed double figures. Hayden Mitchell and Evan Sentner fell a point short, finishing with nine markers in a game where Joe David substituted freely after the Blue Devils mounted a 38-16 halftime lead.
In a 65-62 thriller at home against Bethel Park on Jan. 8, four players broke into double figures: Gartley (19), Mitchell (14), Loghran (11) and Hoffman (11).
“We are energetic and more aggressive than we were last year,” David said. “The players have really come together and bonded. I’m excited about them and the team but this section is so competitive. It’s such a grind. It’s a war every night.”
Even Peters Township (2-1, 9-2) found itself in a battle before defeating upset-minded Baldwin, 51-42, for its second section win last week. In the home clash, where the Indians were held to two, first-quarter points, Colin Cote and Thomas Melonja led the way with 18 and 10 tallies.
Girls action
In key girls’ basketball games played last week:
- Mt. Lebanon defeated Canon-McMillan, 55-37, but succumbed to undefeated Peters Township, 64-36.
Morgan Palmer (18), Patrice Smith (15) and Ashleigh Connor (10) led the way for the Lady Macs, who received 15 tallies from Tamara Mathis. Palmer fired in 13 against the Indians (10-0, 5-0), who were led by Makenna Marisa (21), Isabella Mills (19) and Journey Thompson (10).
- Bethel Park whipped Connersville, 59-17, before slipping past Canon-McMillan, 42-38. Olivia Westphal (17), Maddie Dziezgowski (17) and Maria Cerro (10) led the Hawks’ charge versus the Falcons. Westphal (14) and Cerro (11) were in double figures against the Lady Macs, who again were led by Mathis (10).
- Cassie Kartsonas fired in 20 points as USC trounced Baldwin, 73-52. Sarah Price and Lindsey Meyer followed with 12 and 10 tallies for the Lady Panthers. USC also edged Connellsville, 37-32, in double overtime. Kartsonas had 15 points.
- Despite 19 markers from Clare Relihan, South Fayette succumbed to Thomas Jefferson, 59-51.
- Charters Valley defeated West Allegheny, 63-45, and USC, 61-19.
Mackenzie Wagner fired in 20 points. Megan McConnell and Aislin Malcolm supplied 16 and 11 markers against West-A. Gabi Legister (13), Wagner (12), McConnell (10) and Perri Page (10) provided the balance scoring versus USC. Sarah Price had nine points for the Panthers.