USC’s senior creates log jam in Section 2 boys basketball
Tanner O’Grady celebrates after sinking the decisive basket as time expired on Upper St. Clair’s 48-46 victory over rival Mt. Lebanon.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Upper St. Clair’s Porter Rauch looks to make his move against the Mt. Lebanon defense.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Mt. Lebanon’s Christian Powers puts up a shot while being swarmed by Upper St. Clair defenders.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Mt. Lebanon’s Joey Peters powers his way to the hoop during the Blue Devils’ loss to rival Upper St. Clair.
Tanner O’Grady may have snapped a deadlock to give Upper St. Clair a 48-46 victory against Mt. Lebanon but his last-second, off-balance bucket created a log jam in the Section 2, 6A standings at the halfway point of the boys basketball season.
Both USC and Lebo were tied with Bethel Park and Baldwin for first place in the division. Heading into the second half of section action this week, all were tied with 3-2 records.
“It’s going to be fun and crazy,” said USC head coach Dan Holzer. “From a fan standpoint, as well as the coaches’ and players’ perspectives, it’s going to be exciting because every night is going to have big implications. It will be like five championships games in each of the last section games. They mean so much.”
The defending WPIAL champion Panthers have won more than 450 games during Holzer’s 27-year tenure.
“USC is always a big game and means so much to both teams,” said Holzer. “We get people’s best shots and our kids are driven to be the best they can be and to continue the tradition.”
O’Grady is one of four seniors who moved into the line-up after USC graduated all five starters from last year’s 21-2 championship team.
O’Grady fired in 17 points. He scored 13 in a pivotal third quarter as USC erased two, double-digit Lebo leads.
Porter Rauch followed with 12 points for the Panthers
James Smith made the critical play when he saved an errant pass from going out of bounds and dished off to O’Grady for the game-winner.
USC’s Michael Pellicci provided two key, 3-pointers as did Nick Sukernak, who is a junior.
Charles Rosenberry is USC’s final senior.
“Tanner and all our seniors are so driven to keep our program going, especially after winning the championship last year,” Holzer said. “All the senior want the best season they can have and continue the tradition. They want to leave their own legacy.
“They have battled hard all season and against Lebo they hung in there and got a season-changing win,” Holzer added.
Lebo’s loss altered its campaign. The Blue Devils were coming off 37-34 upset win over Bethel Park. The contest preceded a 52-49 overtime loss at Peters Township. The Indians finished the first half of section action with a 1-4 slate and were positioned in last place.
“We created our own mess,” said Lebo coach Joe David. “We could easily be undefeated if we had finished those games.”
USC only led Lebo three times but twice in the quarter that mattered. The Blue Devils led, 14-4, after the first quarter and 26-18 at halftime.
After Sukernak buried a 3-pointer with 4:40 to play, Christian Powers scored his 13th point to give Lebo a 44-43 edge. Lebo also held the lead and possession with 90 seconds remaining but turned the ball over to set up O’Grady’s heroics.
Lebo led a balanced attack. Joey Peters and Christian Mallon had nine points each while Zach D’Alesandro supplied eight, six off a pair of 3-pointers. Lucas Garafoli also buried two treys.
“Give USC credit. They played hard defensively. They made a fantastic save and Tanner made a heck of a shot. I tip my hat to them,” David said.
David said inexperience has contributed to Lebo’s erratic play. Having played in as many as seven close games, several of them in overtime, should pay off as the year progresses, David said.
“We control out destiny,” he said. “If you had told me that we would be in first place at this point I’d take it because our guys, particularly our seniors, have not had a lot of playing time, and are not overly experienced.
“We can’t get greedy and we can’t look back. Just go forward,” he continued. “I know I am looking forward. The next five games are going to be fun ones.
After non-section games against Hemfield, Allderdice and Trinity, the Blue Devils are scheduled to host Canon-McMillan Jan. 28, Peters Township Feb. 4 and the Panthers Feb. 11, while visiting Baldwin Feb. 1 and Bethel Park Feb. 8.
USC’s schedule also includes a visit to Peters Township Feb. 1. The Panthers host Baldwin Jan. 28, Bethel Park Feb. 4 and Canon-McMillan Feb. 8.
Baldwin topped Bethel Park, 86-66, and Canon-Mac defeated Peters Township, 57-44, to further create the logjam in Section 2.
In BP’s loss, Ben Duffey scored 18 points, while Dolan Waldo added 14 and Anthony Watson finished with 11.
Nate Miller was tops for the Indians with 13 points.
In a rematch between last year’s WPIAL Class 5A finalists, New Castle again topped Chartiers Valley, 68-59.
With the victory, the Red Hurricane ran its section record to 5-0. The Colts slipped to 3-1.
Jayden Davis led Colts with 35 points.
In other Section 2, 5A action, South Fayette tripped up Trinity, 52-38.
Brandon Jakiela led the Lions with 16 points. Logan Yater and Alex Hall each added 13 tallies.