Mt. Lebanon topples USC in double overtime
When Mt.Lebanon looks back on this year’s boys basketball season, the Blue Devils will pinpoint their holiday trips to South Carolina and West Virginia as the turning points. The Blue Devils did more than go 2-1 in the Seahawk Classic at Hilton Head and 1-1 in the Parkersburg South Tournament.
“We bonded,” said junior guard Nate Girod. “We became brothers.”
And, this youthful band of brothers — the squad boasts just four seniors and only returning starter from last year’s 16-10 club — is setting the section on fire.
After defeating arch rival Upper St. Clair, 74-69, in double overtime, the Blue Devils raised their record to 8-4 overall. Lebo is also undefeated and atop the Section 2 standings in Class 6A of the WPIAL with a 3-0 mark.
“I think it’s the start of something special,” Girod said. “I think we can go all the way. We have a lot of confidence in ourselves and I know coach does, too.”
Coach Joe David, indeed, believes in his Blue Devils. He watched with delight as they came of age against the Panthers. Lebo fell behind, 18-3, at the start but roared back to tie the game several times including 20-20 late in the first half, 58-58, after four quarters and 63-63 after the first overtime.
“I’m proud of my guys. They hung in there. They don’t have a lot of experience out there but for one guy that had played in a significant game like USC. I was happy with how they responded,” David said. “I like my guys. We play hard.”
That makes the Blue Devils contenders because David says Class 6A is wide open. There is, of course, Butler and New Castle, which both had 10 victories heading into action Jan. 13 but Seneca Valley recently knocked off Central Catholic and Norwin went to Canon-McMillan and eked out a one-point victory.
“There is no one that is overly scary,” David said of the competition in the league. “On any given night if you have guys who can shoot the basketball and the shots go in, then you can beat anybody. If shots don’t drop, you don’t win. That’s the way it is.”
Lebo dropped in 12 3-pointers against USC, six alone in the third stanza. Michael Pfeuffer buried six treys and finished with a game-high 24 points. He was 4-for-4 from the line in the overtimes while his teammates sunk 11 of 12 in the extra frames, including 7 of 7 in the second OT.
”Michael Pfeuffer was being a great leader. Taking it to the rim. Handling the ball. Playing great defense. What we needed out of him” Girod said. “He needs to be the guy that leads this team. He did his job.”
Tanner Donati does the job inside. The senior tossed in 15 tallies against USC while Girod finished with 14.
Lucas Garofoli (8), Brody Barbof (7), Riley Farabaugh (7) and JP Walters contributed key points.
”We have good quality kids and every game it’s someone different,” David said. “We’ve played good teams and during each one somebody has come up big. Tanner played well against Gaston-Day in South Carolina. Riley’s had good games. Brody can knock down the 3. Even our freshman (Liam Sheely) can come in and score 14, 15 points.
”If this guy’s hurting, then someone else picks him up. Someone else steps right in.”
David noted Girod stepped up at the right time. His trey coupled with Pfeiffer’s two-point bucket and Farabaugh’s free throws lifted Lebo into the lead for good, 70-67 with 1:16 left in the second overtime. Garofoli and Pfeuffer iced the win with two free throws each in the final 11 seconds of the game.
The triumph was pivotal for the Blue Devils, particularly in the section and playoff races. Lebo has won six section banners in a row and have appeared in five consecutive WPIAL semifinals.
“It’s the first time through the section and you want to get the W,” David said. “You get that then you are set for the ties and playoffs.
“But it’s always fun playing St. Clair. It’s high intensity and there’s always a lot on the line.”
The section title will definitely be on the line when the two teams meet again. The second encounter is scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 3 but the Blue Devils would still have games at Norwin and with Canon-McMillan on Feb. 7 and 10, respectively. In between, there is also Baldwin and Hempfield along with a few non-league contests with regional rivals like Peters Township and Bethel Park.
“Every game is going to be close and you never have an easy one,” Girod said. “No matter if they are 15-0,” he added of USC, “and we are 0-15, it’s always tough. We just have to bring the energy every game.”
Notes
Matthew Gaither led USC with 20 tallies. Devin Hall (14), Christian Wieczenski (12) and Nick Sukernek (10) all finished in double figures for the Panthers, who also had 12 3-point field goals.