Dec 29, 2016 3 min read

CHARLEROI – Ringgold’s boys basketball team picked up its second win in as many nights in the CFS Classic Thursday over the host Cougars, 72-62, in the consolation round.

“I think we are getting better, and at this point the last few years we weren’t getting better,” said Ringgold coach Phil Pergola. “We cut down on turnovers and that was a key.”

Charleroi assistant Ryan Encapera filled in for head coach Bill Wiltz, who was suspended. Wiltz was ejected from the Cougars’ 59-49 loss to Clairton in the opening round Tuesday night.

“We started out really well off of a bunch of runouts,” said Encapera, who previously served as the head coach at East Allegheny.

“They hit some threes and then we went cold for a while.”

After Ringgold (5-5) jumped out to a 4-0 lead, the Cougars (3-5) went on a 15-2 run to seemingly take control of the game.

Ringgold, however, countered with a 7-0 run to make the score 15-13. Charleroi’s Caleb Carson drained a three-pointer at the buzzer to take an 18-13 lead into the second quarter.

“We had eight turnovers in the first quarter and that caused us problems,” Pergola said. “We settled down and protected the ball after that and played much better.”

After a pair of Dremar Everette free throws gave Charleroi a 22-17 lead with 3:56 to play in the second quarter, Ringgold got hot and went on a 13-3 run to take a 30-25 lead.

Charleroi trimmed Ringgold’s lead to 33-30 at halftime.

“When we didn’t rebound, we got out of whack,” Encapera said. “That is when things broke down.”

The Rams blew it open at the start of the third quarter by going on a 13-2 run to make the score 46-32, but Charleroi countered with a 11-2 spurt to trim Ringgold’s lead to 48-43.

Ringgold’s Jaden Taylor hit a three-pointer with 12 seconds remaining in the third quarter to quall Charleroi’s rally and give the Rams a 51-43 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

“Jaden is really tough on himself and he had a very good game,” Pergola said. “Tonight he hit some shots that were key for us.”

Ringgold extended its lead to as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter and Charleroi would get no closer than seven points in the last minute.

Dakota Browning (22 points, 10 rebounds), Anthony Pampena (18 points), and Jake Mayer (11) led Ringgold while Sam Miceli (game-high 30), Carson (11), and Cam Carter (11) hit double figures for Charleroi.

“Dakota had a monster tournament for us and he deserves the weekend off,” Pergola said. “And he is getting it off.”

Miceli is 29 points shy of 1,000 for his career and will be the first Cougars player to hit the mark since Bill Wagner in 1997.

He will have the chance Tuesday night when the Cougars host Beth-Center in section play.

Encapera will again serve as head coach for that game.

In another consolation round game, Belle Vernon steamrolled Yough, 75-25. The win improves the Leopards’ record to 4-3. Yough is 1-8.

Southmoreland won the tournament championship, edging Clairton 59-58 in overtime. The Scotties’ Brandon Stone was named tournament Most Valuable Player. He was joined on the all-tournament team by Browning, Miceli, Belle Vernon’s Joe Sabolek, Maurice Reeves of Clairton and Southmoreland’s Tom Pisula. Caleb Carson of Charleroi won the Scott Smith Sportsmanship Award.