Feb 13, 2017 4 min read

MONESSEN – If the Monessen Greyhounds weren’t battle-tested enough after having played a number of games against schools in higher classifications this season, they got one final tuneup before the playoff pairings are announced tonight.

North Catholic had six tip-in attempts on its final possession before Isiah Wilson was fouled and hit two free throws to give the Trojans a 75-72 win in double overtime against the Greyhounds Monday night.

“This was a good test against a good team,” said Monessen coach Joe Salvino, whose team fell to 15-7. “We have some things to work on, including defensive rebounding and free throws, but this gave us another test.”

There were five lead changes and two ties in the fourth quarter, and none of the baskets were as big as John Fukon’s three-pointer for North Catholic, his only points of the game, to tie the score at 60-60 with five seconds to play in regulation.

The teams exchanged baskets throughout the first overtime, and after Justice Rice gave Monessen a 66-64 lead with 1:09 to play, North Catholic’s Kenny Fukon tied the score with 0:46 to play.

After Monessen missed a shot, Fukon gave North Catholic (17-5) a 68-66 lead with :17 to play.

Justic Rice was fouled but missed the first free throw.

He hit the second to make the score 68-67, then Monessen’s pressure forced a turnover with four seconds remaining in the extra period. The ball was inbounded to Rice and he drove baseline after a screen. He was fouled and sent back to the line with one second remaining.

Rice again missed the first, but he hit the second to tie the score at 68 and to send the game to a second overtime.

Lynden Henderson gave Monessen a 70-68 lead to start the period, but Kenny Fukon scored five straight points, including an old-fashioned three-point play on Henderson’s fourth foul, to give North Catholic a 73-70 lead with 1:46 remaining in the period.

Jaden Altomore hit two free throws on Monessen’s next possession to trim the lead to 73-72 and the teams exchanged turnovers over the next 40 seconds.

The Greyhounds failed to come down with a rebound on six consecutive shots on North Catholic’s next possession before Wilson was fouled and made two free throws with eight seconds remaining.

Monessen pushed the ball up court, but the ball was tipped out from Rice’s dribble from behind and time ran out.

Altomore had 29 points, Rice finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists, while Henderson also had 15 points.

Monessen had 15 turnovers and North Catholic had 18.

Monessen (15-7) raced out to a 9-3 lead and the teams exchanged baskets the rest of the quarter and the Greyhounds led 15-10 heading into the second quarter.

North Catholic went on a 7-0 run to start the second quarter to take a 17-15 lead, but Monessen countered with a 7-2 run to take a 22-19 lead.

Both teams took advantage of the other’s over pursuing pressure defense the rest of the quarter and after Monessen closed on an 8-5 run to close the half, it led 32-28.

North Catholic went on a 14-2 run to open the second half, with Kenny Fukon scoring nine of his game-high 33 points during the run.

“During their run, we could have folded up and said the game don’t mean a damn thing anyway, but we didn’t,” Salvino said. “The guys wanted to win and prove that we can play with good teams.”

During Monessen’s drought, Henderson picked up his third foul less than three minutes into the second half. Then with 3:33 to go in the third quarter, Rice was hit in the nose and had to leave the game briefly.

After Rice left the floor, his team picked things up for him as it outscored North Catholic, 11-2, including 9-0 to end the quarter, to take a 45-44 lead into the fourth quarter.

Altomore scored five points during the run.