Monessen and Rice cook up win over Union
Monessen celebrates as Union leaves the court after Monessen’s 88-64 WPIAL Class A semifinal win Monday night.
Observer-Reporter
Monessen’s Lyndon Henderson averaged 21 points per game for the Greyhounds this season.
Justice Rice drives to the basket during the first half of Monday’s game.
McMURRAY – After falling in the WPIAL semifinals a year ago, the Monessen boys basketball team has been intent on not allowing that to happen again.
Point guard Justice Rice assured the Greyhounds would be headed to the Petersen Events Center this season.
Rice was assertive from the opening tip. The senior scored 20 of his game-high 38 points in the first half as Monessen withstood a gritty effort from Union in an 88-64 victory Monday night at Peters Township High School in a Class A semifinal game.
Rice’s 38 points were a career high. He had a big night defensively as well with eight steals.
“This is such a special feeling to be able to come back and avenge that loss from last year,” an emotional Rice said. “I’ve worked hard every day throughout the summer to get back to this point. I’m very proud of my teammates.”
With the win the Greyhounds advance to the WPIAL Class A title game for the third time in the past four years. They will play Imani Christian, which defeated Vincentian Monday night.
“It’s a special feeling to be able to get back and play for the championship,” Monessen head coach Joe Salvino said. “You can never be satisfied though. I tell the team all the time not to be satisfied.”
Reaching the Class A semifinals for the fourth consecutive season, Monessen (17-7) had its hands full with the Scotties.
Leading just 41-37 at the half, the Greyhounds broke the game open by starting the third quarter on 26-6 run to take a 71-49 lead after three quarters. Rice scored nine consecutive points during the spurt.
Rice had help, as Jaden Altomore chipped in 17 of his 25 points in the second half.
“The third quarter, I thought we played really well,” Salvino said. “We started to pick up the intensity defensively and I think they got fatigued. When you aren’t used to having that pressure on you it wears you down and we took advantage of that.”
Lyndon Henderson scored six of the first eight Monessen points as the Greyhounds struggled from the floor in the early going. Henderson finished with 11 points.
Rice scored 11 points in the first quarter but every time the Greyhounds tried the pull away Union answered with a three-point shot. The Scotties made 7 of 11 attempts from three-point range in the first half and shot 56 percent from the floor overall during the first 16 minutes.
But Union (18-7) cold in the second half, making only two three-point field goals the rest of the way.
Salvino called a timeout trailing 32-31 in the second quarter and the Greyhounds responded with a 10-0 run to take a 40-31 lead shortly before the half.
“I told them we were rushing things when we didn’t have to,” Salvino said. “And we weren’t playing good defense at that time. I told them to settle down and start playing defense.”
Union closed the gap before the half on back-to-back three-point shots from Matt Costello and Nathan Meeks, but the Scotties wouldn’t get any closer.
A lot of that had to do with the performance from Rice.
Every time the Greyhounds needed a play, Rice delivered.
“For three years I have been surrounded by guys who made plays,” Rice said. “I’m the senior now. It’s time for me to step up and make plays.”
The Scotties were led in scoring by Seth Pinkerton, who finished with 16 off the bench. Trevor Charles also finished in double figures with 15.