Prexies go on defensive, beat Quips
Celeste Van Kirk/O-R
Jordan Swart is Wash High’s only senior basketball player with varsity experience.
Washington High’s Isaiah Robinson drives past Aliquippa’s William Gipson to the basket during a WPIAL Class AAA playoff game at West Allegheny High School Thursday night.
Washington High’s Tariq Wilson gets around Aliquippa’s Marlin Devonshire to score during a WPIAL Class AAA playoff game at West Allegheny High School Thursday night.
Washington High’s Tariq Wilson gets around Aliquippa’s William Gipson during a WPIAL Class AAA playoff game at West Allegheny High School Thursday night.
Washington High’s Carly Allen gets passed Vincentian’s Madison Very for a basket during a WPIAL Class AAA playoff game at West Allegheny High School Thursday night.
Washington High’s team watches the time run out during its loss to Vincentian Academy during a WPIAL Class AAA playoff game at West Allegheny High School Thursday night.
Washington High’s Carly Allen drives the ball passed Vincentian’s Tess Belko during a WPIAL Class AAA playoff game at West Allegheny High School Thursday night.
Washington High’sRandi Thomas drives the ball under the net as Vincentian’s Caroline Elliott tries to block her shot during a WPIAL Class AAA playoff game at West Allegheny High School Thursday night.
IMPERIAL – It wasn’t an artistic gem, but defensive-minded games rarely are.
The boys basketball teams from Washington and Aliquippa played a WPIAL quarterfinal game Thursday night as if they were trying to reaffirm the old adage that defense wins championships. Baskets and open shots were few and far between. The turnovers and fouls came quicker than the points.
And the key to the game was Washington nearly – to steal a baseball term – pitching a shutout in the fourth quarter.
Washington outscored Aliquippa 16-2 in the fourth quarter, and Isaiah Robinson and Jordan Swart combined to score 18 of their 22 points in the second half, as the Prexies defeated the Quips 43-27 in a Class AAA contest at West Allegheny High School.
The game was the nightcap of a girls-boys doubleheader. In the opener, Vincentian Academy ousted Washington 59-30 in a Class AA quarterfinal.
The win sends second-seeded Washington (20-4) into the semifinals Monday against third-seeded Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, which dismantled Riverside in the quarterfinals. The Prexies are assured of a berth in the PIAA tournament.
Washington used a layin by Jacob Swartz, who had 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, to take a 27-25 lead after three quarters. Aliquippa (12-12) didn’t score in the fourth quarter until Marlon Devonshire worked free under the basket for a layup with 27 seconds left in the game. By that time, Wash High had forged a 15-point lead.
The Prexies won despite being held to only 11 field goals.
“If that doesn’t tell you that statistics don’t matter nothing will,” Washington coach Ron Faust said. “That’s because there is no category for effort, heart and confidence, and these guys are playing with all three. Of course, playing good defense doesn’t hurt, either.”
Washington had a huge advantage at the free-throw line, making 21 of 40 attempts. Though the percentage wasn’t great it was volume that mattered. Aliquippa made only three field goals in the second half and just four free throws in the game.
“We have to play ugly. We don’t have any choice,” said Faust, whose team was playing again without leading scorer Matt Popeck, who is sidelined with an ankle injury.
“It’s tough to get kids to buy into that defense-first style. It’s tough to teach kids in 2017 to play that way because the game is all about putting it up, but we must play that way.”
Washington ground out an 11-7 lead after one quarter before Aliquippa started working the offensive boards for points in the second quarter. A basket by Deoveon Crute at the buzzer ending the first half gave the Quips a 17-16 lead. Aliquippa, however, would score only 10 second-half points against Wash High’s sticky defense, which did a much better job on the defensive glass over the final 16 minutes.
“The key was, I think Aliquippa was getting frustrated,” Faust said. “They’re so used to getting second and third shots. When you don’t give up additional shots it’s easier to play defense.”
Robinson, who finished with 12 points, scored five early in the fourth quarter. His three-point play gave Washington a 35-25 lead and the gap continued to widen down the stretch.
“They attacked the glass on us in the final three minutes of the first half and I was worried it would happen in the second half,” Faust admitted. “But our kids are resilient.”
Swart scored 12 points, including eight free throws.
Thomas Perry was Aliquippa’s leading scorer with six points.
Now the waiting begins for the Washington girls team.
The Prexies’ run in the WPIAL playoffs ended in the Class AA quarterfinals with a 59-30 loss to second-seeded Vincentian Academy.
Wash High (13-11), which had its four-game winning streak end, is still in good shape to make the state tournament. With seven WPIAL advancing to the PIAA playoffs, the only way the Prexies will not be in the state tournament is if Greensburg Central Catholic – Vincentian’s opponent in the semifinals Monday, would lose in the championship game.
“We have to keep them in the gym and keep their minds on basketball, even though spring sports are starting,” Wash High coach Mike Maltony said. “We have to keep them sharp. Hopefully, we have more basketball to play.”
Vincentian improved to 19-4 and has won 16 of its last 17.
Washington played well throughout the first half, especially on the defensive end. The Prexies forced usually sure-handed Vincentian into 14 first-half turnovers but the Royals closed the half on an 11-2 run to take a 27-19 lead. Washington mustered only 11 second-half points and was outscored 17-4 in the third quarter as the Royals’ size began to take over.
“We did some good things,” Maltony said. “They had to take their press off early after we scored a few layups against it. In the games we’ve seen on tape, they pressed from start to finish.
“Their bench is deeper than ours. That’s no knock on the kids who we have there. Vincentian just has more ammunition than we do. Their size started to take over. We have some undersized kids on the front line and they got worn down.”
Caroline Elliott led Vincentian with 16 points and Olivia O’Brien added 10 in the Royals’ balanced attack.
Guard Carly Allen played a string game, scoring 17 points for Washington.
The Prexies could have been in better shape, especially in the first half, had they shot better at the free-throw line. Wash High was only 9-for-25 at the line and missed 10 free throws in the first half alone.