Cougars hit late free throws to top Raiders
Waynesburg’s Jason Zeleny drives past Charleroi’s Brock Shannon during the first quarter Friday.
Waynesburg’s Dom Sarra is fouled by Charleroi’s Greg Arnold during the third quarter Friday.
Charleroi forward John Arnold pulls up for a first-half shot against Waynesburg Friday.
WAYNESBURG – Fans wearing red and black filled both sides of the gymnasium at Waynesburg High School Friday night.
In the past, large, raucous crowds were reserved for the Raiders’ wrestling program, but hundreds gathered to watch the boys basketball program face Charleroi. A victory would send the Raiders into a first-place tie with the Cougars and inch Waynesburg closer to its first outright section title.
The electric atmosphere reflected the play on the court, but the excitement in the gymnasium might have had a negative effect on Waynesburg.
In a game that included three lead changes in the final three minutes, it was free throws that doomed the Raiders. Waynesburg made just 8 of 24 and Cougars junior center John Arnold’s two free throws with 4.1 seconds remaining clinched a 48-45 victory for Charleroi in a Section 4-AA game.
The Cougars (8-1, 10-6) move one step closer to their first section title since 1996, while Waynesburg (6-3, 11-6) saw a winnable game slip away.
Arnold, a 6-7 force in the lane, scored 16 points, grabbed 19 rebounds and blocked two shots.
“This is huge. We really feel we have the best team in the section and we knew this was going to be unbelievable,” Charleroi head coach Bill Wiltz said. “We were able to persevere.”
Waynesburg trailed by as many as eight points in the third quarter, but fought back behind its defense. Senior forward Jason Zeleny, who scored a game-high 17 points, sank a three-pointer with 2:55 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Raiders a 41-40 lead.
On the next possession, Charleroi sophomore guard Sam Miceli dribbled down the court and saw a zone defense. He faked left and went right, drawing a foul in the lane. He sank two free throws then made a layup 20 seconds later to give Charleroi a 44-41 advantage.
Miceli scored nine of his 16 points in the second half.
“We knew it was going to be big because if we won this, it would put us in a good spot in the section so we had to get it,” Miceli said. “They were tough, but we stuck with it and played hard. It definitely boosts our confidence.”
The Raiders missed two free throws before senior guard Colby Collins’ pull-up jumper drew the game within one before Mitch Warman made a free throw with 52 seconds left to tie the game at 44-44 as the crowd erupted.
Cougars senior guard Matt Carr was fouled driving for a lay-in and sank both free throws for a 46-45 lead. Waynesburg senior Dom Sarra took the ball down the floor and drove to the basket to draw a foul, but his layup rolled over the rim to eliminate a three-point play, and a possible lead, with 9.7 seconds left.
He made one of two free throws and Arnold was fouled on the rebound. He made his two free throws and Sarra’s three-pointer at the buzzer rang off the rim to end the game.
The Raiders fought back with a strong defensive game plan. Sarra switched to a simple zone to clog passing lanes and disrupt the Cougars’ rhythm, which was led by Arnold.
“This was a huge win for us,” Arnold said. “It feels great because it was a team effort. We want to win the section.”
The defensive switch translated to seven second-half turnovers and allowed Waynesburg to draw within three points at the end of the third quarter, but the Raiders made 1 of 7 free throws.
“It was a crazy environment and they aren’t used to playing in that type of environment,” Waynesburg head coach Dave Sarra said of the missed free throws. “It was loud. I’ve been here a long time and it’s the biggest game Waynesburg has played here in 10 years. The gym was packed. It was loud. Maybe they were just a little nervous.”
Waynesburg took a 7-0 lead by forcing two turnovers in a three-minute span, but Charleroi answered with a 16-0 run behind Arnold. The Raiders drew within two points after Sarra made a three-pointer on a pick and roll, but Miceli’s three-pointer and points by Arnold on back-to-back possessions gave Charleroi a four-point lead at halftime.
The Cougars now control their destiny in Section 4-AA, but their next section game comes Tuesday against Bentworth, which handed Charleroi its only section loss earlier this month.
“We will not be flat on Tuesday night. What happened there was he had to play the very next day and our kids were exhausted,” Wiltz said. “We took it easy and I’ll take responsibility for that, but that’s not going to happen again.”