Feb 7, 2017 2 min read

MONESSEN – Monessen had already wrapped up at least a tie for the Section 2-A championship heading into its game Tuesday night against second-place Clairton.

But the Greyhounds wanted an outright championship.

That was apparent from the opening tip as Monessen won its fourth-straight section title – and 20th overall under head coach Joe Salvino – in a 90-52 trouncing of the Bears.

Jaden Altomore set a career-high with 46 points, Justice Rice added 24, and Lynden Henderson had 13 as the trio finished with 83 of the 90 points for the Greyhounds (10-0, 15-6).

“They played a heck of a game but I know they attribute that to their teammates,” said Salvino. “Guys are finding them on offense and defensively, when we play defense, we get a lot of transition points.”

Rice added eight rebounds, six steals, and six assists, while Henderson had eight rebounds, six steals, and three blocks.

Down 4-2 early, Monessen went on a 14-0 run and never led by less than four points the rest of the way.

Monessen was up 18-13 after the first quarter and 41-27 at the half, but the Greyhounds eliminated any hope of a Clairton (8-2, 14-5) comeback by outscoring the Bears 29-14 in the third quarter.

“I wanted to come out and put the game away,” Salvino said. “Clairton is a good team and I didn’t want to give them the opportunity to get back in it.”

From the 3:57 mark of the second quarter when Jaron Youngblood hit a free throw until there was 1:11 left in the game, Altomore, Rice and Henderson scored every one of Monessen’s 56 points.

“I told him at the start of the second half that we started this four years ago and were ending it tonight,” said Rice, a senior who has helped Monessen to a 44-0 section record in his fourth seasons. “I couldn’t ask for a better guy to do it with.”

Altomore said the Greyhounds had more in mind than just winning another section title.

“It feels good to never lose playing in the section,” said Altomore. “It’s a big accomplishment and we wanted to show tonight that we want the number one seed (in the WPIAL playoffs).”

Dom Solomen (11), Maurice Reeves (10), and Anthony Pruitt (10) hit double figures for Clairton with Reeves adding 10 rebounds.