Mar 16, 2017 2 min read

IRWIN – Though it wasn’t their prettiest performance, the Monessen High School Greyhounds advanced to the PIAA Class A boys basketball quarterfinals with a 71-56 win over Shanksville-Stonycreek Thursday night at Norwin High School.

“I think the longer layoff caused part of our slow start,” said Monessen coach Joe Salvino. “Plus, the officials called the game tight, and we had to adjust to that. Once we did, we played a little better.”

The second round was delayed two days because of the winter storm that hit the eastern part of Pennsylvania.

Monessen quickly got into foul trouble as both Jaden Altomore, the team’s leading scorer, and Lyndon Henderson, the third-leading scorer, each ended the first quarter on the bench with two fouls.

Justice Rice scored six points in the quarter and Monessen led 12-8.

“With Jaden and Lyndon in foul trouble, I had to do more to get things going,” Rice said. “Fortunately, we were able to weather the storm until the second quarter.”

Monessen increased the defensive pressure in the second quarter and opened up a 26-12 lead late in the quarter, and it led 29-17 at halftime. Rice and Altomore each scored six points in the second quarter.

In the first half, Monessen forced the District 5 champions into 17 turnovers while committing six of its own. Shanksville finished the game with 26 turnovers.

After the Vikings opened the second half on a 10-2 run to make close to within 32-27, Monessen countered with a 14-0 run that was ignited by back-to-back three-pointers by Cory Fleming.

Monessen led 52-31 after three quarters and the Vikings did not get any closer than 15 points the rest of the way.

Rice led Monessen with 24 points and Altomore (22) and Henderson (12) also finished in double figures. Aaron Smith led Shanksville (24-2) with 17 points. The Vikings’ only other loss this season was in a tournament to Bethel Park.

In what has become typical fashion, Rice added eight assists, six rebounds and six steals.

Monessen has a quick turnaround as it faces Saltsburg (26-1), the District 6 champion, Saturday at a time and location to be determined Friday.

Salvino likes the that the team does not have a lot of time off.

“I prefer it this way,” he said. “It beats having long layoffs.”