Mar 18, 2017 3 min read

IRWIN – It’s hard enough to beat Monessen’s basketball team when the offense is running smoothly. When the defense plays just as well, it’s nearly impossible.

Monessen forced 29 turnovers that lead to numerous transition points and the Greyhounds dominated District 6 champion Saltsburg, 74-34, Saturday afternoon at Norwin High School to reach the PIAA Class A Western final Monday night.

Monessen will play either Elk County Catholic or Kennedy Catholic Monday at a site and time to be determined.

Monessen limited Saltsburg’s leading scorer Nick Porter, who was averaging 21 points per game, to 13 points with 11 coming in the second half after the outcome was decided.

“Our defense was really good all game long and the guys buy into our defensive philosophy,” said Monessen coach Joe Salvino, whose teams have reached the Western final for the seventh time and first since 2011. “And it showed today.”

The Greyhounds (21-7) limited Saltsburg (26-2) to a pair of three-pointers after the Trojans had 13 in their second round win over Johnsonburg Thursday.

“We didn’t want to let them get comfortable,” Salvino said. “And they weren’t at any point. They haven’t seen anyone all year as athletic as we are and we took advantage of it.”

Seniors Jaden Altomore scored 26 points and Justice Rice 21 to pace Monessen, but not all of the news was good for the Greyhounds.

Up 47-18 with 4:58 to play in the third quarter, Monessen sophomore Lyndon Henderson, the team’s third leading scorer, was ejected after being called for a flagrant foul for pushing a Saltsburg player to the floor.

Henderson was given a technical and ejected by the District 6 officiating crew. By rule, Henderson must sit out the next game.

“We will have to have other guys step up,” Salvino said. “Lyndon is out for Monday so we have to make sure the guys are ready.”

Though Monessen had a 4-0 lead less than a minute into the game, the Greyhounds had four fouls in the first two minutes and Salvino had to go to the bench. Salvino did not adjust Monessen’s playing style and their full-court pressure only intensified.

The Greyhounds forced 10 turnovers in the first quarter and closed on an 8-0 lead to take a 19-7 lead into the second quarter.

Monessen followed that 8-0 run with a 9-0 run to start the second quarter to end Saltsburg’s hopes.

Dan Shirley hit a basket and free throw for an old-fashioned three-point play with 4:23 to end the Monessen run and make the score 28-10, but the Greyhounds went on a 9-0 run immediately after.

In the first half, Monessen held Saltsburg to six baskets, three of which were in the last minute before halftime, and the Greyhounds led 39-16 at intermission.

The Greyhounds outscored the Trojans 19-10 in the third quarter, and led 58-26 after three quarters.

When Cory Fleming scored off of an offensive rebound with 4:52 to play, the Mercy Rule was enacted and Salvino took out Rice and Altomore.

Rice had seven steals, five rebounds, and four assists and Altomore had nine rebounds and three steals.

Jaron Youngblood (seven), Vaughn Taylor (five), and Fleming (four) combined for 16 rebounds against the much taller Saltsburg team.