Dec 27, 2018 3 min read

CHARLEROI – It isn’t often that two coaches as decorated as Ringgold’s Phil Pergola and Belle Vernon’s Joe Salvino face each other.

It happened Thursday night in a CFS Holiday Tournament boys basketball semifinal at Charleroi High School.

The pair entered the game with a combined 1,259 wins, seven WPIAL championships and three PIAA titles, and Pergola came out this time as his Rams downed the Leopards, 73-57.

Ringgold (7-1) will play Clairton tonight for the championship at 8:30 p.m. Clairton defeated Elizabeth Forward, 81-72, in the other semifinal.

“We started slow but have had those starts in games,” said Pergola, who now has 619 career wins. “We got the job done though and I am happy with how our team is playing.

“This is our seventh straight win, came within a basket of an eighth win, and we only won three games last season.”

Belle Vernon (2-7) is still trying to figure out how to win.

“We have to learn to play four quarters of basketball,” said Salvino, who has 641 wins. “We got the lead early but don’t seem to know how to finish quarters and it gives the opponents momentum into the next quarter. We also have a better chance at rebounding as we gave them 17 offensive rebounds.”

The teams played at a frantic pace and the Leopards held a 20-18 lead after the first quarter.

Cam Nusser hit a trio of three-pointers in the frame for Belle Vernon and Larry Callaway had seven points. All six Ringgold baskets in the frame were three-pointers.

The Rams outscored the Leopards 16-10 in the second quarter and took a 34-30 lead into halftime.

Ringgold quickly extended its lead to 38-30 early in the third quarter, but Callaway scored six straight points including layups off consecutive turnovers thanks to stingy defense by Tyler Kovatch and Ringgold’s lead was down to a basket.

“We have some young guys getting valuable experience and that is what these exhibition games are for,” Salvino said. “We have to figure out what it takes to win and learn because I am not about losing.”

Ringgold used a 10-1 run to go up 48-37, but Belle Vernon closed to within 51-47 with 1:36 left in the quarter.

The Rams used a 14-3 run to start the fourth quarter to put the game away.

Jaden Taylor, the only senior in the Ringgold starting lineup, made six three-pointers and finished with 25 points. Luke Wyvratt had 22 points and Chris Peccon added 13.

“We have had four different players lead us in scoring this year and Jaren played well,” Pergola said. “We have different guys stepping up each game.”

Callaway led Belle Vernon with 24 points. Nusser hit six threes and finished with 22 points. Mitch Pohlot had 11 rebounds.

Yough, 50-43

In the opening game of the night’s tripleheader, Yough came from behind to defeat Charleroi, 50-43.

“We stink right now,” Charleroi coach Bill Wiltz said. “We aren’t making shots and we are turning the ball over way too much.

(Jarret) Bach started hitting from the outside in the third quarter and we had to adjust our defense which affected our pressure.”

Bach (19) and Zach Usher (10) combined for 29 points for Yough (4-4). Joey Caruso (11) and Zach Usher (10) each scored in double figures for Charleroi, which dropped to 4-5.

The Cougars led 27-21 at the half but could only muster eight points in both the third and fourth quarters as Yough pulled away late.