Dec 28, 2018 3 min read

CHARLEROI – Ringgold won the cfsbank Holiday Tournament Friday night with a 72-58 win over defending champion Clairton, and in the process, won its eighth straight game.

“We are playing well right now,” said Ringgold coach Phil Pergola. “Clairton made a couple of runs at us but we were able to get it back up.

“The difference was our ability to handle what they were doing.”

The Rams (8-1) controlled play from the start and led 20-10 after the first quarter.

Clairton (2-3) cut the Ringgold lead to six points midway through the fourth quarter, but an 11-0 run by the Rams put the game away.

Co-Tournament MVP’s Chris Peccon and Jaden Taylor scored 22 and 15 points, respectively, for Ringgold while Demetrius Butler scored 17 and Luke Wyvratt, who made the all-tournament team, finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.

“The guys are playing really well together and we have to work on it to keep it that way,” said Pergola. “We are playing as a team.”

Dom Solomon led Clairton with 23 points and also made the all-tournament team. Andress Wiggins had 12 points.

Elizabeth Forward 66, Belle Vernon 39: In the consolation game, Elizabeth Forward (4-5) defeated Belle Vernon (2-8), 66-39, and Leopards coach Joe Salvino was not happy after the game.

“Until the players start to buy in to what the coaches are trying to tell them, things aren’t going to work out,” he said. “If they are satisfied with losing, then I can’t stop them losing.

“We play good at times but have too many mental lapses.”

Salvino subbed his younger players in early in the fourth quarter and was so upset with his upperclassmen that when one of the players on the court fouled out, he attempted to play with four players.

When asked if he is looking for a leader on the court and in practice, Salvino didn’t hesitate to respond.

“I’d take a leader on the bus right now,” he said. “It looks like there is a bunch of individuals out there and at least the young kids count on one another.”

Larry Callaway led Belle Vernon with 12 points while Pat Filson (18), Chase Vaughn (12) and Nico Mrvos (12) hit double figures for the Warriors.

The other all-tournament players were Filson as well as Jarret Bach from Yough while Charleroi’s Joey Caruso was the recipient of the Scott Smith Sportsmanship Award.