Jan 9, 2018 4 min read

Exiting the locker room, Burgettstown High School boys basketball coach Tim Murray reached down for a Gatorade bottle filled with water that was sitting in the rack on the floor.

Whether the problem was the lid not being on properly or just a simple malfunction, water dumped on the front of Murray’s Burgettstown pullover jacket.

He again reached for a different water bottle.

Same result.

It’s those kinds of things that happen to Burgettstown when it plays in the Washington High School gymnasium, which the public address announcer religiously coins “historic” during his pregame introduction to fans in the cinema-like seating that encompasses the court.

And in a game that meant as much as a game could mean in mid-January – section supremacy – Wash High was eagerly inviting the Blue Devils into what has become Burgettstown’s house of horrors.

Isaiah Walton sparked a 16-point run and Washington controlled the tempo to defeat Burgettstown 71-58 and hand the Blue Devils their 10th straight loss at Washington High School Tuesday night.

“Not many people have won in this gym over the years because we’ve had outstanding athletes,” said Wash High coach Ron Faust. “Athletically, we’ve been blessed with some good people. You add the tradition, the environment, which is totally different, you put that into the mix and it’s very tough to play here.”

There might not be better people to confirm that sentiment than those from Burgettstown.

The Blue Devils haven’t defeated Wash High in any game since Jan. 15, 2013. They haven’t beat the Prexies inside the WHS gymnasium since Jan. 27, 2006.

Not only does the win, which featured four players in double figures for the Prexies, put them alone atop the section, it was the most points Wash High has scored in a game all season.

“The team effort is a result of there having to be a team effort,” Faust joked. “Individually, sometimes we don’t care to be aggressive enough to handle that responsibility. Something we have to find is a leader.”

Walton, a 6-1 junior, might have taken a step in the direction.

With Wash High trailing 19-17 after the first quarter, Walton scored eight points in the first 3:06 of the second quarter. The Prexies led 31-19 after Dan Ethridge collected his own rebound and scored with 3:31 remaining in the first half.

“Coming into tonight, we felt the No. 1 key was controlling the tempo,” Murray said. “We started the game in control but couldn’t score in the second quarter. (Washington) was really good in its zone with their long arms and good athletes. We weren’t discipline in what we were trying to do. We had things that we didn’t execute and we’re playing catch up the rest of the game.”

But when Washington (4-0, 6-3) needed to press the gas pedal, it failed to do so.

With two back-to-back baskets in the final 1:08 of the first half trimming the halftime gap to 35-29, the Blue Devils used an eight-point run in the middle of the third quarter to cut the Wash High lead to two points, 39-37.

That was as close as Burgettstown (3-1, 8-3) would get.

A combined effort from Zahmere Robinson, Jordan Swart and Ethridge rebuilt the Prexies’ lead to where it wouldn’t be threatened again. The three combined for 27 points in the second half.

“Tempo is very important, but at the same time there are situations where you have to step on the gas pedal,” Faust said. “That was the situation tongith. We have to work on when to get the tempo in your favor and when to become more aggressive. We’re a young team, but we don’t have time to be young anymore.”

The most consistent offense Burgettstown found came off the bench from Jarred John. He finished with 12 points.

Ryan Lounder led the Blue Devils with 13 points.

The Prexies’ balanced effort – Swart, Ethridge, Walton and Robinson all finished with double-digit point totals – was led by Swart’s team-high 21.

“Not only do you want to get the lead in the section after the first half (of the season), but you definitely don’t want to get beat on your home floor,” Faust said. “That was a gigantic game. We know it’s not going to be a picnic going to Burgettstown. That team is one that isn’t going to back down. They will be there come the end of February.”