Canon-Mac rattles Peters Township, rolls to win
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Peters Township’s Sam Petrarca goes between Canon-McMillan’s Ethan Beachy, left, and Thomas Samosky to score during a game at Peters Township Tuesday.
Canon-McMillan’s Louis Wall goes around Peters Township’s Julian Mascio during a game at Peters Township on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Canon-McMillan’s Luke Palma drive down court as Peters Township’s Dax Ploskina blocks during a game at Peters Township on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Peters Township’s Sam Petrarca gets by Canon-McMillan’s Ethan Beachy to score during a game at Peters Township on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019.
Peters Township’s Sean Werner tries to block the pass of Canon-McMillan’s Drew Engel during a game at Peters Township on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Peters Township’s Sean Werner tries to block the shot of Canon-McMillan’s Drew Engel during a game at Peters Township on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019.
McMURRAY – For the final three quarters, the Canon-McMillan and Peters Township boys basketball teams played even for the most part.
The opening eight minutes between the two rivals were a whole different story.
Taking advantage of a shorthanded Peters Township team, which was without standout forward Thomas Melonja, Canon-McMillan jumped all over the Indians from the opening tip and never looked back. The Big Macs used 16- and 11-point runs in the first half, led by 19 after the first quarter and went on to defeat the Indians, 66-44, and take sole possession of third place in Class 6A Section 2 Tuesday night.
“I told our kids that Peters Township started the season without him but knew they were going to,” Canon-McMillan coach Rick Bell said of Melonja, who hurt his ankle in Friday’s game against Mt. Lebanon.
“They weren’t prepared for what happened to him on Friday. If we could jump on them early, they were already rattled because one of their best guys was out.”
A rattled group rapidly turned into one that was quickly being routed when the Big Macs scored 19 of the first 21 points of the game, went on a 16-0 run that lasted six-and-a-half minutes and led 24-5 after the opening quarter.
Canon-McMillan (3-2, 9-5) made four three-pointers, including three by Tommy Samosky, and grabbed offensive rebounds on nearly every one it missed to get a double-digit lead that was never surrendered.
“Us jumping on them early really helped out,” said Samosky, who scored a 14 points while being heckled by the Peters Township student section.
“It was big because we didn’t give them much of a chance to come back at us. Them doing that in the student section makes it fun. You can’t describe it. I love it.”
The rough start quickly sent Peters Township (2-3, 9-6) into a downward spiral, especially from deep. The Indians missed 11 of their 12 shots from behind the arc in the first half, then were forced to fire away from deep to try to eliminate the 19-point halftime deficit.
“They came out on fire and we didn’t,” said Peters Township coach Gary Goga. “We shot 7-for-38 from behind the three-point line. You aren’t going to beat a seventh-grade team doing that. You aren’t going to beat anybody.”
The Melonja-less Indians then succumbed to C-M’s triangle-and-two defense. Playing man-to-man against PT’s two best scorers, Colin Cote and Dax Ploskina, the Big Macs played zone under the basket to limit the pair to 24 combined points. It was the third time in the last five games Peters Township was held to less than 50 points.
“The triangle-and-two (defense) is good,” Goga admitted. “That’s why (Canon-McMillan) pounded Bethel Park. That’s why they hung in with Latrobe. It’s a good defense for them. They do it well. Good for them. I knew it was coming. I watched plenty of tape and knew it was coming.”
No players outside of Cote and Ploskina, who finished with 11 and 13 points, respectively, scored more than five points.
“It’s on Hudl. The cat is out of the bag. What we are doing is taking away your two best guys and making other guys beat us,” Bell said. “We have a lot of respect for Colin and Dax. We were trying to take those guys out of the equation or make them work their tails off to score and make other guys beat us.”
C-M’s Luke Palma led all scorers with 17 points. Ethan Beachy also had 13 points for the Big Macs, who won their sixth straight against PT.
“It’s huge,” Bell said of the win. “We are only one game behind second place. We have Bethel Park, Peters Township and Upper St. Clair all at home. I know how competitive I am and my team is. I don’t want to look ahead, but we are looking forward to that opportunity at Mt. Lebanon. I think we are starting to peak at the right time.”