Jan 23, 2019 3 min read

MONESSEN – Monessen jumped out early on Washington and held off a rally to pick up a 56-48 win Wednesday night in a non-section boys basketball contest that saw both teams play without some of its regular starters.

“The key was that we came out with great intensity and competed on defense,” Monessen coach Dan Bosnic said of his team, which was without Elijahwa Payne.

“We were disciplined on offense, for the most part, and a part of that comes from trust and growing together.

“It was a solid effort from everyone and players like DaWayne Howell played well and did what needed to be done with us down a player.”

Washington coach Ron Faust, whose team was without starters Dan Ethridge and Joe Mercer, talked about what was the deciding factors in the game.

“Aggressiveness and our slow start were the differences in the game,” he said. “We didn’t come out ready to play, but after the first quarter we did alright. We settled down but ran out of gas.”

Monessen (8-6) came out hot from the outside in the first quarter as it hit four three-pointers and freshman Devin Whitlock led the way with 13 of his game-high 23 points.

“We have come to expect Devin to play like that for us,” Bosnic said of his point guard who also had six assists and five rebounds. “He is learning to be a better leader.”

The Greyhounds opened up a 15-point lead twice in the first quarter, but Washington (7-7) began inching back into the game throughout the second quarter and it was mostly because of dribble penetration. Maleik Meredith was the recipient of Washington’s ability to get into the paint as he was found three times for easy layups.

By halftime, Washington trimmed the Monessen lead to 34-24.

Washington cut further into the Monessen lead, and reduced it to five points at 37-32 with 5:03 left in the third quarter when Zahmere Robinson made a basket, but the Greyhounds were able to extend the lead back to 49-39 at the end of the quarter.

The final score was as close as Washington would get in the fourth as both teams played sloppy ball down the stretch. Each team finished with 13 turnovers.

Meredith led Washington with 13 points, Robinson scored 12 and Brandon Patterson finished with 11.

Monessen carries a 60-game section winning streak into Bishop Canevin Friday in a Section 2-A first-place showdown while Washington returns to 4-AAA play when it hosts Brownsville.