Mar 11, 2019 3 min read

The goal for any Monessen boys basketball team is to win a WPIAL championship.

While the Greyhounds didn’t accomplish that this season, it’s hard to not see their 2018-19 campaign as anything but a success. With only one returning starter, Monessen has won a section championship, a WPIAL playoff game and now a PIAA playoff game under first-year coach Dan Bosnic.

The Greyhounds (16-9) knocked off District 10 champion Jamestown, 75-54, in the first round of the state tournament. Next up for Monessen will be District 6 runner-up Bishop Carroll (20-5). The two meet tonight in a second-round game at Greensburg Salem High School. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.

After running roughshod over Section 2-A during the regular season, Monessen is 2-1 so far this postseason, having beaten St. Joseph in the WPIAL quarterfinals, 79-72, before falling to top-seeded Vincentian Academy in the semifinals, 61-49, in a game they led after three periods.

Bosnic deflects attention away from himself when discussing his team’s accomplishments this year.

“It’s a credit to our kids,” said Bosnic, who is a Laurel Highlands graduate.

“They’ve worked hard and they’ve put themselves in this position to be successful. I give all the credit to our kids and our assistants.”

The Greyhounds used their deep bench and full-court pressure to wear down the Muskies in their meeting at Edinboro University on Friday. Monessen led 14-12, 35-28 and 51-37 at the breaks.

The Huskies took control early in their 68-58 first-round win over District 9 runner-up North Clarion. They jumped out to a 20-12 lead after one period and remained in control the rest of the way.

Bishop Carroll’s probable starting lineup includes 5-10 junior guard Tristan McDannell, 6-5 junior forward Nolan Burk, 5-10 senior point guard Carson Ertter, 6-3 junior forward Scotty Semelsberger and 5-7 senior guard Alex Karlheim. McDannell, who averages 19.3 points per game, led the Huskies against North Clarion with 22 points. Ertter and Karuheim followed with 15 and 13 points.

Bishop Carroll is coached by Cosie Aliquo.

Bosnic, who is assisted by Craig Rice, has gone with multiple lineups this season. The starting five against Jamestown included 5-7 freshman guard Devin Whitlock, 5-8 junior guard Jalen Brice, 6-2 senior guard Darnel Howell, 6-2 junior forward DeWayne Howell and 6-3 junior forward Marquell Smith. The Greyhounds could also slide 6-4 Elijahwa Payne or 6-2 Dishon Howell, both senior forwards, into the starting lineup.

Those seven players, along with 5-3 freshman guard Antwon Tucker and 5-3 freshman guard Dylan Bradshaw, gave Bosnic valuable minutes against the Muskies. Whitman, who averages just under 19 points per game, scored a game-high 23 and was followed by Smith and Dishon Howell with 12 and 10 points.

Dishon Howell is savoring his last go-around with the Greyhounds.

“When you’re a senior in your last year, you cherish every moment like this,” he said following Friday’s win. “I was glad to come out with my team and get the win tonight and keep it going.”

The winner of tonight’s game will play the survivor between WPIAL champion Nazareth Prep and District 5 winner Shade who play at Hempfield, also at 7:30 p.m.