Belle Vernon headed to WPIAL title game for first time since 1978
Jonathan Guth/For the Observer-Reporter
Belle Vernon’s players and coaches celebrate after defeating New Castle, 56-46, on Wednesday in the WPIAL Class 4A semifinals at North Allegheny High School. The Leopards advance to the WPIAL Championship game for the first time since 1978.
Jonathan Guth/For the Observer-Reporter
Belle Vernon’s Devin Whitlock drives to the basket before being fouled by New Castle’s Michael Graham in Wednesday’s WPIAL Class 4A semifinal playoff game at North Allegheny High School.
Jonathan Guth/For the Observer-Reporter
Belle Vernon’s Daniel Gordon puts up a three-pointer in Wednesday’s WPIAL Class 4A semifinal playoff game against New Castle at North Allegheny High School.
Jonathan Guth/For the Observer-Reporter
Belle Vernon’s Jared Hartman moves the ball up court while being defended by New Castle’s Michael Graham in Wednesday’s WPIAL Class 4A semifinal playoff game at North Allegheny High School.
WEXFORD – Belle Vernon is headed to the WPIAL boys basketball championship game for the first time since 1978 after going on an 11-0 run in the last 3:22 for a 56-46 victory over three-time defending champion New Castle on Wednesday in the Class 4A semifinals at North Allegheny High School.
The Leopards (19-6) will play Highlands (21-3) Saturday at the Petersen Events Center. Tip-off is 1 p.m.
“It never gets old,” said Belle Vernon coach Joe Salvino. “We are just glad to be playing in the finals. We really don’t care who it is against. We will be ready to go.
“We had some obstacles early in the season, but sometimes those are good because now you know what you need to do. We had obstacles in this game, too, but that is life in general. You have to fight through the hard stuff to get to the easy stuff.”
Belle Vernon (19-6) trailed 46-45 when the Red Hurricanes’ Isiah Boice executed on a three-point play and Salvino took a timeout.
“When I called that timeout, I told them, ‘There is a lot of basketball left, you don’t have to rush anything.'” Salvino said. “We were only down one point. We didn’t rush anything, and consequently, we were able to win the game.”
The Leopards’ run started when Thomas Hepple put back an offensive rebound for a one-point lead and Hunter Ruokonen scored on a layup following a New Castle turnover for a three-point advantage.
Daniel Gordon threw a lob to Hepple, who instead of going for the slam dunk, went with a layup for a 51-46 lead.
“The most important thing about that play was that he made the basket,” Salvino said.
Jared Hartman made one of two free throws for Belle Vernon, Devin Whitlock made a pair at the line for two of his team-high 17 points and Hepple put an exclamation point on the victory with a two-handed slam as time expired.
“It was great for Thomas to get that dunk,” Whitlock said. “That kind of put an exclamation point on the game. We are going to the Pete.”
New Castle (17-8) had a 16-14 lead after the first quarter as the Red Hurricanes’ Michaels Wells scored his team’s first 12 points. Wells finished with a game-high 18. Boice added 14 and Sheldon Cox 10.
Belle Vernon used a 6-0 run to open the second period for a 20-16 advantage before Cox cut the deficit to one with a three-pointer. The Leopards scored the next five points. Hartman’s three gave Belle Vernon a 28-21 halftime lead.
“I couldn’t be more proud of these kids because they never quit,” Salvino said. “The defense also played a big part in this win.”
The Red Hurricanes opened the second half on a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to 28-27, but the Leopards went on a 12-7 spurt to extend their lead. Gordon and Hartman connected on one three-pointer apiece in the run. Hartman, who had nine points, made two three-pointers.
“I love competing and we definitely want to win a championship this time after losing in football,” Hartman said. “I was glad to be able to hit my shots. Teams leave me open, so I just shoot it.”
Belle Vernon’s Mitch Pohlot scored eight points and was also a force on the boards with 12 rebounds.
“I feel like at the end of the year, we just bought into the system and it has come together,” Pohlot said. “We had a lot of guys step up tonight, and the young guys really stepped up. We will be ready to go on Saturday.”
Whitlock, who lost in the semifinals of the WPIAL playoffs last year while attending Monessen, was glad to get some redemption.
Whitlock, who has 990 career points, would trade all the individual accolades for a title.
“I really try not to think about how many points I have,” Whitlock said. “I didn’t even know how many I had until somebody told me. I would trade all the points for a championship.”
Though the Leopards were a No. 6 seed against No. 7 New Castle, they came into the game as underdogs, but that didn’t matter to Salvino.
“I saw the potential in this team from Day 1 with the people that we have,” Salvino said.
“I think the second game against Uniontown was a confidence booster for us because it helped us to realize that we can play with anyone when we play our game, even though we lost that game.”
Belle Vernon’s Jake Haney filled in nicely for senior Cam Nusser. The absence of Nusser was not because of the injured ankle he sustained in the first round of the postseason.
“Cam’s ankle was hurt so we didn’t know how much he would have played, if he would have played at all, so we were prepared for that,” Salvino said. “He (Haney) made the best of the situation, and everybody coming off the bench, (Daniel) Gordon and (Thomas) Hepple did a good job.”