Feb 21, 2024 3 min read

By Bill Hughes

For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

McMURRAY – Heading into Wednesday night’s WPIAL Class A quarterfinals, Monessen boys basketball coach Dan Bosnic knew that Union was bringing plenty of big-game experience to the contest against the Greyhounds.

Unfortunately for fourth-seeded Monessen, the fifth-seeded Scotties made enough plays to advance with a 70-59 win at Peters Township High School.

“That’s a battle-tested team, and there is a reason they have played for three straight WPIAL championships,” Bosnic said. “The final score wasn’t indicative of the kind of game it was. It was a close game and every possession mattered.”

The loss drops Monessen into the consolation round.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Fort Cherry girls had a spirited second-half comeback fall short in a 50-42 loss to South Side Beaver in a Class 2A quarterfinal.

Monessen’s defense was the story early as it limited Union to two points over the first 6:55, but a technical foul on Monessen’s Devontae Robinson gave Union the momentum.

Lucas Stanley drained both free throws, and that started an 8-2 run to close the first quarter as Union took its first lead, 11-10.

The teams exchanged baskets for most of the half, but Monessen used a 7-0 run to take a 27-24 lead into halftime.

There were six lead changes and two ties in the third quarter, but when Union’s Rocco Galmarini drained a three-pointer to give Union a 36-34 lead, the Scotties would not trail again.

The Galmarini three started an 11-0 Union run, but Monessen trimmed its deficit to 46-40 heading into the fourth quarter.

Monessen would get no closer than five points down the stretch as Union made 16 of 21 free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

“Our kids competed, they were focused and played hard from the start,” Bosnic said. “I think there was a part of the third quarter where they kind of got away from us, and there were several short runs.

“We didn’t do a great job of sprinting back and they got some second chances that hurt us. Their ability to make shots is something we are struggling with.”

Stanley (35) and Bryalon Thomas (17) combined for 52 points for Union. They were the only Scotties to score in the first half.

Rodney Johnson led Monessen with 19 points while Lorenzo Gardner (15) and Robinson (13) also hit double figures.

Monessen’s season continues Friday as it hosts section rival West Greene in the consolation round.

“The main message is we want to prepare ourselves and we want to play good basketball Friday,” Bosnic said. “We still want to play in the state tourney and want to seize the opportunity.”

South Side, 50-42

Fourth-seeded Fort Cherry (18-6) attempted a frantic fourth-quarter comeback but it fell short in a 50-42 loss to 12th-seeded South Side Beaver (15-9).

SSB scored the first six points of the game and never trailed.

Down 41-25 heading into the fourth, Fort Cherry trimmed the SSB lead to 43-39 with 1:47 to go but it could get no closer.

Charity Tellish (18) and Bailey Strnisa (14) combined for 32 points for South Side while Raney Staub (19) and Ava Menzies (14) combined for 33 for Fort Cherry.

South Side advances to face top-seeded Greensburg Central Catholic (18-6) in the semifinals while Fort Cherry awaits its consolation bracket game Friday night.