Dec 11, 2018 2 min read

TALENT & TAKEAWAYS Prexies turn BV problems into points in easy victory By Luke Campbell Staff writer lcampbell@observer-reporter.com Washington High School boys basketball coach Ron Faust would glance at his bench at the end last season and find only a few players and a bunch of empty seats. When he glanced to his right in the Washington High School gymnasium Monday night, the Prexies’ boys basketball coach found a full compliment of players, nearly all of them able to expose the weaknesses of Belle Vernon. Forcing the Leopards into one mistake and bad decision after another, Washington had 23 takeaways, four players score in double figures, including two off the bench, and easily won its season opener over the Leopards, 82-62. “It’s just not knowing what to do with the basketball,” Belle Vernon coach Joe Salvino frustratingly said. “We are still hesitant. The game is faster than these kids are used to playing. That’s a problem.” Washington quickly turned the Leopards’ problems into points, getting to the basket, foul line and ahead on the scoreboard. “We felt that we could get to the basket anytime we wanted,” Faust said. It showed. Without any resistance, other than multiple fouls that put Washington at the free-throw line, the Prexies opened each quarter clicking on all cylinders. They went on runs of 9-3 to begin the first quarter, 11-4 to start the second and 7-2 in the final quarter. And when Caleb Jackson gave Washington a double-digit lead, 25-14, on a layup with 4:44 remaining in HOLLY TONINI/OBSERVER-REPORTER Washington’s Zahmere Robinson drives past Belle Vernon’s Mitchell Pohlot (32) for a basket Monday night. WashSee Prexies, Page C3 ington went on to an easy victory.