Leopards bounce back with 68-48 win over Raiders
Holly Tonini
Belle Vernon鈥檚 Tommy Rodriguez (24) scores two against Waynesburg Central鈥檚 David Bailey (32) in Section 3-AAAA action Friday at Belle Vernon Area High School.
Waynesburg Central's David Baily (32) drives around Belle Vernon's JJ Hartman (4) during Friday's Section 3-AAAA game at Belle Vernon Area High School.
Waynesburg Central's Aaron Yorio (15) shoots a fade away jumper over Belle Vernon's Jarod Hartman (5) during Friday's Section 3-AAAA game at Belle Vernon Area High School.
Belle Vernon's Bryce Washington (33) scores a basket against Waynesburg Central's David Baily (32) and Darton McIntire (10) during Section 3-AAAA play Friday at Belle Vernon Area High School.
ROSTRAVER TWP. 鈥� Belle Vernon Area bounced back from a last-second Section 3-AAAA loss at South Park Tuesday with a 68-48 win over Waynesburg Central Friday night.
With the win, Belle Vernon (12-4, 8-2) clinched its first winning season since 2010 and remains in the hunt for its first section title since 2008. The Leopards are tied with South Fayette and McGuffey after the Highlanders鈥� loss at Elizabeth Forward.
鈥淚t is good to get back in the win column,鈥� said Belle Vernon coach Kyle DeGregorio. 鈥淲e knew we had to shut down (Darton) McIntire and the guys did a good job on him.鈥�
The Waynesburg junior led the WPIAL in scoring a year ago and is averaging over 21 points per game this season. Belle Vernon limited McIntire to 13 points with tough defense the entire night. The Leopards rotated defenders throughout the game, and whoever watched him did not play help defense.
How tight was the Leopards鈥� defense on McIntire? He did not get his first shot of the game until the last play of the first quarter and it was an off-balance shot attempt at that.
McIntire only made three of his 14 shot attempts, and he missed all six of his 3-point attempts.
Waynesburg coach Kirk King talked about his team鈥檚 effort despite his leading scorer鈥檚 tough night.
鈥淭he guys played hard and it showed with how we started,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut it seemed that every time we would turn them over, we would give the ball right back.鈥�
Waynesburg (1-17, 0-10) had 28 turnovers, while Belle Vernon had 16.
Despite McIntire鈥檚 off night, Waynesburg opened the game with a 7-0 run and the Leopards did not get onto the board until Derek Thomas scored on an offensive rebound with 4:43 to go in the first quarter.
The junior鈥檚 play sparked BVA as it went on a 13-2 run to close the quarter, including the last nine points.
After Waynesburg scored three baskets in its opening 7-0 run, the Raiders had issues hitting shots the rest of the night. Waynesburg finished with four baskets in the first quarter, and three in each of the last three quarters.
Freshman Lucas Garber opened the second quarter with a hoop for Waynesburg to make the score 13-11, but Belle Vernon went on a 14-2 run to open a 27-13 lead and by the half, the Leopards held a 33-19 lead.
The Leopards started the second half with a 10-3 run and led 53-30 heading into the fourth quarter.
Waynesburg outscored the home team in the fourth quarter, 18-15, as it went 11-for-14 from the line.
Senior Tommy Rodriguez led Belle Vernon with 15 points, while a pair of juniors, Joe Sabolek and Thomas, finished with double-doubles. Sabolek had 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Thomas had 13 points and 10 boards.
鈥淲e want to protect our court and have not lost here all season,鈥� Sabolek said. 鈥淒erek played really well (inside) and we were able to get some baskets inside.鈥�
Garber joined McIntire in double figures with 10 points for the guests, and every Waynesburg point but one was scored by underclassmen. Despite that, King would not use youth as an excuse.
鈥淭he guys have been playing all year,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have to keep improving and the guys will not quit.
鈥淲e want to get our first section win, and the guys will give their all the rest of the way.鈥�
DeGregorio saw several things that he wants his team to improve on, but he is giving the team two days off.
鈥淭he guys deserve a few days off,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t will give everyone a chance to recharge and come back focused for the stretch run.
鈥淲e have important games ahead of us.鈥�
Both teams return to action Tuesday with section games as Belle Vernon hosts Keystone Oaks and Waynesburg hosts first-place McGuffey.
Section 3-AAAA
Waynesburg Central 聽 9-10-11-18 鈥� 48
Belle Vernon 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 13-20-20-15 鈥� 68
Belle Vernon: Tommy Rodriguez 15, Joe Sabolek 14, Derek Thomas 13. Waynesburg: Darton McIntire 13, Lucas Garber 10. Records: Belle Vernon (12-4, 8-2), Waynesburg Central (1-17, 0-10).