Greyhounds tighten section race with win at California
Holly Tonini
Monessen鈥檚 Charles Mrlack drives to the basket around California鈥檚 Nathan O鈥橲avage during Tuesday night鈥檚 game at California.
Holly Tonini
California鈥檚 Hunter Assad makies a leaping pass between Monessen鈥檚 Charles Mrlack (4) and James Thomas during a game in early February.
Holly Tonini
California鈥檚 Nate O鈥橲avage (12) puts up a shot as Monessen鈥檚 Kody Kuhns (10) defends during Tuesday night鈥檚 game at California.
COAL CENTER 鈥� Monessen played its most complete game of the season Tuesday as it went on the road to knock off Section 4-AA leader California, 61-55.
鈥淚 feel such a strong way towards this group, I am so happy for them to get to experience this and beat the top team in the section,鈥� said third-year Monessen coach Dan Bosnic. 鈥淭his win is up there, but with that said we have a lot of section games left and have to take care of business.鈥�
California coach Aaron Balla said that Monessen deserved to win the game.
鈥淲e did not control the ball tonight and it showed,鈥� he said of his team which had 24 turnovers. 鈥淚 think that Monessen came out and wanted it more, so I give them credit.鈥�
Monessen (5-2, 7-5) made seven of eight free throw attempts down the stretch as Jaisean Blackman hit all four of his attempts and Kody Kuhns made three of four.
鈥淭hat is how you want to finish the game and the guys showed character,鈥� Bosnic said. 鈥淎ny time you are in a close game, you have to finish it on the line and the guys did that tonight.鈥�
Monessen made 20 of 27 free throws in the fourth quarter and 32 of 46 in the game with Kuhns making 8 of 11. California (2-1, 2-2) made 10 of 16 in the game.
The Trojans actually held the field goal advantage, 20-14.
The free-throw attempt discrepancy was based off of the aggressiveness of Monessen, which included the Greyhounds winning most 50-50 balls throughout the game.
鈥淲e were effective with our trap after making adjustments from when we played them last time and it bothered them,鈥� Bosnic said. 鈥淎nd once we took a big lead, they had to come out and cover us, but we were able to get around them which got them into foul trouble.鈥�
Three Trojans fouled out while one Greyhound exhausted his five fouls.
After Monessen raced out to a 12-5 lead after one quarter, a 20-14 advantage in the second extended the lead to 32-19 at the half.
鈥淎gainst Frazier on Friday, we couldn鈥檛 miss for a stretch, and tonight we couldn鈥檛 hit anything in the first,鈥� Balla said. 鈥淚t was almost comical that we couldn鈥檛 get anything to fall after how we shot Friday.鈥�
The Greyhounds led by as many as 15 early in the third quarter at 36-21, but it was Monessen鈥檚 turn to go cold as the Trojans went on a 11-1 run to close the third and to trim Monessen鈥檚 lead to 37-32 heading into the fourth.
California tied Monessen three times in the fourth but could never take the lead.
With Monessen up 48-46 with 2:16 to play, California鈥檚 bench was called for a technical foul when a player on the bench complained loudly to an official.
Kuhns hit both free throws to start a 6-0 run, and while California fought to the end Monessen sealed the game at the line.
Blackman led Monessen with 13 points while Kuhns (12) and Kiante Robinson (11) also hit double figures for the Greyhounds.
California鈥檚 Payton Conte led all scorers with 16 points. Nate O鈥橲avage and Corey Frick added 11 each.
The Trojans did not practice since their big win over Frazier but Balla would not use that as an excuse.
鈥淲hile I know that didn鈥檛 help us, we will not make excuses,鈥� he said. 鈥淢onessen deserved to win this game and did.
鈥淭he guys will have to have short amnesia as it is best as we have a tough matchup on the road Friday.鈥�
Bosnic went nine-deep with several underclassmen playing significant roles.
鈥淥ur bench is starting to show that it can come in and help us,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey are making a big difference, gaining experience and making us a better team.鈥�