Wagner sparks Charleroi in win over Steel Valley
Holly Tonini
Charleroi鈥檚 Will Wagner drives the ball down the line of Steel Valley players, including Nakhai Valentine (1), in the second half Monday night.
Charleroi鈥檚 Will Wagner leaps to make a pass away from Steel Valley鈥檚 NiJhay Burt (3) and Evan Coleman (23) in the first quarter Monday night.
Charleroi鈥檚 Jake Caruso celebrates his team鈥檚 win over Steel Valley in the Class 3A boys basketball preliminary round Monday night.
Charleroi's Gavin Theys makes one of his three-point shots Monday night against Steel Valley.
Charleroi's Brennen Shannon looks to make a pass through Steel Valley's NiJhay Burt (3) and Evan Coleman Monday night.
Staff from Charleroi Area School District sanitize the seats between WPIAL boys basketball playoff games Tuesday night.
CHARLEROI 鈥� Most athletes dream of having big performances in playoff games, but Charleroi High School鈥檚 Will Wagner took it to a new level Monday.
Wagner celebrated his 17th birthday by leading the Cougars to their first playoff win in 24 years as they downed Steel Valley, 61-44, in the preliminary round of Class 3A.
The junior finished with a game-high 29 points, including all 15 of Charleroi鈥檚 points in the second quarter, as he made his first seven shots of the game, including a trio of three-pointers.
Wagner came out with a focus in his eyes for pregame warmups and the look did not relent until the final horn sounded.
鈥淭his feels amazing and is everything I thought it would be and more,鈥� said Wagner, who recorded a double-double as he also had 10 rebounds. 鈥淎fter those shots, I knew they were in as they came off my hand.鈥�
Charleroi head coach Bill Witz spoke about how Wagner has been zoned in.
鈥淲ill is scary at points with how he has been playing,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e carried us tonight and is playing with so much confidence.鈥�
Charleroi (12-5) led 19-13 after the first quarter and by the time Wagner capped off his eight-of-nine shooting in the first half, the Cougars had taken a 34-22 lead into the locker room.
The Cougars maintained at least an 11-point lead the entire second half to give them their elusive playoff win.
The win was d茅j脿 vu for Wiltz and the program in several ways.
Wiltz was the coach in 1997 when the Cougars won their last playoff game, which ironically was over Steel Valley.
While Wagner scored 29 points to lead Charleroi Monday night, it was his dad, and current Charleroi girls coach Bill Wagner, who led Wiltz鈥檚 1997 team with 28 points.
鈥淗e doesn鈥檛 really talk about that game or what he did,鈥� said a grinning Wagner of his dad, the school鈥檚 all-time leading scorer with 1,483 points. 鈥淏ut I did just a little better tonight.鈥�
So, did the win get the pressure off Wiltz?
鈥淚 have been calling it a gorilla,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have had some really good teams and have not been able to get over the hump.
鈥淭o get over this hump, I am elated for these players because they are great kids and easy to coach.鈥�
Wiltz turned his attention to the Wagners.
鈥淵ou couldn鈥檛 script this any better,鈥� he said with a smile. 鈥淚 am so happy for both of them because young Will is playing so well and big Bill because he puts in so much time with his son.鈥�
Jake Caruso added 12 points while Zach Usher recorded six assists and had three steals for Charleroi.
The Cougars are at seventh-seeded Beaver Falls Thursday for a first-round matchup. Tipoff is 6 p.m.
鈥淭hey are going to be good, and they are athletic,鈥� said Wiltz. 鈥淚 think our basketball sense and ability may be able to carry us.鈥�