Three-headed monster: Wade, Moore, Martin lead Leps to 73-56 road win
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
Belle Vernon鈥檚 Alonzo Wade (4) scores two of his game-high 20 points in the first quarter of Tuesday鈥檚 Section 3-AAAA game at Southmoreland.
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
Southmoreland鈥檚 Brady Sherbondy (13) pulls up for a baseline jumper before Belle Vernon鈥檚 Quinton Martin can close in early in the third quarter of Tuesday鈥檚 Section 3-AAAA game in Alverton.
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
Belle Vernon鈥檚 Trevor Kovatch makes a 3-pointer over Southmoreland鈥檚 Kadin Keefer in the first quarter of Tuesday鈥檚 Section 3-AAAA game in Alverton.
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
Southmoreland鈥檚 Wyatt Richter makes a layup in the third quarter of Tuesday鈥檚 Section 3-AAAA game against Belle Vernon in Alverton.
ALVERTON 鈥� Alonzo Wade, Zion Moore and Quinton Martin combined for 50 points to lead visiting Belle Vernon to a 73-56 victory at Southmoreland in the Section 3-AAAA opener.
Wade scored 20, Moore finished with 18 and Martin added 12. Martin also had eight rebounds and three steals, while Moore dished out five assists and Wade finished with four assists.
The Scotties (0-1, 7-3) trailed 44-28 at halftime, but scored two quick field goals to start the third quarter, leading Belle Vernon coach Joe Salvino to call a timeout.
鈥淚t was something we weren鈥檛 doing. We were not in the passing lanes and we weren鈥檛 denying,鈥� said Salvino. 鈥淚 called the timeout and they responded. That鈥檚 what they had to do.鈥�
Southmoreland sliced the deficit to 48-37. Belle Vernon responded with an 11-0 run to up its lead to 59-37.
Southmoreland coach Frank Muccino expected the athletic Leopards to make a few runs throughout the game, but understood his squad had to limit the damage.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e not going to beat a team when you give up spurts,鈥� explained Muccino. 鈥淲e gave them four or five spurts. You have to limit their spurts. The game got totally out of control.
鈥淵ou have to play 4陆 quarters against them.鈥�
The Leopards (1-0, 5-4) held a 73-47 lead after three quarters.
The Leopards threatened to run away with the game early after pulling out to a 26-13 lead in the first quarter. The early run was sparked by pressure defense and solid shooting.
Muccino felt his squad squandered solid opportunities on the offensive end, allowing the Leopards to pull away.
鈥淓arly in the game we missed makeable shots. They make you pay for every mistake. You miss a layup and they score. That鈥檚 a four-point swing. Do that four times and it鈥檚 16 points,鈥� said Muccino.
Muccino continued, adding, 鈥淭hey tried to go faster than they had to. They played fast with a fast heartbeat. You can鈥檛 do that against them.鈥�
Southmoreland kept pace with the visitors in the second quarter with Belle Vernon outscoring the home team, 18-15. Ty Keffer led the first half offensive charge for the Scotties and finished with a game-high 27 points.
鈥淲e are not playing good defensive ball right now,鈥� said Salvino. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 let one kid (Ty Keffer) score 19 in the first half. We can鈥檛 let that happen. It鈥檚 a mindset.
鈥淵ou have to go out and make things happen.鈥�
Salvino feels his team is still rounding into shape after the long, successful football season.
鈥淚t was a long football season. It takes time to get into basketball shape,鈥� said Salvino.
The Leopards continue their tough Section 3-AAAA schedule Friday at home against Uniontown and on the road Tuesday at Laurel Highlands.
鈥淲e play Uniontown and Laurel Highlands. That鈥檚 two big games,鈥� said Salvino.
Southmoreland has road games at Elizabeth Forward Friday and Uniontown next Tuesday.
鈥淚t鈥檚 brutal no matter where you go in this section,鈥� said Muccino.