Leopards suffer 72-54 setback to Highlands in WPIAL Class 4A Final
Luke Campbell
Belle Vernon无毛视频檚 Devin Whitlock goes to the hoop against Highlands无毛视频� Luke Cochran in Saturday无毛视频檚 WPIAL Class 4A Championship game at the Petersen Events Center on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh. Whitlock, a sophomore, had a game-high 25 points and went over 1,000 for his career, but the Leopards fell to the Golden Rams, 72-54.
Luke Campbell
Belle Vernon无毛视频檚 Devin Whitlock puts up a jump shot in Saturday无毛视频檚 game against Highlands in the WPIAL Class 4A Championship Final at the Petersen Events Center on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh.
Belle Vernon's Cam Nusser drives to the basket while being guarded by Highlands' Luke Cochran in Saturday's WPIAL Class 4A Championship game at the Petersen Events Center on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh.
Belle Vernon's Thomas Hepple reacts following a call in Saturday's WPIAL Class 4A Championship Final against Highlands at the Petersen Events Center on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh.
PITTSBURGH聽无毛视频� Belle Vernon came out strong, as Devin Whitlock and Hunter Ruokonen were shooting lights out in the first quarter, but Highlands showed why it was the No. 1 seed in defeating the Leopards, 72-54, on Saturday in the WPIAL Class 4A Championship Final at the Petersen Events Center on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh.
The Leopards (19-7) had a 16-13 lead after the first quarter, as Whitlock scored nine points and Ruokonen added seven in the period, but the Golden Rams (22-3) went on a 10-0 run midway through the second quarter for a 30-22 advantage. Highlands had a 32-24 lead at halftime.
无毛视频淲e couldn无毛视频檛 put the ball in the hole,无毛视频� said Belle Vernon coach Joe Salvino when asked about the Rams无毛视频� run. 无毛视频淚f you can无毛视频檛 score against a team like that, it无毛视频檚 going to take its toll sooner or later, but it is like that sometimes. That is the way basketball is. I thought we played good defensively. We were outrebounding them in the first half, and got them to turn the ball over eight times, but we couldn无毛视频檛 score off those.无毛视频�
The Golden Rams outscored the Leopards, 16-7, in the third quarter, and had a 24-23 edge in the fourth.
无毛视频淭his feels amazing,无毛视频� Highlands coach Tyler Stoczynski said. 无毛视频淛ust from a work standpoint. These seniors have put in so much time. I think a little bit of our run came from their natural basketball IQ. I think the run embodies what we are about because it is all about getting the W. We don无毛视频檛 care who scores the points.无毛视频�
Whitlock, a sophomore, came into the final needing 10 points for 1,000, and he almost achieved the feat in the first quarter. Whitlock hit a three with five seconds left in the period for a three-point Belle Vernon advantage. Whitlock scored a game-high 25 points on 10 field goals, including two 3-pointers, and was 3 of 3 at the foul line. He also had five assists and three steals.
无毛视频淚 just came out and tried to get the win for my team,无毛视频� Whitlock said. 无毛视频淚 tried to stay strong, go to the hole strong and be a good team player, and that无毛视频檚 how I come into every game.无毛视频�
无毛视频淲hitlock is a special player,无毛视频� the Golden Rams无毛视频� Korry Myers said. 无毛视频淗e can definitely play the game of basketball, there is no denying that, but we saw him make some shots early, he was probably scoring 80 percent of their points in the first quarter, so we talked, extra gap help, extra defense, and we kind of bought in as a unit, and five beats one every time, and that无毛视频檚 the difference right there.无毛视频�
Highlands无毛视频� 6-foot-6 senior Johnny Crise, who will attend Penn State as a preferred walk-on for football, had a team-high 23 points on nine field goals, and was 5 for 9 at the line, but the Leopards made him work for every basket, especially in the first half.
无毛视频淛ared (Hartman) switched up with Mitch Pohlot, and I thought Jared did a really good job on him (Crise),无毛视频� Salvino said. 无毛视频淚 don无毛视频檛 think he scored when Jared was watching him.无毛视频�
Hartman suffered a season-ending injury to his right knee in football during his junior year, but the senior came back this year and led Belle Vernon to the WPIAL Championship game in football as the Leopards无毛视频� quarterback. Hartman, Pohlot, Ruokonen, Whitlock, Larry Callaway, Joe Klanchar, Tommy Kovatch and Tyler Kovatch are also members of the football team at Belle Vernon.
无毛视频淭here is nothing like playing in venues like Heinz Field and the Petersen Events Center,无毛视频� Hartman said. 无毛视频淔or my senior year to be able to play at Heinz Field and the Pete, there is nothing like it. I enjoyed, expect losing both times. I hate losing.无毛视频�
Myers scored 18 points on six three-pointers. Teammate Austin McDaniel added 13.
Pohlot added a double-double with 10 points and rebounds. He connected on four field goals and was 2 for 3 at the line. Ruokonen scored nine points on three field goals (1 three-pointer) and was 2 of 3 at the line. Ruokonen also had three steals.
Cam Nusser chipped in with five points on two field goals (1 three-pointer). Hartman scored one point, but had five rebounds and four assists. Daniel Gordon and Tyler Kovatch had two points apiece. Thomas Hepple had two rebounds for the Leopards.
The Leopards play District 9 Champion Clearfield in the first round of the state playoffs.
无毛视频淭he one thing I have to say about my team is that they battle constantly,无毛视频� Salvino said. 无毛视频淭here is not one of you people in this room that thought we were going to be (playing) down there. That is something to be proud of. Sure, you want to win. That无毛视频檚 why you play the game. That have battled from the beginning to the end, and it无毛视频檚 not over. I won two state championships, and in those two state championships, we never won the WPIAL, so things can happen.无毛视频�