Greyhounds tighten section race with win at California
Holly Tonini
Monessen无毛视频檚 Charles Mrlack drives to the basket around California无毛视频檚 Nathan O无毛视频橲avage during Tuesday night无毛视频檚 game at California.
Holly Tonini
California无毛视频檚 Hunter Assad makies a leaping pass between Monessen无毛视频檚 Charles Mrlack (4) and James Thomas during a game in early February.
Holly Tonini
California无毛视频檚 Nate O无毛视频橲avage (12) puts up a shot as Monessen无毛视频檚 Kody Kuhns (10) defends during Tuesday night无毛视频檚 game at California.
COAL CENTER 无毛视频� 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.
无毛视频淚 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,无毛视频� said third-year Monessen coach Dan Bosnic. 无毛视频淭his win is up there, but with that said we have a lot of section games left and have to take care of business.无毛视频�
California coach Aaron Balla said that Monessen deserved to win the game.
无毛视频淲e did not control the ball tonight and it showed,无毛视频� he said of his team which had 24 turnovers. 无毛视频淚 think that Monessen came out and wanted it more, so I give them credit.无毛视频�
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.
无毛视频淭hat is how you want to finish the game and the guys showed character,无毛视频� Bosnic said. 无毛视频淎ny time you are in a close game, you have to finish it on the line and the guys did that tonight.无毛视频�
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.
无毛视频淲e were effective with our trap after making adjustments from when we played them last time and it bothered them,无毛视频� Bosnic said. 无毛视频淎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.无毛视频�
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.
无毛视频淎gainst Frazier on Friday, we couldn无毛视频檛 miss for a stretch, and tonight we couldn无毛视频檛 hit anything in the first,无毛视频� Balla said. 无毛视频淚t was almost comical that we couldn无毛视频檛 get anything to fall after how we shot Friday.无毛视频�
The Greyhounds led by as many as 15 early in the third quarter at 36-21, but it was Monessen无毛视频檚 turn to go cold as the Trojans went on a 11-1 run to close the third and to trim Monessen无毛视频檚 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无毛视频檚 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无毛视频檚 Payton Conte led all scorers with 16 points. Nate O无毛视频橲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.
无毛视频淲hile I know that didn无毛视频檛 help us, we will not make excuses,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淢onessen deserved to win this game and did.
无毛视频淭he guys will have to have short amnesia as it is best as we have a tough matchup on the road Friday.无毛视频�
Bosnic went nine-deep with several underclassmen playing significant roles.
无毛视频淥ur bench is starting to show that it can come in and help us,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淭hey are making a big difference, gaining experience and making us a better team.无毛视频�