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Streak continues: Greyhounds win 16th straight, knock out Jeannette, 69-59

By Bill Hughes for The 3 min read
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Jim Downey | ëƵ-Standard

The GreyhoundsëƵ Lorenzo Gardner (2) shoots over the defense of JeannetteëƵs Tyler Horn (5) in the second quarter of TuesdayëƵs WPIAL Class AA first round playoff game at Monessen. Gardner scored 25 points in MonessenëƵs 69-59 victory.

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Jim Downey | ëƵ-Standard

JeannetteëƵs Tyler Horn (5) fouls MonessenëƵs Kody Kuhns (10) as he drives the lane in the second quarter of TuesdayëƵs WPIAL Class AA first round playoff game at Monessen. Kuhns finished with 18 points.

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The Greyhounds' Leonaj Thomas (4) wins the opening tip from Jeannette's Shane Mickens (10) in Tuesday's WPIAL Class AA first round playoff game at Monessen.

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The Greyhounds' Lorenzo Gardner (2) shoots between Jeannette's Shane Mickens (10) and Tyler Horn (5) underneath the basket in the first quarter of Tuesday's WPIAL Class AA first round playoff game at Monessen.

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The Greyhounds' Jaisean Blackman makes a reverse layup in the first quarter of Tuesday's WPIAL Class AA first round playoff game against Jeanette at Monessen.

MONESSEN ëƵ It wasnëƵt pretty, but Monessen made enough plays to down Jeannette in a WPIAL Class AA boys basketball first-round game Tuesday night, 69-59.

ëƵIt was one of those ugly ones, but we did enough to win,ëƵ Monessen coach Dan Bosnic said with a smile. ëƵI thought the game was played at a really fast pace and there were times when we handled ourselves well and were able to attack different areas we wanted to.

ëƵAt other times, we got sped up too fast and were not playing the way we know how to.ëƵ

The teams combined for 53 turnovers (Jeannette 33, Monessen 20), 46 fouls (Jeannette 26, Monessen 20) and 50 free-throw attempts (Monessen 31, Jeannette 19).

It may not have been a Picasso on the court, but the Greyhounds did what they had to for a win.

Lorenzo Gardner (25) and Kody Kuhns (18) combined for 43 points for Monessen (19-4), but as Bosnic pointed out, the team did the little things and that was the difference.

ëƵWe were effective on the offensive glass, had several deflections and made some good passes when needed,ëƵ he said. ëƵWe have to keep doing the little things as they add up.ëƵ

Monessen opened the game on a 7-0 run, but Jeannette (10-12) countered with its own 7-0 run to tie the score midway through the first quarter.

The teams played the rest of the frame within four points of each other, and the Jayhawks led 16-15 after one.

The Greyhounds opened the second quarter with a 9-0 run to take a 24-18 lead. Jeannette answered with a 7-2 run to trim the Monessen lead to 26-23 with two minutes to go in the quarter, but the Hounds closed the quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 33-23 lead at the half.

ëƵThe kids are capable of going on runs,ëƵ Bosnic said. ëƵI think we went on runs that our defense allowed us to get out and get easy scores on.ëƵ

Jeannette opened the third quarter with an 8-0 run, and it trimmed the Monessen lead to 36-35 halfway through the quarter, but the Greyhounds never gave up the lead and led 46-39 going into the fourth.

The Jayhawks got no closer than six points in the fourth, and Monessen put away its 16th straight win.

The Greyhounds used numerous defenses on Jeannette, and that limited the Jayhawks offensively.

ëƵDefensively, we continued to bother them with our trap, but at times, we did not rotate well enough,ëƵ Bosnic said. ëƵWe have to clean up some things, but at times, we played solid defense.ëƵ

Kuhns had a double-double as he grabbed 10 rebounds with Leonaj Thomas also grabbing 10.

Monessen only made 15 of 31 free throw attempts, with the usually reliable Gardner only making three of his 18 attempts.

JeannetteëƵs Anton Good led all scorers with 28 points.

Fifth-seeded Monessen advances to the quarterfinals, where it takes on fourth-seeded Greensburg Central Catholic (17-3) at Norwin Friday night. Tipoff is 7 p.m.

ëƵWe have seen a lot of film on them already,ëƵ said Bosnic. ëƵThey are a quality team and hopefully we prepare well the next two days. We are excited for the opportunity.ëƵ

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