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South Fayette set for third meeting with Steel Valley

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Ten wins against WPIAL playoff teams, an undefeated record in Section 5-AAA and the program’s first section title since 2010-11. South Fayette’s resume’ is arguably one of the best in WPIAL Class AAA, yet the Lions (17-4) received the No. 7 seed in the playoffs and a first-round matchup with Steel Valley.

South Fayette’s four losses, including two in their last three games of the regular season, came against playoff teams by a seven-point average margin of defeat. The result was drawing the Ironmen (14-7), who average more than 70 points per game. The two will tip-off at 8 p.m. tonight at Peters Township.

The Lions’ players saw various projections that had them as high as the No. 4 seed and as low as No. 8, so their seeding was not a shock. The bigger surprise was facing Steel Valley, which South Fayette defeated twice during the regular season.

“That was probably the biggest shock of the draw; not only the seeding, but having to play Steel Valley first,” Lions senior guard Nick McKee said. “We did not expect that because the WPIAL usually doesn’t do that. Beating a team a third time is a really tough task, just mentally, really. They have the mental edge. We know that. They are coming for us. We can’t relax.”

South Fayette defeated the Ironmen, 53-41, at the C.J. Betters Tournament Dec. 30, and hosted them Jan. 14, where the Lions came from behind for a 10-point victory. In the first game, Steel Valley went on an 18-4 first-quarter run before South Fayette took the lead early in the third quarter and held on.

In the second meeting, the Lions used the outside shooting of McKee and senior guard Jack Relihan to secure a win.

The previous games are not a factor for South Fayette head coach Rich Bonnaure and facing an opponent a third time is not a hindrance for a team with six seniors, most of whom reached at least the PIAA semifinals in soccer or football.

“I would say if we were inexperienced it would be an even bigger challenge mentally, but we have a bunch of seniors and they know how hard these games are,” Bonnaure said. “They know we are pretty darn even teams, and whoever plays best that night will win. The previous two games won’t have an effect.”

The bigger concern for the Lions is how to handle Steel Valley senior forward Dominique Keyes, a 6-7 force who averages 19.4 points per game. He blocks and alters shots and gives the Ironmen’s offense second chances with his rebounding ability.

Bonnaure experimented with a myriad of ways to contain Keyes on both ends of the floor. He used scrappy senior forward Matt O’Rourke in the first game and senior forward Brett Brumbaugh the second time around. It will take a group effort to stop one of the WPIAL’s most dominant post players, and South Fayette’s ability to contain him could make the difference between a trip to the quarterfinals and an early playoff exit.

“Keyes is really good. You have to keep him off the boards,” McKee said. “Their biggest offense is second chances, so if you limit them to one chance, we feel like we have a good chance at winning. Most of their points come off Keyes getting rebounds and putting them back with big dunks.”

With six local teams playing for a shot at the quarterfinals tonight, the spotlight will be on the Lions at Peters Township. Led by head coach Drew Schifino, a former West Virginia standout and head coach at Waynesburg High School, the Ironmen have a deep lineup filled with size and athleticism.

The pressure will be on South Fayette to prove the WPIAL wrong and continue the school’s big-game reputation. It’s a challenge the Lions are embracing.

“We’re definitely a team that’s been in the big-moment games,” McKee said. “It’s definitely going to help us with our experience. If you are going to win the whole thing, you are going to have to be able to beat everyone anyway. We’ll go out there and try to survive and advance.”

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