Jan 31, 2017 3 min read

CHARLEROI – Washington High School boys basketball coach Ron Faust has seen just about everything in his 31 years at the helm of the Little Prexies juggernaut.

Tuesday night, he witnessed something that he had never seen before as senior guard Matt Popeck, who entered the game averaging 25.9 points per game, made all 11 of his shots from the field and both of his free throws to finish perfect on the night with 30 points, including six three-pointers, in Washington’s 85-57 win over Charleroi that clinched at least a share of the school’s 44th boys basketball section title.

Faust was caught off guard when Popeck’s stat line was brought up after the Section 4-AAA contest.

“He was?” Faust asked with a surprised look on his face when told Popeck did not miss a shot the entire game.

“I didn’t know that and hope it happens on more nights. He is a great offensive player but we need him in other phases of the game, too. That is quite interesting though as I don’t think I have ever had a player do that.”

Popeck sensed a big game coming and told his teammates as much.

“I was telling them that I was feeling it and you know when you are in the zone,” he said with a wry grin. “I have been in that zone before, but I don’t think I never missed a shot in a game.”

Even Charleroi coach Bill Wiltz admired what Popeck did.

“He was on fire,” Wiltz said. “He was a good 10 feet behind the three-point line on one and the shot hit nothing but net.”

Isaiah Robinson scored 29 points and Jacob Swartz added 20, and the duo, along with Popeck, scored 79 of Washington’s 85 points. The Little Prexies improved their record to 10-0 in the section and 15-3 overall.

When told that his team will be tough to beat with those three players scoring like that, Faust did not hesitate to respond.

“When you have two other players playing like that, it makes us a playoff contender,” Faust said. “But we need to tighten up a little defensively, and if we do we will have some opportunities in front of us.”

Up by 35 points in the third quarter, Faust put in his reserves but had to go back to his starters after Charleroi went on a 9-0 run and the legendary coach did not pull punches when asked about having to put the starters back in the game.

“We have played 18 games, so there is no reason for (the reserves) to be tentative,” he said. “I was making a point as to why certain players are starters and other are not.

“We are auditioning players off the bench and some are not producing and that will cut down on their chances along the way.”

Despite the loss, Wiltz held his head and high and told his team to do the same.

“I am happy with the effort. We were down 30 and they are still diving on the floor,” he said. “The effort was outstanding.”

Caleb Carson led Charleroi with 15 points. Sam Miceli added 13 points and Cam Carter had 11.

Washington, which had already clinched its WPIAL record 61st playoff berth, hosts Burgettstown Friday while Charleroi heads to Brownsville for a game with third-place implications.