Swart points way as Wash High advances
Wash High’s Jordan Swart drives past Brentwood’s C.J. Ziegler (2) during Friday’s Class AAA boys playoff game at Peters Township High School. Swart scored 17 points in the Little Prexies’ 46-37 win.
Holly Tonini/ Observer-Reporter
Wash High’s Evan Parr looks for room to pass around Brentwood’s Jayneil Latham during Friday's playoff game at Peters Township High School.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Wash High’s Zahmere Robinson goes for two against Brentwood’s Michael Trent
CHARLEROI – You don’t win many basketball games when you score only two points in a quarter.
Don’t tell that to the Washington boys team.
Even when Wash High is at full strength, finding consistent offense has often presented a big challenge. Playing without both Dan Ethridge and Isaiah Walton Friday night, the Prexies had to find offense from somewhere.
Enter point guard Jordan Swart.
Trailing 27-25 with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, Swart put the Prexies on his back by scoring the next 11 Wash High points in an 11-2 run. That spurt gave the Prexies the lead for goodand they went on to a 46-37 victory over Brentwood in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round playoff game at Peters Township High School.
Wash High (18-5) advances and will take on Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic (12-11) Thursday night. North Catholic defeated Ellwood City, 67-53, in the opening round.
Swart got to the basket and the free-throw line repeatedly in the fourth quarter, when he scored 14 of his 17 points.
“I figured it was my role to be a leader and get to the basket,” Swart said. “I ended up getting a couple of and-ones to put us on top. It was a great game. Our guys fought hard, which is what I want to see. Late in the game though, I had the ball in my hands, which is how I like it. I just needed to make plays.”
When the season began, Wash High head coach Ron Faust probably didn’t plan on having two freshmen and two sophomores on the floor in the fourth quarter of a playoff game. But that’s the situation the Prexies found themselves in and the youngsters responded.
“You have to do what you have to do,” Faust said. “The guys who were out there were getting the job done. The guys on the floor gave the effort and did a nice job, regardless of what grade they are in.”
Needing to find some offense, Zahmere Robinson carried the scoring load early in the game for Wash High, scoring 13 of the Prexies’ first 17 points. Robinson finished with a game-high 18 points.
Robinson scored nine first-quarter points as the Prexies jumped out to a 11-6 lead. Robinson eventually got in foul trouble and the offense slowed down but Wash High still led 22-14 at halftime.
Things changed in the third quarter though as Brentwood (8-13) outscored Wash High 10-2 to tie the game at 24-24 after three quarters.
The Spartans were led in scoring by DeAngelo Brisco with 12 points.
“We don’t score very much,” said Brentwood head coach Dan Thayer. “We figured it would be a good matchup because we are two low-scoring teams. It’s takes us so long to score every possession. We have a lot of guys who aren’t used to playing in playoff games, so nerves played a role early, but we weren’t going to win a game scoring 40 or 50 points against them.”
After giving up 61 points to Monessen last Saturday and 80 to Canon-McMillan Monday – both losses – Wash High got back to playing better defense, which they had done for most of the season. The Prexies forced Brentwood into 21 turnovers and held the Spartans to 34 percent shooting.
“That’s who we are,” Faust said. “A lot of people want us to shoot a bunch of three-point shots, but we would rather win games. We do that by playing defense, getting to the basket and getting to the free-throw line.”
Brentwood’s C.J. Ziegler made a three-point shot with seven minutes left in the game that give the Spartans a 27-25 advantage, but it was short-lived as Swart took over the game.
“Jordan does everything for us,” Faust said. “He takes these young guys under his wing and shows them what effort really is. He’s not the most talented player you will ever see and won’t lead the WPIAL in scoring, but he is very vital to us, especially because of our inexperience. He’s a true leader.”