Feb 16, 2018 3 min read

CHARLEROI – West Greene saw its boys basketball season come to an end Friday night with a hard-fought 46-39 loss to Imani Christian in the first round fo the Class A playoffs at Charleroi High School.

West Greene Jim Romanus liked the way his young team controlled the tempo against the defending WPIAL runner-up but said a few missed shots from close range proved to be the difference difference in the game.

“We had nerves and missed too many layups,” he said. “We kept it our style (of play) but only Nathan (Brudnock) has seen the court in the playoffs before tonight.

“We had too many turnovers, but I am proud of the effort and we proved that we can play with an athletic team.”

The Pioneers (8-15), who turned the ball over 20 times while forcing Imani into 13, had issues scoring early in both the first and second quarters, although it did not hurt them in the opening quarter.

DeShawn Hubbard gave Imani Christian (12-9) a 6-0 lead with midway through the first quarter after a pair of three-pointers, but West Greene’s Gavin Scott hit a basket with 3:58 to go in the quarter to get the Pioneers on the scoreboard.

The Saints went on a 7-0 run to take a 13-2 lead, but Scott made a pair of three-pointers in the last minute of the quarter to make the score 13-8 and give West Greene some momentum and confidence.

While the Pioneers were able to get back in the game after their scoring issues in the first quarter, their second quarter loomed large later in the game.

The Saints scored the first 10 points of the second quarter to take a commanding 23-8 lead, and West Greene did not score in the quarter until the 2:42 mark Brudnock made a layup. Scott closed the first-half scoring with a basket but West Greene trailed 23-12.

Romanus said there was a change in strategy for West Greene in the second half.

“We went with more of a spread offense and we challenged Nathan,” he said. “We told him that he was the best player on the court and that he had to step up and lead the team, and he did.”

The talk worked as West Greene got back in the game in the third quarter as Brudnock paced the Pioneers with six points. The Pioneers went on an 11-4 run to start the second half and trim the gap to 27-23. Imani took a 34-28 lead into the fourth quarter.

West Greene, which has only won one playoff game in program history, was able to get to within four points three different times in the second half, the last at 43-39 with 26 second left before the Pioneers had to foul. Imani Christian, which had made only two free throws over the first 31 minutes, made three in the closing 22 seconds to secure the win.

Scott was West Greene’s leading scorer with 18 points. Brudnock had 15 points.

Hubbard led Imani with a game-high 23 points and Ray Jackson added 10.

After the game, Romanus talked about the expectations that he had for his team coming into the season as well as what he is looking for next year.

“I expected good things this season and thought we could make the playoffs,” he said. “We had (five underclassmen) on the court at the end of the game and we have gotten better.

“We have made the playoffs three straight seasons and this offseason will determine how we do next year.”

Imani plays second-seeded Monessen (13-8) Thursday night in the quarterfinals.