Belle Vernon gets fouled up, stunned by North Catholic
Belle Vernon’s Devin Whitlock tries to score the winning basket with less than three seconds left on the clock. North Catholic would win the game, 77-76.
Holly Tonini/For the Observer-Reporter
Belle Vernon’s Jake Haney looks for his next move against North Catholic
Belle Vernon's Daniel Gordon scores two points over North Catholic's Matt Gregor during the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals Thursday night.
Holly Tonini/For the Observer-Reporter
Belle Vernon’s Devin Whitlock was the driving force behind Belle Verrnon’s 13-2 record and Class 4A Section 3 championship. He averaged 21.9 points, five assists and five steals per game.
Belle Vernon's Quinton Martin drives the ball through the North Catholic defense in the second half Thursday night.
Belle Vernon's Jake Haney (13) and Tyler Kovatch react after a 77-76 loss to North Catholic in the WPIAL Class 4A semifinals Thursday night.
BELLE VERNON – The flowing tears, the agonizing heartache and the wrenching pain told the story.
Belle Vernon’s run at its first WPIAL boys basketball championship since 1978 came to a heartbreaking end Thursday night with a 77-76 loss to North Catholic in the WPIAL Class 4A semifinals.
And with only the WPIAL champion advancing to the PIAA tournament this season, the Leopards’ season came to an abrupt halt.
After the game, coach Joe Salvino reflected on the outcome.
“It is always tough when you lose because it is one-and-done,” he said. “I can’t be more proud of a group of kids that hung in there all year, were unselfish and it was part of our success as they all cheered for each other. I enjoyed coaching this group.”
Top-seeded Belle Vernon (13-2) led until North Catholic’s Connor Maddalon drained a three-pointer with 7:35 remaining to tie the score at 58-58.
On NC’s next possession, Max Rottman made the first of his four three-pointers in the fourth to give the Trojans their first lead of the game, 61-58, with 7:01 to play.
Trailing 63-60 with six minutes left, Belle Vernon freshman Quinton Martin showed flashes of the ballyhoo surrounding his talent as he scored eight points during an 11-2 run to give the Leps a 71-65 lead with 4:17 to play.
North Catholic (18-4) countered with a 4-0 run, but Belle Vernon’s Tyler Kovatch hit a layup to give the hosts a 73-69 lead.
After North Catholic’s 6-7 Andrew Ammerman scored to make the score 73-71, Belle Vernon’s Devin Whitlock made one of two free throws with 2:29 left.
Rottman made his third trey at 2:06 to tie the score, but Jake Haney scored to give Belle Vernon a 76-74 lead with only 19 seconds to go.
The vociferous Belle Vernon faithful were rocking and the Leopards’ bench showed its excitement.
But in an instant, Rottman stole the collective heart from Belle Vernon as he hit his last three-pointer with less than five seconds to go, giving the Trojans the 77-76 lead.
The Leopards called a timeout with 3.8 seconds left but were not able to get a shot off.
Belle Vernon started the game hot as it made five three-pointers in the first quarter, leading to a 32-22 lead with 5:30 left in the half.
But Whitlock picked up his third foul with 3:49 to play in the first half. Salvino was going to sub his star out with 2:13 to go before intermission, but the junior point guard convinced Salvino to leave him in.
The move backfired as Whitlock picked up his fourth foul with 1:04 to go and Daniel Gordon picked up his third foul 19 seconds later.
“We tried to take Whitlock out of the game and us taking the charge for his fourth foul was a huge play,” said NC coach Dave DeGregorio. “He wasn’t the same player after picking up his fourth; no one is.
“They could not get up and press us like they wanted after his fourth foul and we were then able to get to the rim.”
Belle Vernon led 42-34 at the half.
“Devin knew if he picked up one more foul, he would be sitting and he played smart,” said Salvino. “I don’t think he got in foul trouble all year until tonight.”
Both teams shot 13 free throws with NC making eight while Belle Vernon made only five.
Martin scored 21 of his career-high 27 points in the second half and finished with 11 rebounds and three blocks.
“I am looking forward to being with him as long as I can be here,” Salvino said. “He will only get better and has no clue how good he will be because he is willing to work.”
Haney ended his career with a 19-point effort while Whitlock had 17 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Gordon, who fouled out with 7:04 to play, had 11 points and nine rebounds.
Ammerman finished with 21 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks to lead North Catholic, which plays Lincoln Park (17-5) for the WPIAL title Monday night.
For the leps, reality set in during the postgame talk in the emotional locker room between Salvino and his team.
“It was heartbreaking going down in that locker room and seeing Brandon Barber crying,” Salvino said of the senior who rarely saw playing time. “He loved everything about being a part of this as did every player.”
Salvino, who has six WPIAL and two PIAA championships on his resume, is fully aware that he only loses Haney from his rotation.
“One of the nice things is that I have all of these kids back except Jake,” he said. “We will be back.”