Feb 23, 2024 3 min read

By Bill Hughes

For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

MONESSEN – In their pair of Class A Section 2 contests, Monessen and West Greene split the matchups with each winning on the road.

Friday night in a WPIAL Class A consolation game, Monessen protected its home court and is one win away from a PIAA tournament berth thanks to its 64-44 win over West Greene.

“This was a tough win against a really solid, and young, team,” Monessen coach Dan Bosnic said. “Coach (Jim) Romanus does a great job, his kids play hard and he gets the most out of his guys.

“I think they will have another good year next year, and they gave us a fight tonight.”

Romanus spoke about his team, which does not have any seniors on the team.

“I think their pressure got to us and I do think we wore out,” Romanus said. “Coach Bosnic does a really, really good job and they are tough. I am proud of our kids, though, and we will learn from this.”

Lorenzo Gardner (23) and Devontae Robinson (15) combined for 41 points to lead the Greyhounds (19-5), but it was their pressure defense that was the difference as they forced West Greene (16-9) into 29 turnovers.

“They pressure the ball and are athletic,” said Romanus. “I thought we did a real good job in the first half.

“What they do, they change enough that you have to adapt to their defense and there aren’t set plays. That is harder for younger kids.”

There were four lead changes in a hard-fought first quarter and the Pioneers took a 17-15 lead into the second.

Monessen used a 7-0 run in the second quarter to take a 23-21 lead on a Gardner basket with 1:45 to go in the half, and it never relinquished the lead.

Up 25-24 at intermission, Monessen forced West Greene into six turnovers in the first 75 seconds of the second half before the Pioneers got off a third-quarter shot. The Greyhounds were off and running.

“That second half, the pressure we put on them, the effort we got out of our guys was a huge difference,” said Bosnic. “We got into transition and were able to separate there. Our guards did a great job of making their guards play with their off hand.”

Bosnic noted the defensive effort of Robinson, Tyvaughn Kershaw and Matt Siwa.

“When they did speed us up, we actually had some good shots and started missing,” said Romanus. “That’s fatigue.

“We have to learn how to slow down a little bit and take the wind out of their sails.”

After the Greyhounds went on a 6-0 run to open the second half and take a 31-24 lead, West Greene’s Parker Burns hit a shot to stop the Monessen momentum, but Monessen closed the quarter on a 9-2 run to take command and a 43-32 lead into the fourth.

Lane Allison led West Greene with 18 points while Burns finished with 10.

The Greyhounds host Carlynton Tuesday night with the winner advancing to the PIAA tournament.

“We are turning our focus into Tuesday and it is important we prepare for the game,” said Bosnic. “Want our guys to experience the state tournament.”

Romanus is pleased with how his young team played this season and is looking forward to the future.

“They’ve accomplished a lot,” he said. “We’ve won our first playoff game since 1991, we were runner-up to Monessen in the section and beat them here. While I am disappointed, we lost tonight, I am very, very happy with the kids and our great coaches.”