Jan 5, 2024 4 min read

Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter
Washington’s Tristan Reed leaps over Yough’s Austin Matthews to put in two points that cut the Cpugars’ first period lead in the January 5 game at Washington.

Mark marietta/For the Observer-Reporter

Braiden Wise (2) powers past Yough’s Charlie Quinn in the first quarter of Washington’s home court 61-53 victory on January 5.

By Dave Whipkey

For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

Washington Prexies boys basketball coach Ryan Bunting would like to dispel the myth that his squad, as athletic as the day is long, lacks the ability to make shots.

The Prexies’ grinding 61-53 win over a tough Yough squad Friday night at Wash High Gymnasium wasn’t a prime example of high-level shooting, but it was a step in the right direction.

“It’s funny because people don’t think that we can shoot,” Bunting noted. “We’ve really put in the work since last spring. They’re showing more confidence and showing in the work we’ve been putting in.”

Ruben Gordon was a prime example with 14 points that included three three-pointers. Braiden Wise and James Carter also knocked down a three pointer each for good measure.

“We’re a better team offensively this year than we were last year at this time,” Bunting added.

Zxavian Willis led the Prexies (4-0, 6-5) with 16 points while De’Ondre Daugherty chipped in with 12 points and 13 boards as he did battle all evening with Yough (1-1, 7-4) big man Austin Matthews who stands 6-6.

“They were two big bullies doing battle,” Bunting said, referring to the battle in the paint between Daugherty. “Dre wanted to take on the challenge and prove he was better tonight and he did.”

Matthews finished with 11 points for the Cougars. While the WPIAL leading scorer Terek Crosby finished with a game-high 28 points for Yough, a mere half-point below his 28.5 points per game average.

“He can get his shot off quick,” Bunting said in reference to Crosby. “If you don’t pay attention to him, he can light you up real quick.”

The Prexies were able to put some distance between themselves and the Cougars with a strong third quarter that saw Gordon knock down two long three-pointers that set the tone. A Wise three late in the quarter gave Washington a 49-40 lead as the game turned towards the final frame.

Travis Crutcher brought the home fans out of their seats in the fourth quarter when he jammed home a Daugherty miss that gave Washington a 53-42 lead with about four minutes remaining. A Daugherty old-fashioned three-point play extended the lead to 58-44 with 1:55 left in regulation.

Yough made one more thrust to get back into the contest as Crosby scored nine points in the frame including a monster two-handed dunk on a break away, but they could get no closer as the Prexies were able to close out a squad that had beaten them here last season.

“We have a lot of work to do, but we’re getting there,” Bunting added.

Yough coach Jim Nesser thought the Prexies had a nice game plan to slow down Crosby and by proxy the Cougars as a whole.

“They went with a diamond in two on us and gave us some fits in the third,” he noted. “We are going to have to figure how to deal with how other squads defend us and quick.”

First half highlights included Crosby setting the tone early in the opening frame with nine points, two of those buckets came from behind the three-point arc. Willis helped keep the Prexies within striking distance with six points in the first quarter and 10 in the opening half.

A Gordon three-pointer knotted the game at 27 midway through the second quarter. Crosby responded with a two-handed jam to give the Cougars a 29-28 with a little less than three minutes remaining in the half.

Yough however went stone cold over the final 2:45 of the first half and did not score a point as Washington carried a 32-29 lead into the halftime locker room thanks to some stifling defense and strong rebounding that kept possessions alive for the Prexies.