After getting thumped by Penn-Trafford at home by 27 points Friday, Latrobe figured it was a good time for some self-reflection.
“There was a lot of soul searching going on because it was a tough one to swallow,” Latrobe coach Brad Wetzel said.
Latrobe returned to the court Tuesday in search of a bounce-back win on the road against a team with just one loss and walked off with not just its biggest win of the season, but one its coach called one of the team’s best in years.
Max Butler scored a game-high 15 points and Latrobe rallied in the final minute of the game to end Gateway’s 10-game win streak by topping the Gators, 63-60, in Class 5A Section 3.
“It’s a great program win,” Wetzel said. “I don’t think too many people gave us much of a chance, especially after our performance last Friday. It was nice to see the kids fight and play together.”
Latrobe (7-7, 3-2) blew an early 12-point lead, as Gateway stormed back and led by as many as six points in the second half. The Gators (11-2, 4-1) led by one before Kyle McNeil capitalized on a Gateway turnover, converting a layup to give Latrobe a 61-60 advantage with 30 seconds left. Following another Gateway turnover, John Wetzel’s layup pushed the Latrobe advantage to three. Gateway’s Bryson Pavlik then misfired on a 3-point attempt just before the buzzer.
“The last couple of years we struggled to get a win like this,” Brad Wetzel said.
John Wetzel added 14 points for Latrobe and McNeil had 13.
Mykel Bruce-McCrommon’s 13 points led four players in double-figures for Gateway. Pavlik added 12 and Alex Lowry and Taili Thompson scored 10 apiece.
Other boys games
• Central Catholic (8-5, 4-1) raced to a 10-point first-quarter lead and went on to grab a 50-37 win at North Allegheny (5-9, 2-2) in Class 6A Section 1. Vernon Settles led Central Catholic with 14 points, while Ben Lukitsch paced North Allegheny with nine. The Tigers have dropped five of their past seven games.
• Tyler Pepin’s 18 points helped Seneca Valley (4-11, 1-3) end a seven-game losing streak courtesy of a 66-51 win against New Castle (11-5, 1-4) in Class 6A Section 1. Seneca Valley limited New Castle to four points in the second quarter. Ralphie Blundo led the Red Hurricanes with 20 points.
• Nate Girod connected on five 3-pointers and scored a game-high 17 points to lead Mt. Lebanon (12-2, 4-1) to a 64-36 home win against Canon-McMillan (7-8, 2-3) in Class 6A Section 2. Mt. Lebanon led, 44-23, at the half.
• Shaler (14-1, 4-1) got defensive in a 39-27 win against visiting Fox Chapel (9-7, 4-1) in Class 5A Section 2. The Titans held Fox Chapel to 10 points or fewer in each quarter and outscored the Foxes, 13-2, in the fourth. Joe DeSabato led Shaler with 11 points.
• Gino Satira drilled a 3-pointer just before the buzzer in the second overtime to lift South Fayette (8-6, 4-1) to a thrilling 44-41 win at West Allegheny (10-6, 0-5) in Class 5A Section 4. West Allegheny tied the game at 41 when Justin Manns made two free throws with 4.4 seconds left. Michael Plasko led South Fayette with 14 points.
• Zach Pollaro’s 30 points propelled North Hills (6-7, 2-3) to a 78-66 win against visiting Chartiers Valley (6-9, 1-4) in Class 5A Section 4. The Indians also got 23 points from Eric James and 20 from Nathan Schanbacher. Jayden Davis scored 28 for the Colts, who have lost four straight.
• Teegan Finucan made five 3-pointers and scored a career-high 30 points to lead host Knoch (11-3, 4-1) to a 68-65 overtime win against Highlands (8-5, 3-2) in Class 4A Section 1. Derek Lang chipped in 12 points for the Knights, who held a 7-4 scoring edge in overtime. Bradyn Foster led Highlands with 25 points and Jordyn Tavarez had 18.
• Meleek Thomas scored 18 of his 30 points in the first quarter to help Lincoln Park (11-3, 5-0) roll to a 102-57 win against visiting Blackhawk (4-10, 1-5) in Class 4A Section 4. Brandin Cummings added 19 points for the Leopards, who scored 37 points in the first quarter and 65 in the first half. Justin Shanor led Blackhawk with 18 points.
• Also in Class 4A Section 4, Max Hurray’s 23 points vaulted host North Catholic (9-5, 5-1) to its fifth consecutive win, 64-49, against Beaver (7-8, 3-3). Brady Mayo scored 25 points for Beaver, which dropped its third game in a row.
• After trailing by one point at the half, Montour (10-2, 3-1) steamrolled past visiting Quaker Valley (7-7, 2-3), 76-48, in Class 4A Section 4. Ama Sow scored 18 points and AJ Alston and Kaleb Platz added 17 apiece for Montour, which outscored Quaker Valley, 48-19, in the second half. Joe Coyle’s 23 points paced the Quakers.
• Mohawk (9-6, 6-0) took sole possession of first place in Class 3A Section 1 following a 64-52 win at Neshannock (12-2, 5-1). It was the sixth win in a row for Mohawk, while Neshannock had its 12-game winning streak snapped. Jay Wrona converted five 3-pointers and scored 27 points for Mohawk. Talan Anderton and Jake Rynd led Neshannock with 13 points apiece.
• Aliquippa (9-3, 4-0) jumped to a 15-0 lead and never looked back on its way to a 65-31 win at Shenango (9-5, 3-2) in Class 2A Section 1. It was the sixth win in a row for the Quips, who got 23 points from Josh Pratt and 10 from Qa’lil Goode.
• Fort Cherry (10-4, 5-0) moved into first place in Class 2A Section 4 with a 66-41 win against visiting Burgettstown (12-4, 5-1). Derek Errett tallied 18 points for the Rangers, who increased their win streak to four games. James Leuice led Burgettstown with 12 points.
Girls game
• Gemma Walker scored 22 points and Natalie Wetzel added 14 to help Peters Township (15-0, 6-0) remain perfect following a 52-42 home win against Canon-McMillan (10-5, 3-3) in Class 6A Section 2. Peters Township led, 31-29, after three quarters before outscoring Canon-McMillan, 21-13, in the fourth. Nadia Davis paced the Big Macs with 13 points.
Three stars
*** — Isaiah Jeter, Central Valley. Jeter knocked down seven 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 27 points to lead the Warriors (8-4, 3-3) to a 53-25 win at Hopewell (6-7, 0-6) in Class 4A Section 2.
** — Jason Cross, Bishop Canevin. A West Virginia football recruit, Cross poured in 20 points to help Canevin (7-5, 4-0) win its sixth game in a row and stay on top of Class 2A Section 2 following a 76-59 home win against Winchester Thurston (7-6, 2-2).
* — Scoop Smith, Woodland Hills. Smith pumped in 32 points and added six steals to lead Woodland Hills (6-10, 3-2) to a 68-65 win against visiting Penn Hills (8-5, 2-3) in Class 5A Section 2.
Hot from deep
Players with 3 or more 3-pointers: Isaiah Jeter, Central Valley, 7; Teegan Finucan, Knoch, 5; Jay Wrona, Mohawk, 5; Nate Girod, Mt. Lebanon, 5; Justin Shanor, Blackhawk, 4; Derek Lang, Knoch, 4; Zach Pollaro, North Hills, 4; Kylie Frueshstorfer, Union, 4; Amere Brown, Woodland Hills, 4; Brady Mayo, Beaver, 3; Peter Kramer, Hampton, 3; Brandin Cummings, Lincoln Park, 3; Meleek Thomas, Lincoln Park, 3; Kaleb Platz, Montour, 3; Talan Anderton, Neshannock, 3; Ralphie Blundo, New Castle, 3; Joe Coyle, Quaker Valley, 3; Drake Fox, Riverside, 3; Jaxon Householder, Seneca Valley, 3.
Boys scores
Aquinas Academy 63, St. Joseph 45
Bishop Canevin 76, Winchester Thurston 59
Carlynton 58, Cornell 40
Central Catholic 50, North Allegheny 37
Central Valley 53, Hopewell 25
Ellwood City 58, Riverside 32
Fort Cherry 66, Burgettstown 41
Hampton 61, Greensburg Salem 22
Knoch 68, Highlands 65 (OT)
Lincoln Park 102, Blackhawk 57
Mohawk 64, Neshannock 52
Montour 76, Quaker Valley 48
Mt. Lebanon 64, Canon-McMillan 36
North Catholic 64, Beaver 49
North Hills 78, Chartiers Valley 66
Rochester 55, Western Beaver 32
Seneca Valley 66, New Castle 51
South Fayette 44, West Allegheny 41 (2 OT)
Shaler 39, Fox Chapel 27
Woodland Hills 68, Penn Hills 65
Girls scores
Aliquippa 63, Shenango 28
Fox Chapel 42, Shaler 37 (OT)
Peters Township 52, Canon-McMillan 42
Union 52, Eden Christian 20
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.