Scotties hindered by 4-point swings in 54-34 loss to Seton LaSalle
Lori C. Padilla
Southmoreland’s Cade Richter is surrounded by Seton LaSalle’s Dylan Preston and Michael Bigley during Saturday’s WPIAL Class AAA first-round playoff game at Gateway High School.
Southmoreland's Zach Cernuto goes up for a shot against Seton LaSalle's Jim Weldon during Saturday’s WPIAL Class AAA first-round playoff game at Gateway High School.
Southmoreland's Brandon Peterson looks to pass the ball after a rebound against Seton LaSalle's Trevor O'Donnell during Saturday’s WPIAL Class AAA first-round playoff game at Gateway High School.
Southmoreland's Zach Cernuto drives to the basket during first-half action against Seton LaSalle's Trevor O'Donnell in Saturday’s WPIAL Class AAA first-round playoff game at Gateway High School.
MONROEVILLE — Southmoreland boys basketball coach Frank Muccino summed up his team’s 54-34 playoff loss to Seton LaSalle on Saturday as, “Our inability to score at the rim, and we had the opportunities. We missed layups and then (Seton LaSalle) went down and made layups at the other end for a four-point swing.”
The Gateway High School court hasn’t been kind to the Scotties over the years, as they have now lost all four WPIAL playoff games they have played at that site.
Briefly though, Southmoreland made a second-quarter surge that hinted at the possibility of a tight battle. But then, the second half started and the wheels came off, so to speak.
Seton LaSalle (18-4) scored 10 straight points after Zach Cernuto’s baseline jumper gave Southmoreland its only lead at 2-0.
Dylan Preston’s 3-point basket, three points by Michael Bigley, and four points by Trevor O’Donnell opened up a 10-2 lead.
Cade Richter broke the run with a drive to the basket, and Seton LaSalle’s Cole Walsh and Ronnie Robinson traded 3-point baskets as the Rebels led 13-7.
After Jake Verner and Riley Comforti traded baskets, Seton LaSalle went on a seven-point run to close the quarter with a 22-9 lead.
Southmoreland (12-10) outscored Seton LaSalle 11-6 in the second quarter, including the Scotties’ biggest run of the game with the Rebels leading 25-11.
Comforti scored on a putback, Robinson stole the ball and drove end to end to score, Robinson sank a trey, and Comforti drove to score to slice the lead to 25-20. But Bigley sank a three to end the half with the Rebels leading, 28-20.
Preston and O’Donnell scored to start the second half and the Scotties’ Brandon Peterson scored two of his four third-quarter points to leave the lead at 32-22.
But Seton LaSalle put together a 12-4 run against baskets by Peterson and Comforti to basically seal the outcome with a 44-26 lead after three quarters.
Comforti was Southmoreland’s lone double-figure scorer with 14 points and Robinson was next with eight. Preston scored 15 points, O’Donnell had 11 and Bigley scored 10 for Seton LaSalle.
The Rebels advance to play Washington, which defeated Keystone Oaks Saturday, in a game next week.
“Seton LaSalle is a very good basketball team,” Muccino said. “They caught us on traps and we kind of panicked. I really thought we played extra well on defense. But our bugaboo all year was making layups.
“We had a transition year last year. We had tough seniors this season who we will miss. They were passionate, gritty, had the will to win, and always played hard. Hopefully our underclassmen will pick things up and step right in for next year.”
Southmoreland’s seniors include Robinson, Richter, Brett Glowacki, Chris Pritts and Garrett Ansell.