Leps’ comeback bid falls short in loss to Prexies

Jenn Codeluppi / MVI Sports
Belle Vernon Area’s Hunter Ruokonen drives past Washington’s Tayshawn Levy during Monday’s nonsection contest.

By JOSE NEGRON
jnegron@yourmvi.com
Belle Vernon Area head coach Joe Salvino felt a sense of deja vu Monday night.
Two days after the Leopards endured first-half struggles before picking things up in the second half of a 76-71 loss to Penn-Trafford, Salvino watched as his team replicated that performance, falling short in a 70-67 defeat at the hands of Class 3A Washington in nonsection action.
The Leopards (1-2) trailed 36-25 at halftime and rallied to cut their deficit to as few as one point late in the second half; however, a comeback win wasn’t in the cards for the second straight contest.
“It was very similar. That’s the way the Penn-Trafford game was,” Salvino said. “They kicked our butts for 16 minutes and then we won the last two quarters at Penn-Trafford. We won the last two quarters here, too, but the game is 32 minutes, not 16.”

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