Serra Catholic drops overtime decision to California
January 29, 2020

Serra Catholic drops overtime decision to California

By Mon Valley Independent

By Jose Negron

jnegron@yourmvi.com

Night in and night out, Aaron Balla does his best to maintain a calm presence on the California sidelines. 

“I don’t know if I do or not, but I try not to show panic,” the Trojans’ second-year coach said. “My biggest thing is if I don’t show fear or if I show calmness, they can reciprocate it.” 

When his team went down by as many as 12 points late in the second quarter Tuesday, Balla never wavered. 

And his team didn’t either. 

The Trojans rallied in the second half and found a way to extend their winning streak to five with a 70-65 overtime victory over Serra Catholic in Section 2-2A play.

California (10-7, 5-4) outscored Serra Catholic, 11-6, in the extra frame with Kwondre Porter (5), Nathan O’Savage (4) and Cochise Ryan (2) accounting for the Trojans’ points.

“Nothing worries me with this group, it’s just a matter of how do I get them to be motivated, turn the tide and get things back in our favor,” Balla said. “They really stepped up tonight, big time.” 

To read the rest of this story, please see a copy of Wednsday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at https://e.monvalleyindependent.com.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
Latest News, Main
April 21, 2026
Theo Lodge, center, holds a sign Monday while surrounded by fellow participants during PennWest California’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event. Students and campus organizations joined the annual awarene...
Consolidation addressed at BVA town hall
Latest News, Main
By LADIMIR GARCIA lgarcia@yourmvi.com 
April 21, 2026
The session with school district leaders attracted roughly 50 people in person and another 114 online. Around 50 residents and parents in the Belle Vernon Area School District attended a town hall Mon...
Death of Haitian immigrant still an unsettling mystery 7 weeks later
Latest News, Main
April 21, 2026
Pittsburgh’s Public Source is an independent nonprofit newsroom serving the Pittsburgh region. Sign up for our free newsletters at https://www.publicsource. org/ newsletter-signup/ By Sophia Lucente P...
White Oak, South Versailles combine for joint venture
Latest News, Main
By SARAH PELLIS spellis@yourmvi.com 
April 21, 2026
The boroughs will work together in developing projects for the future. White Oak announced a joint project with South Versailles during Monday’s council meeting. The project, which has been in the wor...
MMVTA to offer expanded NFL Draft service
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
April 21, 2026
Trips to the draft site in Pittsburgh are scheduled for Thursday and Friday with a $4 one-way fee. By the MVI The Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority will operate expanded service Thursday and Friday dur...
EF and Rotary Club of Elizabeth host 8th annual third-grade spelling bee
Latest News, Main
April 21, 2026
The Elizabeth Forward School District and the Rotary Club of Elizabeth hosted the eighth annual third-grade spelling bee last week at Elizabeth Forward Middle School. Shown, from left, are Rotary Co-P...