Farmers rallies past Howard Hanna

By JEREMY SELLEW

jsellew@yourmvi.com

Farmers Insurance made an early stake that it’s one of the favorites in the Mon Valley Independent Summer Basketball League.

After trailing midway through the second half, the Farmers’ stars started to assert themselves and used a big run to rally past Howard Hanna Wilson Baum, 75-66, to kick off the season.

Belle Vernon Area’s Devin Whitlock finished with a game-high 23 points and Farmers had four players finish in double figures in the win.

Early on, though, Howard Hanna showed they’re going to be a team to be reckoned with behind great long-range shooting.

“It was a real up-and-down game, which is what I expected,” Howard Hanna coach Matt Loftis said of his first game on the bench in the league. “It was a game of runs back and forth and they had the biggest one there in the second half.”

Trailing 54-48 with nine minutes to go, Farmers went on a 12-0 run to take a 60-54 lead behind the strong play of South Allegheny’s Omar Faulkner. The Gladiators big man finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds to finish with a double-double, but seven of those points came within the three minute run.

“It’s a pleasure to have him,” Farmers head coach Dana Zajicek said with a big smile on his face. “Let’s just say I’m really pleased with my first-round draft choice.”

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