Trio leads Farmers Insurance over Campy’s

By JEREMY SELLEW

jsellew@yourmvi.com

Farmers Insurance used an 11-0 run in the second half and maintained a hold on the top seed in next week’s Mon Valley Independent Summer Basketball League playoffs with a 72-64 win over Campy’s Pizza Tuesday.

Three Farmers players finished with double-doubles and contributed every point in the key spurt in the second half.

Belle Vernon Area’s Devin Whitlock finished with 21 points and 10 assists, Washington’s Tayshawn Levy had 21 points and 10 rebounds and South Allegheny’s Omar Faulkner netted 20 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks for the winners.

“We got down by five there and I think our guys realized they were in a tight game,” Farmers coach Dana Zajicek said. “I really think our intensity kicked in and we started really playing good defense at that point.”

After two free throws by Ringgold’s Demetrius Butler and a putback by Charleroi’s Will Wagner, who scored 15 points, made it 51-45 in favor of Campy’s Pizza, Farmers started their run over the next three minutes.

Devin Whitlock hit a pull-up jumper before four straight points from Faulkner. One of those baskets was an impressive effort between four Campy’s defenders under the basket.

Whitlock and Levy combined to go 3 for 4 from the line, Levy’s coming on free throws thanks to a technical foul called against Campy’s Nico Pugliano (East Allegheny).

“This game really mirrored the last time we played them,” Zajicek said. “We were able to take advantage of some of their mistakes and some bad passes during that run.”

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