BVA, TJ players appreciate opportunity to play one game before shutdown

By Jose Negron

jnegron@yourmvi.com

When basketball players around the Mon Valley and beyond heard the news of high school sports being shut down for three weeks, there was obvious shock and disappointment. 

“I felt like we could and would take all appropriate precautions to stay safe,” Belle Vernon Area junior Daniel Gordon said. 

On Thursday, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that all high school sports would be suspended until Jan. 4 as part of COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Wolf’s order went into effect Saturday. 

“When coach told us that we would be shut down from all basketball activities until Jan. 4, we were all shocked,” Thomas Jefferson senior Jake Pugh said. “Coming off of football and trying to work our way in to basketball season, things were starting to mold together and I think our team was starting to play well together.” 

Before Thursday’s announcement, a number of area teams were slated to play season-opening games Friday. 

Some teams, including Clairton, Elizabeth Forward and McKeesport, elected not to play. Meanwhile, both Frazier’s boys and girls teams were in action in addition to Belle Vernon Area and Thomas Jefferson. 

The Jaguars captured a 65-59 victory over the Leopards in a nonsection contest at Belle Vernon Area High School. 

While both teams were among several around the WPIAL to play Friday, some may ask, “Why bother playing just one game?” 

“We didn’t want to miss an opportunity to play basketball, especially if it could be our last game,” said Gordon, who scored a team-high 16 points for BVA in the loss. 

“We definitely still wanted to play no matter what,” said Pugh, an 11-point scorer against the Leps. “Who knows what is going to happen in these next few weeks, so getting this game in was huge for us to be able to show what we can do as a team this year. It was a great start to the year, getting a big win against a good opponent.” 

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