Double OT loss hits McKeesport hard

By JEREMY SELLEW
jsellew@yourmvi.com

Friday night’s loss hurt McKeesport head coach Kevin Kovach. And in the locker room after the game, the Tigers’ mentor could tell it hurt the entire team.
Franklin Regional overcame a 12-point deficit at the beginning of the fourth quarter to force two overtimes before earning a hard-fought 77-73 win over McKeesport at Neenie Campbell Gymnasium.
The loss dropped the Tigers to 0-2 in Section 3-5A, both losses coming after knocking off defending Class 5A Laurel Highlands last week.
“I couldn’t even say much in the locker room after the game,” Kovach said. “I didn’t have to. I could see they were hurt. This one hurt them, then they watched as they danced on our own center court after the game.
“I’m hoping in February we can look back and let this be our rallying cry.”
The Panthers’ Caden Smith scored 20 of his game-high 25 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to lead the charge.
The Panthers didn’t take their first lead until 1:53 remaining in the fourth quarter.
“This game should have never gone to overtime,” Kovach said. “If we make our foul shots, this game doesn’t go that far. You can’t be a championship contender if you shoot free throws the way we do.”
The Panthers finished that game 28 of 38 from the line, compared to only 15 of 26 for the Tigers.
The fouls paid off for the Panthers late as the Tigers’ Brison Kisan, Rob Robinson and Caiden Holtzman all fouled out of the game. Add to that Travarese Rowe going down with an ankle injury, it led to disaster for McKeesport (2-2, 0-2).
“We were playing a lot of sophomores there at the end of the game, and we did still have a chance,” Kovach said. “It’s just really frustrating, and they’re frustrated, too.”
Rowe gave the Tigers a 51-48 lead with just under a minute to play in regulation.
But Franklin Regional’s Luke Kimmich hit a 3-pointer to tie it with 33 seconds left.
Kimmich, who hit six threes in the game, had his biggest in double overtime. Left all alone at the top of the key with 2:23 remaining, he buried his final trifecta.
“Of all the guys you can’t leave open, it’s him,” Kovach said. “Caiden had great defense on him leading up to it and he kinda got tied up with the ball in his hands. Then Caiden just left him.”
The Panthers led 73-69 before Dustin Strom stroked a 3-pointer from the corner to pull the Tigers back to within one. After a pair of Smith free throws, the Tigers had a late chance after Shayne McGraw intentionally missed the second of two free throws. Strom had a look at gathering the rebound in near the sideline, but ran just past the ball before falling out of bounds.
Aidan Carlisle sealed the game with a pair of free throws with six seconds to go for Franklin Regional.
Kisan did his best to will the Tigers to the win late. He finished the game with a team-high 19 points, scoring 11 of those in the extra periods.
“It was bit of an uncharacteristic game from Brison. He had some bad turnovers, trying to make some passes that weren’t really there,” Kovach said. “When we needed him, though, he was making the plays.”
Robinson and Rowe each scored 15 points and Khaleke Andrews finished with 13, including three 3-pointers.
“We practiced everything they ran, They did exactly what we thought they were going to do,” Kovach said. “We let their pressure dictate us late. In the third we were telling them to slow down, but we made a lot of stupid turnovers. We let them speed us up.”
Kadyn Hannah finished with 18 points for Franklin Regional before fouling out in the first overtime.
The Tigers will look to rebound today when they host Nazareth Prep at 5:30 p.m.
“We’ll see how we bounce back,” Kovach said. “We have to lick our wounds. But like I said, this one hurts.”

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