Hounds hold off Trojans for 61-55 win

By Jonathan Guth

MVI Sports

Monessen’s trap caused problems for California in the first half, and the Greyhounds hold off a furious second-half rally for a 61-55 victory Tuesday in Section 4-2A play at California Area High School.

“I think we were effective in our trap, especially early in the game, and that obviously bothered them,” Monessen coach Dan Bosnic said. “We made some adjustments defensively from the first time we played them. They had to come out and cover us and not sit back, and we were able to go around them. It added up to a lot of fouls for them.”

The Trojans (2-2, 2-1) trailed by as many as 15 early in the third quarter, but outscored Monessen, 13-5, in the third to cut the deficit to 37-32 entering the fourth.

California had two of its starters foul out in the first minute of the final quarter, as Kwondre Porter and Nathan O’Savage picked up their fifth fouls. O’Savage had 11 points and Porter six.

“You have to control the ball to have an effective offense and an effective game overall,” California coach Aaron Balla said. “We are going to address it and continue to address it going forward. We haven’t played many games, but I am not going to use COVID as an excuse.”

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