McKeesport falls on Wildcats’ buzzer beater

By ASHLEY CHASE

MVI Sports

A buzzer-beating 3-pointer dealt McKeesport a home court heartbreak, as Latrobe toppled the Tigers 72-69 in WPIAL boys basketball action at Neenie Campbell Gymnasium on Friday night.

In the most unlikely of finishes, McKeesport rallied, down 19 points with under four minutes to play, scoring 10 points in the final 1:26 of the game to tie the score at 69 apiece with 20 seconds remaining.

Latrobe, seeming content to dribble things out and take the game to overtime, saw a long-range heave from Chase Sickenberger land in the hoop to give the Wildcats the win and stunning the Tigers and their faithful fans in attendance.

The Wildcats were led by Frank Newill, who scored 19 points in the first half, but was held to just 4 in the second half, all in the fourth quarter. A layup by Newill with under four minutes to play gave Latrobe a 69-50 advantage on the scoreboard and the game looked like a lock.

Dustin Strom and Aemond Knight hit back-to-back buckets to pull the Tigers within 15.

As the McKeesport bench cleared and head coach Kevin Kovach was ready to send in substitutes and check all remaining starters out of the game, Strom was fouled attempting a three-pointer and went to the line to shoot. Strom hit all three shots and made it a 12-point game, so the subs went back to the bench, as there was still a ball game to be played.

Shawn McGraw nailed a two for the Tigers with 1:26 on the clock to make it a 10-point contest, and it was truly game-on from there.

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