Chas Mrlack hits game-winner as Greyhounds top Wildcats
By JEREMY SELLEW
jsellew@yourmvi.com
Chas Mrlack has been a spark for the Monessen Greyhounds this season with his constant hustle and aggressive style both offensively and defensively.
Friday, in what was likely his final game on Major Corley Court at the high school, Mrlack was strictly money.
Mrlack pulled up and hit a game-winning 15-foot jumper as the buzzer sounded to give the Greyhounds a thrilling 50-49 win over visiting East Allegheny in both teams’ regular-season finale.
Prior to the game, Greyhounds coach Dan Bosnic was honored and presented a basketball to commemorate his 100th win. But No. 101 was unforgettable.
“That was the play. We wanted to get downhill there going to the basket,” Monessen coach Dan Bosnic said. “We did a good job of getting him on the wing there and heading into the lane. It was a great job by him and a great shot.
“That was a game that we probably didn’t deserve to win, but that’s playoff basketball. A game like this, back and forth and facing adversity, that’s exactly what we need heading into Wednesday.”
East Allegheny’s Amareyah Lucky, who finished with a game-high 19 points, missed the front end of a one-and-one, which was rebounded by the Greyhounds.
After a timeout by Bosnic, Kody Kuhns got the ball in to Kiantae Robinson who advanced the ball with 7.4 seconds to go. He found Mrlack on the wing, who dribbled into the lane looking to get to the rim.
“I saw them drop back into the lane so I couldn’t get there,” Mrlack said. “I’m unguardable. I pulled up and the flick of the wrist just felt perfect. I knew it was going in.”
With the shot falling for the win, the Greyhounds will enter the playoffs on a three-game winning streak.
“Even though we won those three games, I don’t think we played quite the way we wanted to but we were able to pull them out,” Mrlack said. “We have nothing to lose. We’re going to go up there (to Shenango) and try to create some energy. If we rebound, play disciplined and play great defense, nothing can stop us.”
Neither team had a lead larger than seven points, and that belonged to the Greyhounds at the end of the first quarter as they led 18-11.
“Scoring the basketball has been a problem. Monessen has always been known to have one of the most athletic teams. Guess what. We’re not the most athletic team,” Bosnic said. “But we love coaching this group. One thing we do well is play defense and they’re a scrappy bunch. This is a group no one expected a lot out of. We know that if we do the little things, the fundamentals and play defense, we can beat anyone.”
Scoring the basketball was a challenge for the Greyhounds (10-7) in the second quarter as they only managed four points. They trailed at the half, 24-22, when East Allegheny’s Nico Pugliano hit an awkward-looking 3-pointer at the buzzer.
“We went through a stretch there that we didn’t do a great job moving and working the ball,” Bosnic said. “But these guys are willing to go out there and compete every single night.”
The third quarter was back and forth throughout as Kuhns, who led the Greyhounds with 13 points, hit a basket inside and Mrlack followed it with a layup of his own to make the score 32-31 Monessen. It was the only time in the entire third quarter either team put consecutive baskets in the hoop.
Pugliano, who finished with 11 points, scored on a putback to give the Wildcats (1-12) a 39-37 lead as the third quarter expired.
The Greyhounds started the fourth with five straight points to take a 42-39 lead. After Mrlack scored with 5:16 to go to make it 44-41, the Wildcats roared back with two baskets by Lucky and a reverse layup by Mikey Smith.
The Wildcats held the Greyhounds scoreless for nearly four minutes until Sonny Thomas hit a pair of free throws to make it a one-point game. Kuhns followed with a layup on a nice pick and roll to the basket to give the Greyhounds a 48-47 lead with 57 seconds to go.
A pair of free throws by Smith made it 49-48 to set up Mrlack’s heroics.
“Kody was able to get the ball to Kiantae right where we wanted it to go,” Mrlack said of the team’s final rush. “He was able to find me and that was it. I knew I made it as soon as I shot it. I couldn’t ask for a better ending in my final game here.”
The Greyhounds open WPIAL postseason play as the No. 9 seed in Class 2A. They’ll travel to Shenango for a 6 p.m. tip Wednesday.
