Kiski Area puts scare into streaking Gateway in Section 3-5A boys basketball showdown

By: Bob Orkwis
Tuesday, January 9, 2024 | 10:07 PM

Kiski Area and Gateway came into Tuesday night’s contest in Monroeville heading in opposite directions. The Gators had won eight straight games, and the Cavaliers had dropped their last three.

Kiski Area gave Gateway everything it could handle for three quarters before the Gators outscored the Cavaliers by seven in the fourth quarter for a 64-57 win.

Kiski Area led by five points at halftime, and a 3-pointer by Noah Thimons at the end of the third quarter tied the score at 40-40.

“Kiski is a very good team, and we knew that coming in,” Gateway coach Alvis Rogers said. “I was just trying to keep the guys motivated and not get complacent tonight. I knew it was going to be a hard-fought game, and it was.”

But sophomore Mykel Bruce-McCrommon, who led the Gators with 19 points, hit a pair of threes early in the fourth quarter to help Gateway pull away.

Bruce-McCrommon, who battled through injuries earlier in the season, finished the night with five 3s, all coming after halftime.

“We needed it,” Rogers said of Bruce-McCrommon’s play. “He’s starting to come around now and starting to gain the confidence in his shot (after being injured). He was huge for us tonight when he started knocking down shots.”

Senior forward Alec Dunsmore finished with 16 points for Gateway, and Vito Campolo added 14.

“He’s (Alec) the wide body down low for us, and Alex Lowry was also big on the boards tonight,” Rogers said.

Lowry, who fouled out with just six points, had several big offensive rebounds to help Gateway come from behind.

“Alex is an athlete,” Rogers said of his senior guard. “We just tell him to go get it. Those two did a great job rebounding the ball tonight.”

Kiski Area, (8-5, 0-3), was paced by junior Colin Keller’s 15 points, including four 3-pointers. Thimons finished with 11.

Gateway came into the game tied with Franklin Regional and Latrobe atop Section 3-5A and improved to 10-1, 3-0 with the win. The next two contests are big for Gators as they visit the Panthers on Friday and visit the Wildcats next Tuesday.

“We just have to be aggressive,” Rogers said of the upcoming games. “We have to continue to play defense the way we have been playing because those certainly are big game for us.”

The Cavaliers return home for a section matchup against McKeesport on Friday night.

Tags: Gateway, Kiski Area