Penn Hills holds section-title fate in its hands

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, February 3, 2018 | 1:48 AM

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It seemed like the Penn Hills boys basketball team was rolling right along after the Indians won their biggest game of the season against a rival to extend their season-opening winning streak to 14 games.

However, after splitting the next four games, the Indians (17-2, 9-2) returned to the field in Section 3-6A. Four teams have a shot to grab a share of the section title.

On Jan. 12, the Indians, who average 67.5 points, handed Woodland Hills its first section loss 68-60.

Riding high from the big win, the Indians traveled to Latrobe for another big section matchup Jan. 16 against the Wildcats. However, the Indians lost 80-66.

After the loss to Latrobe, the Indians logged back-to-back wins over Plum and Norwin before falling 61-54 at home against Fox Chapel on Jan. 26.

“I think those teams came out and played harder than us and wanted it more than us. We weren't ready to match that,” coach Dan DeRose said.

“They got to understand they need to finish the rest of these games with a different level of intensity.”

Entering Friday, the Indians were tied with Woodland Hills with a 9-2 section record, but Latrobe and Fox Chapel remain in striking distance at 8-3.

DeRose believes if the Indians want to be section champions for the third year in a row, they will need to run the table.

The Indians, who hold opponents to 54.7 points per game this season, traveled to Woodland Hills on Wednesday and face Latrobe at home on Friday to finish the regular season. Results of Wednesday's game were unavailable at press time.

“Losing the other night, I think, opened everything up for everyone,” DeRose said. “We hold our own destiny, and Woodland Hills hold their own destiny. If either one wins out, they are section champs. It's on them to how they want to respond to that.”

Last season, the Indians had an opportunity to win sole possession of the section title with a win at Latrobe in the final game of the regular season.

However, the Indians lost to the Wildcats, 76-75, and settled for a three-way share of the section title with Latrobe and Fox Chapel.

Even though many of the Indians weren't on the varsity team last season, DeRose has been trying to make sure that loss doesn't occur again.

“We hit a wall, and I don't think it's any different from last year,” DeRose said. “I'm trying to get them to see it so the same results from the previous two years don't happen again.”

Penn Hills leans on a trio of senior scorers: Daivon Stephens, Cam Wiley and Cory Fulton.

Stephens leads the Indians with 18.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg and 4.8 apg, and Wiley is second in scoring with 14.4 ppg. Fulton averages 13.3 points and 5.1 assists.

Woodland Hills won both games against Latrobe and split two matchups against Fox Chapel.

“It's going to go down to the wire, which is going to make it exciting,” DeRose said.

“Obviously, the last couple games of the season are going to dictate not just who wins the section but who get one of the top seeds in the playoffs.”

Andrew John is a freelance writer.

Tags: Penn Hills