Third Royals title comes in nail-biter
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette You only get one shot to lead your team to a WPIAL title in your first year at the helm, Vincentian coach Tim Tyree pointed out minutes after doing just that.
The Royals overcame Union’s hot 3-point shooting to win their third WPIAL Class 1A title, 54-51, Thursday at Petersen Events Center.
“Coming in in my first year, with such a good group of seniors, I really wanted to take them out on top,” Tyree said. “So this one is going to be special for the rest of my career. I’ll never forget this.”
Union made 6 of 13 3pointers in the first half and was 10 of 25 from 3 total, with a 3-pointer by sophomore guard Nathan Meeks, who had 12 points, tying the score, 28-28, at halftime. Vincentian overcame 17 turnovers to Union’s nine by dominating the boards, outrebounding Union, 41-19, with senior Zach McDonough leading the Royals with 25 points.
Senior Kyler Fedko tallied 14 points and led Vincentian in rebounds with nine.
“We were a lot careless with the ball early in the game, which led to us not converting layups, some
easier shots in the beginning of the game, and I felt like that was really the difference,” Tyree said. “We had looks at the basket like we said, we did get out in transition and run a little bit, but really just didn’t take care of the ball so, I feel like turnovers and maybe the magnitude of the game, just pregame jitters for the guys.”
In the fourth quarter, Meeks sunk a 3-pointer and junior guard Seth Pinkerton made a layup to tie it, 43-43, with six minutes to play.
The game stayed tight, a layup and free throw by 6foot-6 freshman forward Angelo Reeves, who had nine points and eight rebounds, giving Vincentian a 49-46 advantage before Union senior guard Trevon Charles, who led the Scotties with 14 points, tied it up again with a 3-pointer. Later, Reeves made two free throws to keep it tied at 51-51, and a layup by Fedko made it 53-51 Vincentian with about a minute left.
“We did execute down the stretch, and that was really the difference, and free throws,” Tyree said.
Charles was fouled with 13.1 second to play and missed two free throws, allowing Vincentian to buy time and seal the win.
McDonough had made a 3-pointer to make it 35-34 Vincentian with less than four minutes to play in the third quarter. He led Vincentian from 3, making 3 of 8. The Royals made four free throws and took a 41-36 lead into the fourth quarter.
Vincentian’s focus in the second half, McDonough said, shifted to stiffer defense and containing Charles. The Royals held the Scotties to eight points in the third quarter.
“We just have to go through the game plan coach gave us,” McDonough said. “Run our sets right. Our big thing in the second half was to stop Tre Charles and get out on the shooters and just play good defense.”
It was a much more lowscoring affair for both teams than when they met twice in the regular season. Vincentian beat Union, 8359, Jan. 9, and Union beat Vincentian, 83-72, Feb. 2.
Union coach Mark Stanley said the Scotties, who lack size, often look to 3point shooting to pull ahead in games.
“Gutting performance,” Stanley said. “Every time we were down, they’d make the one extra pass, they’ve done it for three years. I’m proud of them. They could have folded, but they didn’t. … We shoot as well as anybody, and that’s what keeps us in … we were one short.”