MONROEVILLE – Coming into time beyond regulation, the Baldwin Preventing Highlanders regarded as if they’d pull off a quarterfinal upset in opposition to Pittsburgh Central Catholic. That was till the Vikings’ Dante DePante scored 10 factors within the time beyond regulation quarter to in the end finish the sport.

Trying to win the varsity’s first WPIAL title since 2008, the Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings at the moment are one step nearer to that purpose after defeating Baldwin in time beyond regulation trend, 80-75. 

DePante paced the Vikings with 34 factors, 24 of which got here within the second half and time beyond regulation quarters.

Dante DePante leads Central Catholic with 34 Factors to an 80-75 OVERTIME VICTORY over Baldwin 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (@DanteDepante) @PCC_Hoops @MasonElite2023 @MaxPreps @210ths @DailyLoud pic.twitter.com/mEMs3kervy

— Prospect Media (@prospectmedia_) February 25, 2023

That is the Vikings’ third journey to the semifinals prior to now 4 years however failed to achieve the large recreation in every of the earlier two.  

“It might be wonderful to win the title. I do know that Central is extra recognized [as] a soccer college, so it could be wonderful to get a WPIAL championship for basketball and let everyone know that basketball is simply nearly as good,” stated Vikings’ senior Dante DePante.

The Vikings’ season might be described as up-and-down as they completed with an general report of 13-9. That didn’t cease Central from racking up spectacular wins within the course of. The Vikings managed to beat prime groups in New Fortress, Lincoln Park, and Penn Hills to in the end safe the three-seed getting into the WPIAL playoffs. 

“Within the vacation tournaments, we performed some actually powerful groups, had a extremely powerful schedule this 12 months. I really feel prefer it actually helped us to date and I really feel like we’re actually peaking on the proper time as a staff. I really feel like we will actually go far,” stated DePante. “We didn’t do nearly as good as we needed [earlier in the season] however proper now we’re peaking.”

Baldwin’s James Wesling got here out firing as he hit back-to-back threes and helped the Preventing Highlanders bounce out to an early lead. Central’s DePante answered proper again with two buckets of his personal to even the momentum.

Within the late phases of the second quarter, the Vikings have been on a 5-0 run till Wesling went down the courtroom and hit an NBA-range 3-pointer. Wesling then adopted that up on the subsequent possession with one other three that made it a two-point recreation.

Within the first half, the Highlanders have been capable of restrict DePante to solely 10 factors. DePante wanted to take over within the second half to ensure that the Vikings to shut the sport out and gained the power to take action within the last seconds of the primary half as he blocked a Baldwin shot on the buzzer.

Baldwin opened the third quarter on a 7-3 run that introduced the sport again inside one possession.

These two groups, and particularly DePante and Wesling, would go punch-for-punch down the stretch. Wesling scored a game-high 41 factors, together with 9 3-pointers within the dropping effort.

Baldwin took a 55-53 lead into the ultimate body after Wesling beat the buzzer along with his seventh three of the sport.

The momentum shifted backwards and forwards within the fourth quarter with the rating being tied 4 completely different occasions. Wesling’s eighth 3-pointer tied the sport at 68-68 with simply over two minutes remaining. Neither staff scored once more in regulation and the sport went to time beyond regulation.

With 1:20 remaining in time beyond regulation and the sport tied, Baldwin’s Nathan Richards regarded to make one other powerful, spinning shot however was blocked by the 6-foot-7 Debaba Tshiebwe. DePante then pushed the ball down the courtroom and made a contested lay-up that resulted in a 3-point play. This ended up because the dagger for the Highlanders.

Tshiebwe, Cole Sullivan, and Randy Wilkerson every completed with 11 factors for the Vikings.

“It was only a actually enjoyable recreation general. Baldwin is a extremely good staff,” stated DePante. “I really feel like our staff fought by all the powerful photographs [Baldwin] made and ended up profitable the sport.”

Wesling tried to hold the Highlanders to the upset, as he scored 25 of his 41 factors after halftime however in the end got here up brief. Richards was the one different Highlander to complete in double-digits as he scored 13 factors.

Central Catholic will play Higher Saint Clair within the semifinals on Feb. 28 at Peters Township Excessive College. The opposite semifinal matchup in Class-6A will characteristic a conflict between New Fortress and Mt. Lebanon.

Riley Farabaugh arrived on the Mt. Lebanon gymnasium round 5:00 previous to his crew’s 8:00 p.m. quarterfinals matchup in opposition to Butler. After Mt. Lebanon celebrated a 55-50 win over Butler, Farabaugh exited his crew’s locker room, ball in hand, and returned to the courtroom to place in additional work. 

On an evening that introduced in No. 5 Butler (14-8, 5-6) that has a dominant one-two punch in Braylon Littlejohn and Donavan Carney, it was Farabaugh who put collectively a quiet however pivotal efficiency for the No. 4 Blue Devils (16-7, 9-2) to assist them advance to the WPIAL Class 6A semifinals. 

Gamers like Farabaugh are a testomony to postseason highschool basketball because it brings out one of the best in groups. Generally it isn’t at all times concerning the flashy performs or the thrilling moments, however generally it’s concerning the small particulars and the arduous work. That onerous work paid off for Farabaugh who completed with a team-high 17 factors.

“He’s our hardest employee,” head coach Joey David mentioned. “I instructed him, what you place in, you’re going to get out. It was no accident that he did that as a result of he works his tail off.”

As Farabaugh shot free throws whereas the patrons dispersed and the upkeep crew cleaned up round him, it was his work from the free throw line within the fourth quarter that paid dividends for Mt. Lebanon. The junior nailed seven free throws within the last body, together with two that put the Blue Devils up by 5 with 10 seconds left to play.

“I at all times know there’s somebody on the market who’s making an attempt to get higher than me,” Farabaugh mentioned. “It at all times feels good to see it repay.”

By means of all of it, there was a coolness to Farabaugh that helped him seal the deal for the Blue Devils.

“I simply take myself again to that observe line. I prefer to image myself with the courtroom I shoot exterior. Perhaps the winds blowing just a little bit, it doesn’t matter. I calm my nerves and maintain that comply with via and sink that shot.”

The free throws Farabaugh added to pad the lead within the last handful of seconds allowed Mt. Lebanon to breathe just a little simpler. Butler was no straightforward activity because the Golden Twister was outfitted with the best scoring offense within the classification, averaging 65.7 level per recreation. 

Butler began the sport off scorching and operating. Donovan Carney buried seven factors earlier than the gang even settled into their seats as Mt. Lebanon tried to maintain up with the fast-paced offense.  

Trailing by seven coming into the second quarter, the Blue Devils made an adjustment defensively and slowed down Butler to drag it again to a good recreation. The Blue Devils pace and feistiness proved to be an impediment for Butler.

“I believe we’re getting higher defensively,” David mentioned. “I don’t suppose we’re a fantastic, nice defensive crew, however I believe we’ve improved considerably, and we needed to be within the gaps.”

In a tightly contested battle, Butler’s stars threw every part that they had on the Blue Devils. Littlejohn dropped 10 of his 19 complete factors within the second half. Carney knocked down two clutch threes within the fourth quarter to maintain it a detailed recreation. Ultimately, it was Mt. Lebanon’s protection that made an additional cease in opposition to the Golden Twister’s potent offense.

“I believe we did a adequate job of stopping them,” Farabaugh mentioned. “We obtained within the gaps to maintain them out of the lane. We struggled there within the fourth quarter, however that’s what basketball is. You’ve gotten your ups and downs, and once we wanted to we obtained these stops, and that’s all that issues.”

Mt. Lebanon’s skill to comprise Littlejohn and Carney was the important thing because the Blue Devils advance to the subsequent spherical. 

“I assumed [we] confirmed lots of coronary heart,” David mentioned. “That is our fifth time within the semifinals within the final six years. Which means rather a lot about our program and rather a lot about our gamers.”

Within the profitable effort, the Blue Devils additionally noticed Brody Barber hit double digits with 12 factors, together with 9 factors from Tanner Donati and eight factors from Liam Sheely.

The subsequent cease for Mt. Lebanon comes in opposition to the highest crew in 6A as New Fortress took care of Norwin, 59-47.

After beating Butler to advance to the @wpial7 6A semifinals, Mt. Lebanon head coach Joe David spoke about his crew’s efficiency🔊@PghSportsNow pic.twitter.com/vV4V8Jsga0

— Nathan Breisinger (@NateBreisinger) February 25, 2023

After I requested Mt. Lebanon coach Joe David the place I may discover the crew’s main scorer in opposition to Butler, it was easy — Riley Farabaugh was the one one left on the courtroom placing in additional work after a 17-point evening to advance to the 6A semifinals🔊@PghSportsNow pic.twitter.com/u7d0hK5Ayc

— Nathan Breisinger (@NateBreisinger) February 25, 2023

Replace (12:26 PM)-

Sunday, February 26 at 2pm 🏀

🔴: Chuck Cooper Basic
📚: College Provide Drive
🖊️: Autograph session publish sport

Followers can drop off all provides in assortment packing containers upon arrival on the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. #GoDukes pic.twitter.com/hlHFApplgl

— Duquesne Basketball (@DuqMBB) February 24, 2023

Replace (12:16 PM)-

Justin Champagnie powered the Power to the win over Mexico Metropolis 🔥

21 PTS | 7 REB | 2 AST pic.twitter.com/279eQBf8S4

— Sioux Falls Skyforce (@SFSkyforce) February 24, 2023