New Castle Report

Three-peat, back to back to back, both bring back good memories to Hurricanes fans but this year they have a different meaning. The unthinkable happened at the Aliquippa Middle School gymnasium, the New Castle Red Hurricanes were beaten for the third straight time by the Shaler Titans, tonight by the score of 51-47.

The Titans winners at home over the Canes in triple overtime repeated their victory several weeks later on a free throw with just two seconds remaining to sweep the season series from the Canes. Tonight in the second round of the WPIAL playoffs the two familiar foes faced off again.

Both teams started slowly until Leon Ward hit a ‘three’. Shaler responded with one of their own and the score was tied at the 5:29. The Titans then proceeded to out score the Canes 7-2 over the next 4:30 to hold a 10-5 lead.

Dom Joseph broke the draught with just 50 seconds to play in the period and was fouled in the process. He sank the free throw and the Hurricanes trailed by just two after one period 10-8.

Mark Cook made a ‘three’ to start the second quarter and put the Canes ahead for the first time since Ward’s opening shot. Shaler responded with a ‘three’ of their own and retook the lead at 7:33. A ‘three’ by Joseph and the Hurricanes were again back on top.

Shaler tied the score at 14 but Cook hit a ‘two’ and a ‘three’ and New Castle led by five, 19-14 with 5:45 to play in the half. A ‘three’ by Shaler 40 seconds later brought them back to within two.

Cook then made one of two free throws to spread the margin back to three but the Titans hit another ‘three’ to tie the game at 20. The teams exchanged free throws and the score was tied at the intermission 21 up.

The first three baskets of the third period were all made by Shaler and were all ‘threes’ but it wasn’t until 4:24 were gone in the quarter. The Canes had turned the ball over three times and missed three shots during this same time.

Hoover Gibson finally scored the first Hurricane basket of the period at 4:30 bringing the Canes back to with in seven, 30-23. ‘Threes’ by Mark DeMonaco, Joseph and Cook gave New Castle a 9-4 edge the rest of the period and the Canes were back to within two after three, 34-32.

Shaler started the final period by out scoring the Canes 12-2 over the first 6:30 and moving out to an 11 point lead 46-35. New Castle got back to within six, 47-41 with just 41 seconds to play but the Titans scored four straight to get the lead back to ten. Cook hit a ‘three’ as time was running out to close the final gap to 51-44.

New Castle missed 12 shots during the fourth period while making only four including Cook’s last second basket.

The Hurricanes shot poorly but the Shaler defense deserve some credit as the Canes’ had very few uncontested shot. DeMonaco did not attempt a thee point shot in the first period as the Canes didn’t look to him very often and when the did he was defended.

Mark Cook led the Canes with 20, Dom Joseph ended with nine points and seven rebounds.

Each team had 9 'threes'

. * Starter

Name	FG	FTA	FTM	3s	TP
Joseph*	3	1	1	2	9
Cook*	7	2	1	5	20
DeMonaco*	1	2	2	1	5
Carter*	1	0	0	0	2
Ward*	1	2	1	1	4
Gibson	2	0	0	0	4
Totals	15	7	5	9	44

score @ quarters	1	2	3	F
New Castle	8	21	32	44
Shaler	10	21	34	51

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