Nick Colella
Name: Nick Colella
Team: New Castle
Number: #10
Grade: 12
Height: 6' 4''
Weight: N/A
Position: G/F
In a Nick of time, Colella
puts ’Canes back on track

By RON PONIEWASZ JR.
rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com

The New Castle High boys basketball team saw its season spiral out of control from the start.

But last week, Nick Colella played a big role in getting the Red Hurricane going in the right direction.

Colella scored 52 points in three New Castle wins, two in WPIAL Section 3-AAAA play. His 3-pointer with three seconds left in regulation against North Hills was critical in a game the ’Canes eventually won 68-58 in overtime.

“He’s been playing well,” said first-year ’Canes coach Mark Stanley. “He’s playing his best basketball of the year.

“The team is following his lead.”

Colella, a 6-foot-4 senior guard/forward, has been wearing a facial mask after suffering a broken nose Dec. 18 against Pine-Richland.

For his performance, Colella is Lawrence County’s Athlete of the Week, as selected by the New Castle News sports staff. The award is sponsored by Washington Centre Physical Therapy.

Colella was 17 of 33 from the field last week, averaging 10 rebounds a game as well.

In the win over North Hills, Colella had 23 points and 13 rebounds. Trailing 41-38 with 5.4 seconds left, the ’Canes (3-5 section, 7-10 overall) inbounded the ball on the side. Colella broke free around a Chris Richards screen, caught the ball at the top of the key and swished a game-tying 3-pointer.

“When (Coach Stanley) first drew it up, I knew I wanted it,” Colella said. “I knew it was going in.

“The feeling was just amazing; the crowd went crazy.”

In overtime, Colella took over, scoring six points, including 4 of 4 at the foul line.

Stanley had been looking to Colella for consistency.

“He’d have a lot of rebounds and not score. This was the complete deal,” Stanley said. “He always plays well and he put it all together against North Hills.”

Colella had 12 points in a 62-54 overtime verdict over section rival Butler on Tuesday and he dropped in 17 the next night in a 62-60 verdict over nonsection foe Hampton.

“I played pretty decent,” Colella said of his performance. “My defense wasn’t too good, but offensively I played really good; my rebounding was very good, too.”

Colella leads the team with 204 points (12.7 average) through 16 games. His 17 3-pointers are also tops on the squad.

“I’m working on all areas of my game,” Colella said. “I’ve improved my drive off the ball, my dribble-drive and my rebounding.”

“His senior leadership has been great,” Stanley said. “He’s definitely a leader on and off the floor and a class act.

“Nick does a great job in the classroom. He’s a better person than he is a basketball player, that’s what is nice about him.”

For the year, Colella is 66 of 171 from the field through 16 games while pulling down 8.9 rebounds a contest.

Last year, Colella averaged 7.2 points and made 24 3-pointers.

“He is playing much better when he goes to the hoop,” Stanley said. “He’s showing the ball and driving to the hoop.”

Colella feels the ’Canes are poised to make a strong playoff push.

“We feel really good and we’re playing like a team,” Colella said. “We have a lot of momentum going into the bigger games.”
Player of the Week
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