By RON PONIEWASZ JR.
rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com

WEXFORD — One big run was all it took last night to finish off the New Castle High boys.

North Allegheny rallied from an eight-point third-quarter deficit to upend the Red Hurricane in a WPIAL Section 3-AAAA matchup, 77-57.

“They’re going to make a run because they’re a good team; but you have to limit those runs. ” New Castle coach Mark Stanley said. “We stayed under them and put hands up under shooters.

“Our rebounding was good but then we stopped rebounding and that hurt.”

The Tigers (4-0 section, 9-0 overall) trailed 49-41 with 4:25 left in the third quarter after New Castle’s Mike Andrews converted a three-point play. However, the hosts closed the game on a 36-8 spurt for the victory.

“I really think we were overrunning a lot of pressure which was leading to easy baskets for them,” North Allegheny coach Dave DeGregorio said. “I told them to be more patient with their traps and more patient with their shots.”

Though North Allegheny won by 20, the game was close for the first three quarters. The ’Canes led throughout the first half and most of the third quarter, settling for a 37-34 halftime advantage. North Allegheny led 56-51 after three periods.

“It was a great high school game,” DeGregorio said. “They were well prepared for us. They did a nice job against us.

“You always expect a battle.”

Down 49-41, the Tigers finished off a 12-0 run on a field goal by Jeff Finke with 2:04 to go in the third. New Castle hurt itself by missing a pair of front-ends of one-and-ones in the period and North Allegheny converted its possessions off the misses into buckets.

“We turned it over a couple of times and missed some easy shots,” Stanley said. “We could have added on to that lead but it just didn’t happen.”

Tyrone Steals paced the ’Canes with 24 points on 10-of-30 shooting. He had six rebounds as well. Andrews was next with 11 points. Jajuan Jay contributed a career-best 10 markers off the bench.

“Ty is playing hard for us,” Stanley said. “I really believe that 24 could have been 34. I’m happy with how he’s playing.”

Jeff Haus led the Tigers with 14 points and Finke added 13. Ted Connolly was next with 11.

“That’s been our trademark,” DeGregorio said of the balance. “We always have a good number of guys in double figures; it’s a nice thing to have.”
New Castle falls to 1-4 in the section and 3-6 overall.

“By no means are we out of it,” Stanley said. “We have to keep showing up and giving our all. Things will start going our way if we continue to play hard.”

The ’Canes were 23 of 60 from the floor, compared with 27 of 72 for the Tigers. New Castle gave away too many possessions though, committing 20 turnovers.