By RON PONIEWASZ JR.
New Castle News

Maybe it’s a little early to say a game is pivotal, but that was the case for New Castle High.

Staring at an 0-2 hole in section play, Tyrone Steals poured in a career-high 30 points last night to lead the Red Hurricane to a 77-63 victory over Shaler in a boys basketball matchup at the Ne-Ca-Hi Field House.

“Ty is capable of that,” New Castle coach Mark Stanley said.

Steals gave a balanced effort for New Castle (1-1 WPIAL Section 3-AAAA, 3-3 overall) with 16 of his points coming in the first half. He was 12 of 22 from the field with four rebounds and three assists.

“I think I did pretty good, but it was a team effort,” Steals said. “We played together.

“(This game) was real important for the section. We need to win all our home games; we feel real good about this win.”

The ’Canes got some breathing room by outscoring the Titans 14-5 over the final 3:30 of the first half to build a 34-24 lead.

Steals kept the momentum going with a 3-pointer to open the third quarter, but Shaler (0-2, 3-3) wasn’t rattled. The Titans closed to within 40-35, courtesy of an aggressive defense and easy baskets.

“We want to make it a fast-paced game,” Shaler coach Howie Ruppert said. “We are a better team playing fast and our defense was helping us pick up the pace.”

New Castle got the break it needed in the final seconds of the third quarter. Up 52-48, Steals wiggled free and buried a 3-pointer for a 55-48 advantage.

“The game got turned on one play,” Ruppert said. “We were down by four with (less than) 30 seconds and the ball.

“We wanted to run a high pick and roll for our point guard. The kid ran up and committed an offensive foul. New Castle got the ball back and got a 3-pointer at the buzzer. That’s a five-point swing. If we score, we’re down two and have made up eight points in the quarter; that’s the whole game to me.”

Shaler’s Jesse Della Valle canned a 3-pointer 23 seconds into the final quarter, making it 55-51. But that was as close as the Titans would get the rest of the way.

The ’Canes, who were 19 of 30 from the foul line, struggled in the final quarter making only 12 of 21 attempts.

“I’m a positive guy,” Stanley said. “I’m not going to nail them to the wall because they have to make that next one.

“We need to knock them all down, especially in the fourth quarter when they’re all magnified.”

Said Steals, “We just need to shoot more shots and get better. We need to be physically and mentally right there the whole game.”

Mike Andrews was a force in the middle for New Castle, recording 19 points and a team-best 10 rebounds. Nick Colella shook off early foul trouble to notch 15 points — all in the second half. Colella picked up two quick first-quarter fouls and sat most of the first half.

“We can’t have Nick on the bench like that, but we were able to get a lead with him on the bench,” Stanley said. “He’s a senior leader and he gave us a great second half.”

Dan Wirkowski paced the Titans with 30 points, 21 in the second half.

“He played very good in the second half,” Ruppert said. “We need other guys to chip in; one guy can’t win games for you.”

The ’Canes return to action at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Seneca Valley. The Raiders swept the series last year.