By JON GERAMITA
jgeramita@ncnewsonline.com

Even the most optimistic Shenango High boys basketball supporter figured this was bound to happen eventually.

Playing its 10th game in 15 days, Shenango hosted Summit Academy last night in WPIAL Section 2-AA play.

The Knights were the worst possible type of team the Wildcats could face after such a killer schedule early on: Fast and athletic on offense with a defense that leads the entire WPIAL in points allowed per game (38.3).

It was no surprise, then, that Summit won, 59-48.

Shenango coach Bob McQuiston wanted to hear nothing of his team being tired. He’d rather blame the 17 of 51 shooting performance from the field.

“You can’t beat anyone shooting like that,” McQuiston said.

No matter what McQuiston said, the Wildcats did look a step slow, especially early.

After Shenango’s Rich Gaston tied the game at 2 less than a minute into the game, the Knights went on a 22-1 run, capped off by Elexis Rosario’s three-point play with 5:27 left in the second quarter.

At 22-3, it was pretty much over right there.

“We came out and played as a team, especially early on and came out strong,” Summit Academy coach Cliff Guy said.

While the Wildcats tried to force the ball down low to Gaston and forward Mike Murcko in the first half, the Knights (3-0 section, 5-2 overall) spread it around, allowing guards Laron Green and Matt Vaughn to penetrate for layups. If their shots didn’t fall, Rosario and Terrence Davis (13 points, 12 rebounds) were there for offensive rebounds and putbacks.

“Every day we learn to play as a team more and more,” Guy said. “We lost games last year when we didn’t take care of the ball and forced things.”

Vaughn had 20 points and Rosario 10 points and eight rebounds, with Green adding eight points, eight rebounds and five steals.

Down by 17 after three quarters, Shenango (1-1, 7-3) finally started to hit some shots. Andrew Watson’s 3-pointer cut it to 42-27 early in the period, followed by Murcko’s three-point play with 2:25 left to make it 49-38.

Gaston’s drop-step layup got the Wildcats as close as 49-40, but it was the closest they would get.

Rosario ran down teammate Derrick Elliott’s missed free throw and was fouled (going 2 of 2 from the line), then did the same after Vaughn missed the front end of his one-and-one, making it 53-40.

“We tell them, one rebound can win a game,and Rosario capped it with those two,” Guy said.

Ryan Tanner and Bryan Chieze both hit 3-pointers late to make the score look respectable, but this one was Summit Academy’s from the opening tip.

Gaston played another strong game down low, scoring 21 points to go with 11 rebounds. Chieze had a terrific all-around game, with eight points, eight assists, six rebounds and six steals. Murcko added nine points and 10 boards.

McQuiston will finally have some time to practice, as his team doesn’t play again until Tuesday when it travels to Riverside. For now, he still sees some good in what happened last night.

“To our credit we didn’t quit — we know we’re in every game no matter what, so I was happy with the run we made,” he said. “It was just a tough shooting night.”