By RON PONIEWASZ JR.
rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com

A free-throw contest broke out last night at the Ne-Ca-Hi Field House.

The bad news for the New Castle High boys basketball team: that’s not the team’s strength.

Seneca Valley made 22 free throws including nine in the fourth quarter to hold off the Red Hurricane, 67-64, in a WPIAL Section 3-AAAA contest.

“We don’t want to get in a free-throw shooting contest with anybody; not the way we’re shooting them,” New Castle coach Mark Stanley said.

The Raiders were 22 of 37 from the line, including 9 of 18 in the fourth period. New Castle, which entered the contest making 58.8 percent from the stripe as a team, finished 16 of 26.

“That’s not our strength, for sure,” Stanley said of foul shooting.
Despite the loss, New Castle (3-6 section, 7-11 overall) is still in range for the fourth and final playoff spot in the section. The ’Canes are a half-game behind North Hills, Pine-Richland and Butler, all of which sit at 3-5. The positive for New Castle is it owns a win over North Hills and Butler. The ’Canes can gain a split with the Rams on Tuesday with a victory.

New Castle held a 45-43 lead after three quarters before Seneca Valley (6-3, 14-5) took a 55-50 buffer with 4:35 remaining on a 3-pointer by Dan Rohm. Rohm finished with 12 markers — all of which came on 3-pointers — and nine of his points came in the final frame.

New Castle battled back to tie at 55 and 57 before John Fitzpatrick split a pair of foul shots with 2:53 remaining to give the Raiders the lead for good at 58-57.

Fitzpatrick finished with a game- and career-high 28 points. He was 13 of 22 from the foul line.

“He played like an all-section player,” Seneca Valley coach Vic Giannotta said. “He’s our captain and leader; he sets our tone.”

Seneca Valley’s Sean Gress split a pair free throws with 39.9 seconds left for a 65-63 advantage. The ’Canes lost the ball on the alternate arrow on their next possession, forcing the hosts to foul at the other end.

Fitzpatrick missed two foul shots with 26.9 seconds to go, but Nate Herman secured the rebound for the Raiders and he was fouled. Herman also missed a pair of freebies with 25.1 seconds left and C.J. Brown pulled down the board for the guests.

“You have to be physical in there and come away with a rebound,” Stanley said. “We weren’t able to do that and it hurt us.”

Brown was able to get the ball to Fitzpatrick, who was fouled with 20.2 to go. He made the first foul shot, but missed the second and Colella snared the carom. Colella was later fouled with 5.3 seconds left and split a pair of foul shots to trail 66-64. Fitzpatrick did the same with 5.0 to play for a three-point lead.

“Give credit to Fitzpatrick he stepped up and hit his free throws,” Stanley said. “He’s physical and smart.

“Brown got that last rebound because he was more physical. The kid made a nice move and he juked our guy.”

Seneca Valley elected to foul Tyrone Steals with 2.9 seconds left and the ’Canes in the double bonus. Steals missed the first attempt, then fired the second off the front of the rim. The ball rocketed back at him, but Gress was able to tip it down to the other end of the floor and the clock ran out.

New Castle battled from behind the entire first half. The Raiders opened a 15-6 advantage in the first quarter and the ’Canes got as close as 28-27 before settling for a 30-27 halftime deficit.

Seneca Valley opened the game in a box-and-one on Colella.

“They came out and stymied us a bit,” Stanley said. “We weren’t getting looks and they took Nick out of it.”

Said Giannotta, “You have to give Coach Stanley all the credit in the world. We didn’t play our best game and we found a way to win.”

Colella gave the ’Canes their first lead at 34-33 with a 3-pointer with 4:05 to play in the third stanza.

Mike Andrews led a balanced attack for New Castle with 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Colella was next with 16 markers and Steals chipped in with 14.

“Andrews has nice moves down low,” Stanley said. “He got some looks down low and Ty was penetrating well.”