By RON PONIEWASZ JR.
rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com

The New Castle High boys basketball team was on target last night.

The Red Hurricane shot 63 percent from the field en route to a 72-53 WPIAL Section 2-AAA win over West Allegheny.

New Castle, ranked fourth in the WPIAL in Class AAA by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, was 12 of 20 from behind the arc in claiming its fourth win in the last five outings. The Indians had won five of their last six games coming in.

“This is a couple games in a row now where our guys are really shooting it well,” ’Canes coach Ralph Blundo said. “In the last three or four games, we’ve really been shooting it better and that makes us so much difficult to guard.”

The win also gives New Castle (6-1 section, 10-5 overall) a one-game lead over Blackhawk (5-2, 9-6) and Central Valley (5-2, 7-5) in section play. The ’Canes defeated Blackhawk and lost to Central Valley in the first half of league play.

Corey Eggleston paced the ’Canes with 20 points and Anthony Richards was next with 15, all of which came on 3-pointers. Eggleston added five assists and four steals, while Richards cashed in 12 of his tallies in the third period.

“This was definitely a breakout game for Anthony; he made a couple of really huge shots,” Blundo said. “Corey was Corey. He got to the cup consistently and he made a 3 to start the game and really get us going.”

Brandon Domenick contributed 14 markers and eight assists for the victors, while Shawn Anderson chipped in with 12 tallies, 11 boards and four steals.

Malik Hooker paced the ’Canes with five steals.

“I’m pleased that we were able to play so well and efficiently on offense and that we were so sound on defense,” Blundo said. “(Antonio) Rudolph, Hooker and Anderson all played solid games on both ends of the floor.”

Dylan Bongiorni, a transfer from Burgettstown, recorded a team-high 20 points in his first game for the Indians (3-4, 7-8).

“Bongiorni is a great player,” Blundo said. “This was a tough game for us. They came in on a roll, we were on the road. The combination of it all, I’m just pleased that we were able to play so well.”