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Friday, March 7, 2025 | 3:01 am
Returning for several years, there have been many battles between Joe Salvino and the basketball team for Farrell boys.
The two old enemies will meet again on Friday evening in Belle Vernon while Salvino runs the wpial leopards against Stelers, the fifth place team outside the district 10.
It has been eight days since the leopards (21-4) raised the High Wpial trophy, but Salvino said things remain the status quo after the team begins his efforts for a state championship.
“We have just tried to keep it as normal as possible,” Salvino said for team preparation. “Playing at home should be an advantage for us. I am hoping that the excitement of the game generally get the team and the crowds excited and helps us get out of a quick start.
“Once you get a wpial, you have to restore yourself down. These kids said they will continue to win. There are no WPIAL teams ranked in Class 4a state standings. I think this is a motivation for them. We will see how good we are.”
Salvino said he has watched four or five of the Stelers games from the season. They are 1-3 against WPIAL teams this season. Their only victory came against the Sewickley Academy. They own losses to Mars, Aliquippa and Quaker Valley.
Farrell (15-11) advanced to the state offs of the state with a close 54-50 victory over Oil City. Stelers are still a class A team by registering, but they are playing in the classification.
“I think they have a pretty team,” Salvino said. “They have two really good guards. They can shoot the ball out. They protect well and like to put a lot of pressure on the ball.”
The mentioned Salvino guards are Juerz Johnson New and Trae Cousin.
Johnson is the leading scorer of the team with 14.3 points in the game with a cousin on average 12.5.
Julius Phillips Jr. It is an elderly average 12.3 points per play.
“They have a size. I know they have a 6-4 son and another 6-5 on the bench, so they can throw one of them in the starting lineup to fight our size, “Salvino said.” When I saw the oil city game, they played five guards. “
The size of the leopards is one thing that has been a catalyst during the last weeks of the season. Belle Vernon has prevailed boards to allow for additional assets and points of the second chance.
Leopards 6-6 Senior striker Tommy Davis had 20 points and 10 jumps in the championship victory over the North Catholics. Dom Ghilan added 13 more jumps.
“Dom Ghilan has been so good for us lately,” Salvino said. “I want him to play physical. If he gets a couple foul, I don’t care. I need him to be that physical guy taking those dances. “
Salvino said the team really bought the game plan early on the winning line of 15 Leps matches.
“They realize that protection and return are a large part of what we wanted to do,” Salvino said. “I think we’ll have an advantage of good size against Farrell.”
Looking back on stelers, Salvino said they are mostly a man-man team in defense.
“They will jump inside and throw a half trial trap 1-2-2 there. This is something we will have to prepare for,” Salvino added.
Comparing them with a team, Salvino said stelers are much like West Mifflin.
“This is probably the closest. They are guard -oriented. They like to put pressure from the ball. Really really just the general way they play, ”he said.
Leopards have shown a major offensive balance in the post -season season.
Salvino said after rotating the ankle against Elizabeth forward in the round of WPIAL quarterfinals, Zion Moore is closer to 100%.
“He’s walking normally, and I think he’ll be able to go for our shooting,” Salvino said. “I think you can say that he was disturbing him during our running, but he is still dangerous with all the other things he can do.”
Moore is undoubtedly affected by the ankle. He scored 14 points in a semifinal victory over Avonworth before scoring 12 against the North Catholic in the Championship match. Despite a smaller production, it is still on average 24.4 points in the game.
Joining Moore in the initial lineup will be the high guard Trevor Kovatch, Ghilan, Davis and Curty Wade. Davis is on average 11.4 points in the game with Wade and Ghilani, combining for nearly 12 points in the game.
Kovatch is second in the team with 13.7 points in the game and only needs 16 points to give him 800 for his career Belle Vernon.
Friday’s game winner will play the winner of Sharon and Avonworth, who can create a possible WPIAL semi -final match for leopards with antelopes.
“For now, we just have to focus on Farrell,” Salvino said. “We cannot bypass anyone. This is when you lose. If we win, then we will worry about Tuesday’s opponent. “
Tags: Belle Vernon