Burrell logs another upset, beats No. 2 Mohawk in semifinals
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Monday, February 26, 2024 | 10:08 PM
Burrell’s Tucker Bitar is fouled by Mohawk’s Keigan Hopper during the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals Monday.
Burrell’s Esau King-Buchak dunks past Mohawk’s JJ Nail during the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals Monday.
Burrell’s Esau King-Buchak celebrates after a basket and-one call against Mohawk during the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals Monday.ol.
Burrell’s Dylan McKallip (left) fights for a loose ball with Mohawk’s Keigan Hopper during the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals Monday.
Burrell’s Dylan McKallip (left) celebrates with Joey Discello after Discello’s 3-pointer against Mohawk during the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals Monday.
Burrell’s Macky Bennis is fouled by Mohawk’s Kegan Hopper during the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals Monday.
Burrell’s Tucker Bitar scores past Mohawk’s Bobby Fadden during the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals Monday.
Burrell’s Esau King-Buchak defends on Mohawk’s Jay Wrona during the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals Monday.
Burrell’s Esau King-Buchak blocks the shot of Mohawk’s Jay Wrona during the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals Monday.
Burrell’s Esau King-Buchak celebrates after dunking against Mohawk during the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals Monday.
Burrell’s Esau King-Buchak drives past Mohawk’s Keigan Hopper during the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals Monday.
Burrell’s Joey Discello defends on Mohawk’s Jay Wrona during the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals Monday.
Burrell’s Esau King-Buchak fights for a rebound with Mohawk’s Drew Wrona during the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals Monday.
Burrell’s Tucker Bitar is fouled by Mohawk’s Bobby Fadden during the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals Monday.
Macky Bennis and his teammates hooted and hollered with Burrell’s rabid fans Monday night at North Allegheny.
And why not?
Moments earlier, the Burrell boys basketball team, the only double-digit seed remaining in the WPIAL playoffs, continued its improbable postseason run by knocking off yet another higher-seeded challenger.
This time, the 11th-seeded Buccaneers turned back No. 2 Mohawk to advance to the Class 3A championship game.
And it wasn’t even close.
“When you put your mind to something and you want it bad enough, anything’s possible,” Bennis said. “Really.”
Bennis scored 20 points and Burrell led from wire to wire in a 51-34 rout of Mohawk in a Class 3A semifinal at North Allegheny.
“We thought it was going to be a hard one,” Bennis said. “We thought they were going to give us a game. When you play defense, man, it’s tough. Holding teams under 50, that’s a recipe for success.”
Tucker Bitar added 12 points for the Bucs, whose latest victory follows two other playoff upsets. Burrell opened with a 55-50, first-round victory over No. 6 Seton LaSalle before defeating No. 3 Shady Side Academy, 48-44, in the quarterfinals.
Up next for Burrell (16-7) is a date with defending WPIAL champion Deer Lakes in the Class 3A championship game at 5 p.m. Friday at Petersen Events Center.
The top-seeded Lancers outlasted No. 4 Neshannock, 84-73 in overtime, in the other semifinal Monday at Fox Chapel.
“It’s a surreal feeling. It really is,” Bennis said. “I grew up watching kids play at The Pete.”
Jay Wrona’s 25 points led Mohawk (17-7), which will face section rival Neshannock at home in the third-place game Wednesday night.
“We’ve got 48 hours. It’s going to be tough,” Mohawk coach Mike O’Lare said.
Burrell’s rooting interests received a boost when Highlands girls coach Shawn Bennis and assistant Joe Discello arrived shortly after tipoff.
Macky Bennis and Burrell teammate Joey Discello are the coach’s sons.
The two made the 28-mile trip from Highlands to North Allegheny following Highlands’ 62-36 victory over Greensburg Salem in a Class 4A consolation-round game.
They arrived rushed and left satisfied.
“Teams don’t see defense like ours,” Burrell coach Mike Fantuzzo said. “When we clamp down on you, we know what we need to do. We know how to win basketball games. We’ve been in a lot of close games over the past two years with this group and it’s just clicking. We know how to win and we’re doing it.”
Burrell jumped in front on Bennis’ 3-pointer and never trailed, scoring the game’s first 12 points. The Bucs led 17-3 after the first quarter and 26-11 at halftime.
Burrell’s lead reached 20 points on several occasions in the second half as its defense stifled Mohawk.
“We chased that 12-0 run the whole way,” O’Lare said. “The kids felt like they were ready. We prepared and we go out and everything we were trying not to do, we did. The fouling, getting guys in foul trouble right out of the gate. It was a helpless feeling.
“You have to credit them. They deserved to win that game. They beat us straight up.”
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