After running nonsection gauntlet, Bishop Canevin runs past McGuffey

By: Don Rebel
Friday, January 3, 2025 | 11:21 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Most times, overall record is a good barometer to measure how well a team is doing in any given season.

Heading into 2025, McGuffey and Bishop Canevin were tied for first place with 1-0 records in Section 2-3A.

The Highlanders were 8-2 overall while the Crusaders entered Friday’s home game against McGuffey with a 2-7 record.

However, it was Bishop Canevin that seized control early and led throughout with a convincing victory, 60-44.

Considering that the overall record of the seven teams the Crusaders lost to is 61-13 with all but one of the teams being from higher classifications, records can occasionally be deceiving.

“I wasn’t too concerned with wins and losses when you are going up against schools like that. I just wanted our guys to be tested,” Bishop Canevin coach Aaron McGee said. “I wanted them to see high-level pressure and play in big environments. My only worry was the confidence.”

There were few worries in the opening quarter as Bishop Canevin took control of the game with a 10-0 run and finished the first by scoring 13 of the final 15 points to lead, 15-6.

Bishop Canevin came out flying on the defensive side of the ball, pressuring the basketball with traps in the full-court and double teams in the half-court defense.

McGuffey coach Michael Fatigante had to take two first-quarter timeouts to discuss answers to the Crusaders pressure, which then led to Crusaders offense.

“That was our game plan,” McGee said. “The one thing I said to the guys was we need to pressure them like teams have pressured us. That was the game plan from the jump in both the full court and half court to make them make decisions under pressure.”

Every time the Highlanders started to climb back into the game, the Crusaders answered with a run.

In the second quarter, it was a 9-0 run after McGuffey had pulled to within two points. Early in the third quarter, Bishop Canevin put the game away with a 12-0 run and led by double-digit points the rest of the way.

“I thought we finally made some shots (Friday), which was nice,” McGee said. “I think we had been shooting 18% from three up until this point. I thought our decision making was better. There were a lot of times when we went downhill and instead of picking up our dribble or forcing a bad shot, we kicked it out and got ourselves a look.”

Junior guard Raukeem Hawkins led all scorers with 19 points for Bishop Canevin, which also got 13 points from one of the few seniors on the team in Eddie Benton III, son of former Oakland Catholic head coach and current Robert Morris assistant Eddie Benton.

“He’s been great with his attitude and his effort,” McGee said. “He’s really a problem on the defensive end of the floor, and he’s starting to get comfortable on the offensive side of the floor. We’re extremely happy with him.”

Junior Drew Allen added nine points for Bishop Canevin.

Senior Aydan Cunningham and junior Wyatt Frazee had 10 points to lead McGuffey (1-1, 8-3), which had several players coming off a holiday flu bug.

Bishop Canevin is tied for first place with Keystone Oaks at 2-0 in Section 2-3A and 3-7 overall.

Next week, the Crusaders visit Carlynton on Tuesday and are at Keystone Oaks on Friday.