Resurgent New Castle drops Mt. Lebanon to return to Class 6A title game

By: Chris Harlan
Tuesday, February 25, 2025 | 12:43 AM

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While celebrating a WPIAL semifinal win Monday night, New Castle’s Ralphie Blundo thought back to this time last year, when he and his teammates were already done for the winter.

They’d missed the playoffs entirely.

“It was almost embarrassing,” said Blundo, a senior who’d reached the WPIAL finals as both a freshman and sophomore. “Finishing in early February was weird. I was starting my offseason workouts.”

This year, they’re far from done.

The second-seeded Red Hurricanes are headed to the WPIAL finals for the 10th time in coach Ralph Blundo’s 15 seasons after defeating No. 6 Mt. Lebanon, 67-56, in a Class 6A semifinal at North Allegheny.

Ralphie Blundo scored a game-high 25 points, and the Red Hurricanes pulled away in the second half with a 19-6 run that stretched from the late third quarter into the fourth. Freshman Kai Cox overcame early foul trouble to score 17 points, and junior Damian Harrison had 14 points and 14 rebounds.

New Castle (21-3) advances to face No. 1 seed and defending champion Upper St. Clair (22-2) in the finals at 9 p.m. Friday at Petersen Events Center.

“Not making the playoffs last year drove us this year,” Ralph Blundo said. “That did not sit well with us at all. I’m proud we’re able to bring our team back to the Pete and compete for the 6A championship.”

Mt. Lebanon junior Liam Sheely scored a team-high 21 points for the Blue Devils (17-8), whose last lead came in the first quarter at 13-11.

New Castle won the rebounding battle by nearly a two-to-one margin, a total that included 14 offensive boards for the Red Hurricanes. Harrison, a versatile 6-foot-3 guard, had eight offensive rebounds.

“We’ve been rebounding the ball really well,” Ralph Blundo said. “I think we gave up five offensive rebounds in the last three games. We’ve been able to keep guys off the glass, but none of them are 6-10.”

That’s a nod to Upper St. Clair senior Tyler Robbins, a 6-10 center they’ll see in the finals.

New Castle also never let Mt. Lebanon’s shooters find their rhythm. The Blue Devils made only 7 of 26 attempts from beyond the arc and shot 39% from the field overall.

“We had multiple things go wrong,” Mt. Lebanon coach Joe David said. “We didn’t rebound. We turned it over seven times in that first half. The shot selection was horrendous. We were down eight or nine points and guys are launching shots from 35 feet. What are we doing?”

Yet New Castle’s lead was only four points with 2:30 left in the third quarter. Four consecutive free throws by Harrison and a runner by Ralphie Blundo gave the Red Hurricanes a 44-37 lead after three.

That was the start of their decisive 19-6 run.

New Castle opened the fourth with a runner by Cox and a layup by Blundo and eventually pushed its lead to 57-40 with 3:30 left in the fourth.

Harrison added a dunk late in the run.

“I don’t know if we’re the type of team that’s going to jump on you and beat you wire to wire like some of my other teams,” Ralph Blundo said. “This group is different. They have their own identity and they’re writing their own story.”

This team’s story includes one final playoff run together for Ralph and Ralphie Blundo. They’re guaranteed at least two more games together since the team has already clinched a spot in the state playoffs. Four WPIAL teams qualify in 6A, meaning Mt. Lebanon also advances to states.

“I just want to coach him as long as I can,” Ralph Blundo said. “Obviously, going to the Pete with your son is something special. We’ve been there before together. As a senior, I know what he’s put into it.”

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Mt. lebanon, New Castle