Trib HSSN boys basketball player of the week for Feb. 5, 2024

By: Don Rebel
Tuesday, February 6, 2024 | 12:08 AM

Trib HSSN boys basketball player of the week: Lorenzo Gardner

School: Monessen

Class: Senior

Height: 6-foot-4

Position: Forward

What coach says: “We needed him to be aggressive offensively in both of those games,” Monessen coach Dan Bosnic said. “He has been scoring from different areas on the court, which makes him much harder to guard.”

“We have a lot of young players on our roster, so he’s had to play (a leadership) role. I believe he understands how important that has been to the team.”

“He is a good scorer because of his footwork and his ability to use both hands. His ankle is improving, but it’s not 100% yet.”

#Earned: After missing a few games with an ankle injury, Gardner returned to the lineup with a bang. On Tuesday in a big section game at Jefferson-Morgan, Gardner scored 30 points as Monessen won 58-55, remaining in a tie for first place in Section 2-A with West Greene. Nine days after Monessen’s lone section loss at home to the Pioneers, Gardner came up large again, hitting the 30-point mark for a second straight road game as the Greyhounds took over sole possession of first place with a win at West Greene, 66-55.

Background: Last year in a WPIAL Class A first-round playoff victory over Western Beaver, Gardner went over 1,000 points for his career. As he closes in on 1,500 points for Monessen, Gardner has 345 points this season and is averaging 23 points per game in leading Monessen to a 15-3 record heading into the team’s final three games. While the points are nice, Gardner wants the Greyhounds to make a long run in the Class A playoffs after losing in the district Class A quarterfinals the last two years.

2024 Trib HSSN Boys Basketball Players of the Week

Week 4 – Joe Roth, Ellwood City

Week 3 – Jay Wrona, Mohawk

Week 2 – Peter Kramer, Hampton

Week 1 – Joey Dopirak, North Allegheny

Tags: Monessen