Trib HSSN boys basketball player of the week for Jan. 27, 2025

By: Don Rebel
Monday, January 27, 2025 | 10:59 PM

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Trib HSSN boys basketball player of the week – Colton Straight

School: Montour

Class: Senior

Height: 6-foot

Position: Guard

#Earned: The center of attention for Montour boys basketball opponents this season is 6-foot-11 senior forward/center Ama Tening Sow. The Trib HSSN Class 5A preseason player of the year is averaging over 22 points per game and is a force on both sides of the floor. However, the senior isn’t flying solo as the Spartans have soared to the top of the district rankings while being ranked second in the state in Class 5A. Others have stepped up, including guard Colton Straight. The senior enjoyed a big week on the court in helping Montour improve to 15-1 on the season. On Tuesday, they built their lead atop Section 4-5A to two games with a victory over visiting Chartiers Valley, 78-67. The Colts, who entered the contest one game behind the Spartans, had no answers for Straight early, as he connected on all six of his opening-quarter shots to finish the period with 15 points. Straight was near perfect on the night, finishing with 10 of 12 shooting from the field, and 5 of 6 from the free throw line, for 29 points, including a dramatic buzzer beater at the end of the third quarter. On Friday, Straight led the black and gold in scoring again with 21 points as Montour avoided a letdown with an impressive 50-point triumph on the road at Blackhawk, 89-39.

Background: Straight is 33 points shy of 300 for the season. He is averaging nearly 17 points per game for the Spartans. As a junior, he averaged nearly 16 points per game in helping Montour win the Section 4-4A title and finish 21-6 overall with losses in the WPIAL quarterfinals to Avonworth and the PIAA first round to Lincoln Park. While he is not superstitious, Straight has been wearing uniform No. 4 since he started playing basketball around third grade. Straight shined on the pitch when he was younger, but he hung up his soccer cleats in middle school to focus on basketball. He plans to make his college choice once this season concludes. He has an older sister and a younger brother and sister, who he may or may not tease.

What coach says: “Colton started the game with great energy and had 15 of our 16 points in the first quarter,” Montour coach Bill Minear said of Straight’s hot start against Chartiers Valley on Tuesday. “Also in the third quarter, he guarded Jaden Davis (Colts leading scorer) and did well.”

“At Blackhawk, Colton’s teammates found him for layups and when he was open, from the 3-point line,” Minear said of his senior’s success on Friday.

“Colton moves really well without the ball and has benefited from Ama drawing double teams,” Minear said. “The unselfishness of our whole team has led to our success.”

“Colton’s improvement was noticeable this past summer,” Minear said. “He has continued to improve his attention to details, especially on defense.”

2025 Trib HSSN Boys Basketball Players of the Week

Week 3 – Zach Pollaro, North Hills

Week 2 – Cameron Epps, South Allegheny

Week 1 – Brady Mayo, Beaver

Tags: Montour