Trib HSSN boys basketball team of the week for March 2, 2025

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, March 2, 2025 | 9:17 PM

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Trib HSSN boys basketball team of the week: Belle Vernon

Coach: Joe Salvino (eighth season at Belle Vernon, 41 years total)

Records: 11-1 and first place in Section 3-4A, 21-4 overall

#Earned: After winning the Section 3-4A title and earning the No. 1 seed in the Class 4A playoffs, Belle Vernon had to fight and claw in each game on the Path to the Pete before reaching the coveted pot of gold at the end. It started with a 55-51 victory over rival Elizabeth Forward in the quarterfinals and then continued in the district semifinals with a 57-56 win over Avonworth that wasn’t decided until the final buzzer. That victory clinched a third trip to the WPIAL finals in program history and the first since a loss to Highlands in the 2020 title game. It was No. 1 BVA against No. 2 North Catholic in the 4A championship game with the backdrop of legendary head coach Joe Salvino announcing his plan to retire at the end of the season after 41 years on the sidelines. The second-winningest coach in WPIAL boys basketball history was one away from his seventh district crown and the program’s second championship. The Leopards jumped on top and led by five points after one quarter and by a dozen at the half. However, the Trojans continued to cut into the BVA lead until it was a one-possession game late. Belle Vernon hung on to defeat North Catholic, 54-49, and win 4A gold.

Scoring stars: Senior guard Zion Moore led the WPIAL in scoring as a junior and was third in the district this season averaging 25 points per game and now sits at 2,072 points for his outstanding career. However, an ankle injury had slowed him down, opening the door for others to pick up the slack. Senior guard Trevor Kovatch had a team-high 17 points in the semifinals victory over Avonworth, and in the title game against North Catholic, two other seniors came up big. Forward Tommy Davis led the Leopards at The Pete, with 20 points and 10 rebounds. His frontcourt partner, senior Dominic Ghilani, did not score but nearly outrebounded North Catholic himself with 13 boards. A key stat in the final outcome was the Leopards out-rebounding the Trojans, 40-17. Moore and Kovatch scored 12 points each to help secure the gold for Belle Vernon.

Last year: Then a junior, Moore led the WPIAL in boys basketball scoring with an average of 26.3 points per game. His scoring touch played a big part in the Leopards’ success last season. The team finished 7-3 and in second place in Section 3-4A, two games behind section winner Uniontown. After reaching the quarterfinals the previous postseason, Belle Vernon’s stay in the 2024 playoff was short and not so sweet. The No. 10 Leopards trailed No. 7 South Allegheny by two points at halftime, but the Gladiators outscored the Leopards, 16-10, to extend their lead and go on to win 71-62. Moore led the Leopards with 22 points, Alonzo Wade had 16 and Davis scored 15 points as BVA finished the season with 12-9 overall record.

Remember when: Don Asmonga was the first boys basketball head coach at Belle Vernon when he was hired to be a teacher and coach at the newly formed school district in 1967. It was only appropriate he was the bench boss when Belle Vernon won its first — and, before this season, only — WPIAL championship nearly a half-century ago. The 1978 Leopards were led by future Robert Morris players Tom Parks and Johnny Russell. Parks set school records at the time for career points with 1,193, single-season points with 568 and single-game scoring with 45 points. Belle Vernon defeated Norwin in the 1978 WPIAL Class 3A championship game at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, 62-58. The Leopards finished the season with a record of 26-5 after falling in the PIAA semifinals to Cathedral Prep.

2025 Trib HSSN Boys Basketball Teams of the Week

Week 8: Union

Week 7: Knoch

Week 6: Woodland Hills

Week 5: Jeannette

Week 4: Baldwin

Week 3: Elizabeth Forward

Week 2: New Castle

Week 1: Keystone Oaks

Tags: Belle Vernon