Trinity ousts Greensburg Salem boys in WPIAL 1st round

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, February 20, 2018 | 9:51 PM

Trinity found itself in a huge hole to begin the fourth quarter against underdog Greensburg Salem.

But the experienced Hillers found their game and avoided the upset by rallying for a 61-52 victory in a WPIAL Class 5A first-round boys basketball game Tuesday at Peters Township.

Trinity will play McKeesport, which defeated Armstrong, on Friday at a site and time to be determined.

Greensburg Salem (12-11) grabbed a 41-31 lead early in the fourth quarter on a basket by Marvel McGowan. But Trinity didn't panic.

It outscored the Golden Lions, 7-0, to trim the lead to 41-38 and took a 44-42 lead on Joey Koroly's 3-pointer with 5 minutes, 4 seconds left. Koroly went 0 for 15 from the floor through three quarters.

He scored 12 of his team-high 16 points in the fourth quarter. He was 9 for 10 from the foul line, 6 for 6 in the fourth quarter. Trinity was 9 of 12 in the fourth quarter as it outscored Greensburg Salem, 30-13.

“If you would have said we'd be up one with two minutes left in the game before we played, I would have taken it,” Greensburg Salem coach Craig Mankins said. “But we made too many mistakes down the stretch, and you can't do that against a team like Trinity. They make you pay.”

But with 2:30 left, Greensburg Salem went up 47-46 on a follow by McGowan.

The talented senior was a load for Trinity to defend. He finished with a game-high 29 points, and it wasn't until Trinity started triple-teaming him that he slowed down.

“He's a very good player,” Trinity coach Tim Tessmer said. “He played so well under control. To be honest with you, I felt our experience was the difference. They know what it takes to win game like this, and they executed down the stretch.”

Trinity ramped up its defensive pressure in the fourth quarter. The Golden Lions turned the ball over 21 times, eight times in the fourth.

“We got a little excited because we're not used to this pressure,” Mankins said. “We only have two seniors, so the rest of the team has to build from this experience.”

Greensburg Salem led 15-9 after a quarter, but Trinity rallied for a 24-22 lead at halftime. Greensburg Salem pushed its lead to 39-31 after three quarters before Trinity had one last run.

“We had them on the ropes,” Mankins said. “When they were triple-teaming Marvel, we got shots that we usually make, and we didn't. Games against Franklin Regional, Highlands and Gateway prepared us for this game. I felt we could get them.”

Dante Parsons had nine points for the Golden Lions, and Shamar McCoy had 12 rebounds. Dylan Kern chipped in with 13 points for Trinity. He made three 3-pointers.

Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.

Tags: Greensburg Salem, Trinity