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GAME SUMMARIES

TIGERS DOMINATE WOODLAND HILLS 84-36,
IN FIRST ROUND WIN

To hear a rebroadcast of the game, click here!

In their most outstanding effort of the season thus far, North Allegheny completely dominated Woodland Hills in every facet, winning a lopsided 84-36 affair Saturday afternoon at North Hills.  Offensively, the Tigers were downright lethal from behind the arc, burying eight of their first nine attempts.  They also took phenomenal care of the basketball, committing only five turnovers for the entire game.  Ten different Tigers scored in the contest, led by Anthony Dallier with 25. Anton Constantino and JC Howard each scored in double figures, with 18 and 15 points, respectively.

The Wolverines entered the game on a bit of an upswing, having won their last section game in order to qualify for the playoffs.  They were powered on offense by Shakim Alonzo, a 6’5 power forward that also started at wide receiver on their football team.  He looked to be a force in the paint early.  He scored their first four points, and grabbed several rebounds at both ends.  However, he was held in check for the remainder of the game, save for a flurry of points late in the fourth quarter, finishing with 18.

As the Tigers clamped down on the defensive end, they also began to light up the scoreboard with their shooting.  A Dallier jumper and two free throws by Howard opened up an 18-11 lead at the end of the first quarter, but the fireworks were just getting started.  Constantino sank a three to open the second, followed by a great look from Byrum Louco finding Dallier under the hoop for a lay-in.  Another Constantino jumper from downtown and a basket by Louco in the paint boosted the lead to 28-13.   From that point, North Allegheny went on a 15-4 run to close the half, punctuated by consecutive treys by Howard and Constantino.  Overall, the Tigers shot 68% from the field in the first half, including a laughable 89% from behind the arc.  Howard and Constantino combined to shoot a ridiculous 8 for 8 from three point range in the first half.

Following the break, North Allegheny stayed hot, destroying any chance of a Woodland Hills comeback.  Dallier drained a mid-range jumper as he fell to his back, on his way to scoring the first eight points of the second half.  Kevin Cope then got in on the act, scoring the next six.  After converting an old fashioned three point play, he buried a three from the corner, giving the Tigers a 57-19 advantage.  Halfway through the fourth quarter, it swelled to fifty, at 76-26, before Woodland Hills cut into the lead in the waning moments.

For the game, North Allegheny shot field goals at a 65% clip, including 12 of 18 from three.  Constantino finished 6 for 6 from three, and was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.  Conversely, Woodland Hills was ice cold shooting 30% from the field, including a measly 2 of 22 from beyond the arc.  The Tigers also enjoyed a 29-5 advantage in points off turnovers.

The win was North Allegheny's 20th of the season and propels them into the second round against Chartiers Valley.  The game is scheduled for next Saturday, with the site and time to be determined later in the week.  Be sure to catch all the action on the North Allegheny Sports Network. 

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 84   WOODLAND HILLS - 36

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DALLIER SCORES 1,000th POINT,
NA STREAKS TO PLAYOFFS

Junior Anthony Dallier scored 32 points, including his 1,000th of his career, to lead North Allegheny over Blackhawk on Monday night.  Thanks in part to Dallier's big night, the Tigers (19-3, 10-2) wrapped up their regular season schedule with a 72-59 win over the third-ranked team in Class AAA.  NA beat a Blackhawk (15-7, 10-2) squad that is a co-section 2 champion, along with New Castle. 

Dallier surpassed 1,000 points in his career on a three-pointer early in the third quarter, and by game's end brought his career tally to 1,016.  By the time Dallier touched 1,000, the Tigers were already on their way to their eighth straight victory.  Blackhawk scored the first bucket of the game in the first quarter, but the Cougars' 2-0 lead was the last time they would be in front on the scoreboard.  J.C. Howard poured in 18 points and Steve Ferringer added another 10.  For the Cougar's, Nick Martin posted 22 points and Matt McLann dropped in another 17. 

With the win, the Tigers head into the Quad-A playoffs having won 17 of their last 18 games.  The North Allegheny Boys' and Girls' Basketball Teams will learn of their seeding and opponent in the first round of the playoffs tonight when the WPIAL will unveil the playoff brackets.  The MSA Sports Network will be in Greentree with live coverage of the WPIAL Pairings meeting.  Coverage begins at 7:00 pm. 

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 72   BLACKHAWK - 59

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INDIANS NO MATCH FOR TIGERS,

NORTH ALLEGHENY WINS 68-50

To hear an archived broadcast of the game, listen here!

In Friday night’s section finale, North Allegheny used a 21-7 advantage in the second quarter to put away North Hills, defeating the rival Indians 68-50.  North Hills finished the season winless in section play, having just two wins all season over Quad-A teams.  The contest featured a total of 47 turnovers, a result of sloppy ball-handling and ill-advised passes.  Despite a decent crowd, the game lacked the traditional enthusiasm for a North Hills-North Allegheny clash.  Anthony Dallier led North Allegheny with 23 points.  In addition to closing in on the 1,000 career points mark, the junior forward added seven rebounds to his portion of the stat sheet.  Anton Constantino, JC Howard, and Byrum Louco were also in double figures for the Tigers. 

The game began ominously for the Tigers, shooting just 38% in the opening quarter.  The Indians were able to break the North Allegheny trapping defense early, leading to several open layups.  As a result, the Indians shot 70%, and seized a 15-13 lead after the first period.  After trading layups and three pointers at each end, a 16-6 spurt by North Allegheny to end the half gave them a twelve point lead at halftime.  In the first half, the Indians had as many field goal attempts, 17, as turnovers.  Consequently, North Allegheny took advantage and they never looked back.  The remainder of the game was lackluster, as North Hills never mounted any serious threat in the second half.  For his 13 points, 6 steals, and constant harassment of Indians ball-handlers, Louco was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.  North Hills ended their season on a twelve game slide.  The last time they picked up a victory was December 28, against AAA opponent Hampton.  

In other Section 3 action, Pine-Richland defeated Shaler 56-52, giving the Titans their first loss of the season, and bursting Seneca Valley’s playoff bubble.  Pine-Richland will finish tied with Butler for third place in the section.  Despite their loss, Shaler should still receive strong consideration for the #1 overall seed in Quad-A.

North Allegheny concludes their regular season schedule Monday at Blackhawk, a day before playoff pairings will be announced.  Catch all the action on the North Allegheny Sports Network.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30, with the pre-game coverage beginning approximately 7:20. 

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 68   NORTH HILLS - 50

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TORRID THIRD QUARTER SHOOTING OVERWHELMS SENECA VALLEY, 77-59

To hear an archived broadcast of the game, click here!

Just as North Allegheny drove Central Catholic to the verge of playoff elimination last week, the Tigers forced Seneca Valley to the brink of disaster on Tuesday night.  JC Howard scored a game high 21 points, including 5 of 6 from behind the arc, as North Allegheny continued their win streak with a 77-59 victory over the reeling Raiders.  The Tigers used aggressive defense and hot third-quarter shooting to overcome some sloppy play early.  Including Howard, four Tigers were in double figures.  Anthony Dallier scored 18 points, Steve Ferringer netted 16, and Anton Constantino poured in 12, all of his coming on three pointers.

Seneca Valley began the game with a sense of desperation, as their precarious position outside of the playoff race seemed to be on their minds.  Unfortunately for them, their frantic play caused several turnovers.  North Allegheny raced out to a quick 9-0 lead, thanks to smothering defense causing several Raider miscues.  However, the Raiders were able to gather themselves and rebound from the early deficit.  They methodically chipped away, taking their only lead of the game at 14-13, before a Howard trey gave the Tigers a two-point lead at the end of the first.  The game remained tight through halftime, similar to their first meeting this season, with North Allegheny clinging to a four-point lead at 28-24. 

The Tigers emerged from the locker room sizzling, in the turning point of the game.  Ferringer set the second half tone, with a physical lay-up down low.  Back to back threes by Howard and Constantino rapidly extended the lead to twelve.  After the Raiders attempted to fight back, cutting the lead to 36-29, Byrum Louco buried a jumper in the lane, while Howard and Constantino each sank another from long range.  Seneca Valley struggled for the remainder of the quarter, converting just 28% of their field goal attempts.  Meanwhile, North Allegheny buried 72% of their third quarter shots, including 5-8 from three.  The Tigers coasted through the remaining period, extending their win streak to six, and further solidifying their resume for a high seed in the WPIAL playoffs.

Throughout the game, careless handling of the basketball plagued both teams.  North Allegheny finished with 26 turnovers, while Seneca Valley turned it over 24 times.  Howard’s 21 points was one off his season high, accomplished against Marcellinus back on December 11.  In addition to leading on the scoresheet, Howard was selected as the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.

In other section games, Central Catholic lost to Butler tonight, eliminating the Vikings from postseason contention.  In turn, the win assured Butler of a playoff berth, clinching at least a share of 3^rd place in Section 3. 

With the loss, Seneca Valley needs a win and help to have a shot at the playoffs.  Pine-Richland must lose against Shaler, while the Raiders need to defeat Butler.  If this scenario occurs, both Pine-Richland and Seneca Valley will make the playoffs, by way of an unbreakable tie.  Otherwise, Pine-Richland will be in 4^th place alone and nab the final playoff spot in Section 3. 

North Allegheny returns to the court Friday night at rival North Hills.  As the regular season winds down, be sure to listen to the North Allegheny Sports Network for all the action.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 77   SENECA VALLEY - 59

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TIGERS SINK VIKINGS, 52-49

Back in November, North Allegheny’s football team ended Central Catholic’s season after winning their WPIAL semifinal matchup at Fox Chapel.  Not to be outdone, Friday night, the Tigers basketball team produced a significant blow to the Vikings’ playoff chances, after a tight 52-49 victory.  Tied at 49 with under a minute to go, Byrum Louco drove baseline and found Anthony Dallier for an easy lay-in to give North Allegheny the lead.  Dallier was fouled on the play and made the subsequent free throw, extending the lead to three.  Despite holding the ball for the remainder of the game, and taking multiple timeouts, Central Catholic managed only one shot attempt, as guard Lincoln Davis launched an off-balance three from well beyond the arc as time wound down.  The ball caught iron, and bounced high off the rim as the buzzer sounded, clinching victory for the Tigers.

Unlike a week ago when the two teams met, this game was certainly more of a defensive struggle.  Shooting percentages were nowhere near the height of last week, when both teams were well above 50% for the entire contest.  In the first matchup, Dallier led all scorers with a season high 47 points.  Although he still led all scorers on this night, he managed just 16 points on 6 of 19 shooting.

Inside of Central Catholic’s cozy gymnasium, the action was tight, physical, and at times, downright chippy.  The Vikings appeared desperate from the beginning, as they clearly knew their precarious situation with regards to the playoffs.  Early on, it looked to be a continuation of last week’s offensive shootout, as both teams connected on their first two shots.  Following the furious start, the game settled down.  North Allegheny was able to grab a seven point lead late in the first half at 24-17.  However, Central Catholic closed the half on a 7-0 run, sending the teams to the locker rooms deadlocked at 24-24. 

The second half became a virtual stalemate, as neither game gained much of an edge.  North Allegheny’s largest second-half lead was four points, while the Vikings’ biggest lead was a mere three points.  In all, the latter half featured six ties and nine lead changes.  In the fourth quarter, the Tigers received contributions from a variety of sources, including key layups from Anton Constantino and Steve Ferringer, and a big three pointer by JC Howard, as Central Catholic looked to gain momentum.  Tied at 47, Howard fouled Viking guard Mike Anselmo.  After sinking both free throws, Ferringer answered down low, tying the game at 49.  On their next possession, the Vikings missed an open three.  Louco came down with the rebound and found Dallier at the other end for the game’s deciding basket.

The loss was the fourth in a row for Central Catholic, dropping them to 4-7 in section play, 9-11 overall.  Although their playoff boat is taking on water, the Vikings are not mathematically eliminated just yet.  They still have a chance, but are now on the outside looking in, desperately needing help from teams above them in the standings.  Their final section game is against Butler on Tuesday. 

As for the Tigers (16-3, 8-2), their win was their fifth in a row, as they look to solidify a high seed for the WPIAL playoffs.  North Allegheny’s next game is Tuesday, when they host section rival Seneca Valley in their regular season home finale.  Tune in to the North Allegheny Sports Network for all of the live action, with tip-off scheduled for 7:30.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 52   CENTRAL CATHOLIC - 49

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TIGERS SCORE FINAL 12 POINTS TO
BEAT BUTLER, 58-49

The North Allegheny Tigers locked up the second spot in the Section-3 standings with a 58-49 victory over Butler on Wednesday afternoon.  This game was a meeting of contrasting styles.  The Tigers offense scored 101 points in a win over Norwin in their last game, while the Butler defense had allowed no more than 40 points in their last three games, including giving up just 30 in a win over Pine-Richland in their last effort.

In the first quarter, it was the Butler defense and deliberate offense that dictated the action.  A slow, time consuming game plan on offense kept the ball away from the Tigers, limiting NA to just five points in the first eight minutes.  The Golden Tornado owned an 11-5 lead to end the first quarter and held the Tigers to only one field goal, a two-point bucket by J.C. Howard.  Anthony Dallier, who scored 83 points in his last two games combined, was held without a point in the first period.

Early fouls did hamper Butler in the first half, and often put North Allegheny at the free-throw line.  The Tigers success at the charity stripe proved to by a key factor in the victory.  North Allegheny would convert 23 of 29 free-throws in the game while the Golden Tornado had only eight free throw attempts, connecting on just four.  The Tigers trailed throughout much of the first half until NA grabbed a 21-20 lead on a pair of Dallier free-throws with 2:23 remaining in the second quarter.  By intermission, North Allegheny increased their lead to 26-21.

To start the second half, the Golden Tornado breezed up court more quickly compared to their patient style in the first half as Cody Herald paced Butler with eight points in the third quarter.  Big man, 6-6 senior Bobby Swartout also aided Butler’s flurry by posting nine second half points and point guard Nate Snodgrass hit a two-point jumper before the end of the third period to put the Golden Tornado back ahead, 42-40.  Swartout finished with a double-double, posting 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Dallier, who was scoreless in first and third quarters, saved all his production for the second and fourth quarters, scoring 16 points on the day.  While he was mostly quiet in the first half, senior Anton Constantino scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half to help lift the Tigers to the victory.  Constantino was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.  Many of Constantino’s  and Dallier’s points came during a pivotal run for the Tigers that gave NA the victory.  North Allegheny faced a 49-46 deficit with 5:46 remaining in the game before the Tigers scored 12 unanswered points.  The 12-0 game ending run was also pieced together in large part by the NA defense, forcing numerous steals and several poor shot choices by the Golden Tornado.   

The victory improves the Tigers record to 15-3 overall and 7-2 in the section while Butler drops to 9-8 overall and 5-5 in section play.  With three section games remaining on the schedule, the Tigers are now assured the second spot in Section-3.  After the loss, Butler remains in third place in the section, but will likely be in a battle to the end for the final playoff spot with Pine-Richland, Central Catholic and Seneca Valley.  Up next, North Allegheny will hit the road for a meeting with the Central Catholic Vikings on Friday night.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 pm.  Butler takes on Aliquippa on Friday in a non-section affair. 

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 58   BUTLER - 49

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NA TOPS 100 POINTS, DEFEATS NORWIN
 

North Allegheny hit the century mark against Norwin, lancing the Knights 101-85 on Saturday afternoon.  Coming off a 47 point night against the Central Catholic Vikings on Thursday, junior Anthony Dallier followed that up with a 36 point performance and 12 rebounds against Norwin, for his second straight double-double.  Dallier wasn't the only Tiger lighting up the scoreboard.  Steve Ferringer scored 17 points and Byrum Louco added 14 points off the bench.  In all, 12 different Tigers scored points in the victory.  It was the second time this season North Allegheny has score more than 100 points.

The Knights kept things competitive in the first half, trailing NA 48-39 at halftime. However, the Tigers took command of the game by outscoring Norwin 27-15 in the third quarter to grab a 75-54 lead.  North Allegheny coasted to the victory in the the fourth. 

For Norwin, Matt Palo notched a double-double, scoring 35 points and pulling down 20 boards.  Andy Carter scored 21 points and Matt Ross chipped in with 16.  While it was a good offensive game for Norwin, the Knights defense simply could not handle the highest scoring team in Section-3.

With the non-section win, the second ranked Tigers improve to 14-3 on the year while Norwin drops to 10-7.  Up next, North Allegheny a home meeting with section foe Butler on Tuesday night.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 pm and the game will be carried live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network. 

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 101  NORWIN - 85

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DALLIER SCORES 47 IN WIN OVER
CENTRAL CATHOLIC

To hear an archived broadcast of the game, click here!

The North Allegheny Tigers put a little distance between themselves and third place in the Section-3 standings with an 80-75 come from behind win over Central Catholic on Thursday night.  The victory was keyed by junior Anthony Dallier who scored a career high 47 points and pulled down 14 rebounds to record a double-double.  The game was a tale of two halves, with NA shooting lights out in the second half.

In the first half it was Central Catholic that couldn’t miss, shooting an astounding 66% from the floor.  While the Tigers held a 20-10 lead with 1:30 remaining in the first quarter, the Vikings used their exceptional shooting to go on a 13-0 run to grab a 23-20 lead early in the second quarter.  Junior guard Mike Anselmo helped lead the Central Catholic run with a pair of three-pointers on his way to a 19 point night.  The Vikings’ Lincoln Davis and Sam Calhoun were also big in the first half as each were in double-digits by halftime as Central Catholic continued their hot shooting for a 46-38 lead at intermission.  Both Davis and Calhoun ended the game with 17 points each.

The Tigers would turn the tables on Central Catholic in the second half, with North Allegheny in can’t miss mode and the Vikings suddenly struggling to find their early stroke.  North Allegheny hit 61% from the floor over the final 16 minutes of the game thanks in large part by the play of Dallier.  The Tigers' pressure defense also played a role in the comeback by forcing 20 turnovers from the Vikings.  NA trimmed Central Catholic’s lead to 61-60 by the end of the third quarter, and then took the lead on a Dallier three-pointer to begin the fourth period.

Senior Steve Ferringer scored all six of his points on the night in the fourth quarter to help North Allegheny hold a 75-71 advantage with 1:25 to go in the game.  With the Vikings desperate for a bucket to bring the score to a one-possession game, the Tigers Kevin Cope stripped Lincoln Davis of the basketball and fed Dallier who was wide open on the fast break to increase the NA lead to 77-71.  The steal by Cope and several Dallier free-throws down the stretch provided the Tigers with the finishing touches on an 80-75 victory.

Dallier was no doubt the star of this game and earned the Wright Automotive Player of the Game award.  The win was also aided by Anton Constantino’s eight points and the six other Tigers that also touched the scoring column.  For the game, the Tigers hit 53% of their shots in a strong offensive performance. 

With the win, North Allegheny improves to 13-3 on the season and 6-2 in Section-3.  Central Catholic falls to 9-8 overall and 4-4 in the section, leaving the Vikings in a tie for third place with Butler and two games behind the second place Tigers.  North Allegheny is back in action on Saturday afternoon at Norwin while Central Catholic hosts undefeated Shaler tonight. 

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 80  CENTRAL CATHOLIC - 75

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DALLIER, CONSTANTINO LEAD TIGERS OVER
PINE-RICHLAND 46-44

To hear an archived broadcast of the game, click here!

In a hostile environment on the road, the North Allegheny Tigers weathered an early storm by the home-standing Rams and edged Pine-Richland on Tuesday night, 46-44.  The Rams raced to a 12-2 lead to start the game, but by the end of the first quarter the Tigers had the advantage, 17-15.  Junior Anthony Dallier and senior Anton Constantino led the charge for NA with 22 first half points.  The duo would prove vital in the late stages of the game as well.

The game was tied 25-25 to begin the third quarter when the pace of the game was slowed immensely.  With a deliberate offensive game plan, the Rams successfully held the highest scoring team in Section-3 to just four points in the third quarter.  In fact, the Tigers didn’t score until Anthony Dallier made a bucket with 1:25 left in the period.  After a low scoring third quarter, Pine-Richland held a 31-29 lead. 

While the Tigers weren’t scoring in the third, they were drawing frequent fouls from the Rams which proved quite useful in the fourth quarter.  The stockpile of team fouls on Pine-Richland put the Tigers at the line often over the final eight minutes of play.  No foul would prove more costly to the Rams than the fifth foul on senior Ed Baranowski with 3:37 to play.  With the Rams leading 41-38, Baranowski fouled out and untucked his jersey while emphatically throwing his hands down during his trek to the bench.  A second official called Baranowski for a technical foul, a call that turned the tide on the Rams for the remainder of the game.  Constantino, in addition to his two shots on the shooting foul, received two more shots for the technical foul and sank all four free-throws to put North Allegheny ahead, 42-41.  Pine-Richland would never see the lead again.  Down the stretch, Dallier was 7 for 7 from the free-throw line and Constantino was 6 for 6, helping the Tigers hold off Pine-Richland in the end.

In the losing effort, Pine-Richland’s Andy Anderle scored 16 points and Eric Holmes notched 15.  For the Tigers, Dallier finished the night with 22 points and Constantino scored 16.  With Dallier and Constantino accounting for 38 of the Tigers’ 46 points, only two other NA players touched the scoreboard.  That was in part to the Rams offensive philosophy and defense that, to their credit, held North Allegheny to just 30% shooting from the field.

With the win, North Allegheny improves to 12-3 on the season and 5-2 in section play, keeping the Tigers alone in second place in the section.  Pine-Richland falls to 8-4 overall and 3-4 in section play.  The Tigers will host Central Catholic on Thursday night with opening tip slated for 8:00 pm.  The game will be carried live on the North Allegheny Sports Network.     

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 46  PINE-RICHLAND - 44

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HOT SHOOTING KEEPS SHALER UNDEFEATED,
NA FALLS 59-44

Although postseason basketball doesn't begin for another month, it was a playoff atmosphere inside the North Allegheny Senior High gym on Friday night.  In spite of the cold weather outside, Shaler started hot and remained hot, shooting a ridiculous 55% from the field for the game, including over 60% in the first half, on their way to a 59-44 victory at North Allegheny.  Anthony Dallier netted 15 points, while Wright Automotive Player of the Game Anton Constantino (11 points), and Byrum Louco (10 points) also hit double figures for the Tigers.

The intensity could be felt off the opening tip, as teams fed off the capacity crowd.  Both teams sped back and forth, as the atmosphere felt almost like a hockey game.  In spite of the dynamic up and down play, there was no real offensive rhythm in the early going, evidenced by the low scoring first quarter.  Dallier managed to score 8 points in the opening quarter, primarily in the paint off Shaler turnovers, giving the Tigers a slight 10-9 lead.

After trading baskets at the start of the second, the teams were deadlocked at 14-14.  Then, the Shaler defense clamped down, in the turning point of the game.  Off of turnovers and missed shots, the Titans stampeded out to a 20-2 run.  When the dust settled, North Allegheny trailed 34-16 at halftime.  At the half, Shaler had capitalized with 15 points off turnovers, including 10 fast break points, punctuated by a thunderous dunk from sophomore standout Geno Thorpe.  Thorpe led all scorers with 22 points.  He also victimized North Allegheny with 22 points in their earlier meeting in December, won by Shaler 59-47.

Following the intermission, North Allegheny could not cut the deficit.  Shaler maintained a double digit lead throughout the second half, on their way to the fifteen point victory.  The win keeps Shaler's undefeated record in tact at 14-0, and solidifies their position at the top of the Section 3 standings. 

With the loss, the Tigers slump to 11-3, 4-2 in section play, while snapping their win streak at ten games.  They will look to bounce back Tuesday when they travel to Pine-Richland to meet the Rams.  Catch all the action from this section matchup on the North Allegheny Sports Network.  Tip-off Tuesday is scheduled for 8:00 pm, following the girls varsity game at 6:30.

GAME SUMMARY
SHALER 59 - NORTH ALLEGHENY 44

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TIGERS FLATTEN NORTH HILLS WITH PRESS, 70-34

To listen to a rebroadcast of this game, click here!

The Tigers’ pressure defense put the clamps down on North Hills on Tuesday night, forcing the Indians into a blowout loss at North Allegheny, 70-34.  The game was competitive through the first 13 minutes of the contest with NA leading 23-18.  However, the Tigers would not let the game stay competitive for long.  Over the final 2:49 of the first half, the Tigers went on a 14-0 run to take a 37-18 lead into halftime.

To start the run, senior Anton Constantino drained a three-pointer, followed by a Byrum Louco steal and lay-up.  Moments later, senior Kevin Cope grabbed a steal of his own and scored on a lay-up and was fouled.  Cope converted the free-throw to complete the three-point play and the Tigers were literally off and running, on their way to a convincing 36 point win, and NA's ninth win in-a-row.

The most telling stat of the night was points off of turnovers.  NA forced 30 North Hills’ turnovers in the game, converting them into 35 points.  The Indians could score only three points on Tigers’ turnovers.  Most of the steals forced by the NA vice-grip defense were pirated by Anthony Dallier and Louco.  Dallier posted five steals and Louco notched four.  Those two players also led NA offensively with Dallier scoring a game-high 21 points and Louco adding a dozen.  In a game completely dominated by North Allegheny, Louco was selected as the Wright Automotive Player of the Game for his overall performance. 

As a team the Tigers shot 49% percent from the field, while holding the Indians to just 28% shooting.  No North Hills player reached double-digits in scoring as Alex Wright and Steve Hearty paced the Indians with eight points each.

North Allegheny improves their record to 11-2 on the season and 4-1 in Section-3.  North Hills falls to 6-8 and 0-6 in section play.  Up next for the Tigers is a rematch with undefeated Shaler on Friday night.  Tip-off is slated for 8:00 pm.  You can hear all the action live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network.    

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 70  NORTH HILLS - 34

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TIGERS WIN STREAK HITS EIGHT IN 56-51 VICTORY AT SENECA VALLEY

North Allegheny overcame inconsistent play, poor shooting, and turnovers, to prevail at Seneca Valley on Friday night, 56-51.  The Tigers never trailed against the rugged Raiders.  However, they could not put the game out of reach until late, as the Tigers' largest lead of the night was just ten points.  Anthony Dallier and JC Howard led North Allegheny with 17 points apiece, while Anton Constantino, Steve Ferringer, and Byrum Louco each contributed 6 points in the winning effort.

Sloppy play marred the first half, as the teams combined for 18 turnovers and 24 fouls.  North Allegheny managed just 30% from the field.  Their efforts from the charity stripe were equally poor, knicking down just 2 of 9 in the opening half.  Fortunately for the Tigers, Seneca Valley was even worse shooting the basketball, making just four field goals, while converting a dismal 22% of their first-half field goals.  Constantino and Kevin Cope converted threes on consecutive possessions as the second quarter wound down, giving the Tigers a 24-16 lead at halftime, in an otherwise uneventful first half.

Seneca Valley began the second half on a 7-0 run, cutting the lead to two.  With the Raiders' defense harassing anyone driving or rebounding in the paint, North Allegheny looked to the outside to counter the Seneca surge.  JC Howard stepped up, scoring 11 of his 17 in the third quarter, including three treys, keeping the Tigers in the lead with his offense.  With thirty seconds remaining in the third, Howard picked up his fourth foul, sending him to the bench, and setting the stage for Anthony Dallier to step up in the fourth quarter.

Although he had just six points in the first three quarters, Dallier came alive in the fourth, scoring several layups down the stretch.  A key sequence occurred with about three minutes to go in the game.  North Allegheny led 47-43 when Howard was called for his fifth foul on a Seneca player RJ McCauley shooting a three.  However, McCauley managed to sink just one of the awarded free throws.  The three point deficit was as close as Seneca Valley would get.  At the other end, the Tigers held the ball seemingly forever, before Louco was found loose behind the Raider defense for an easy backdoor layup, increasing the lead back to five.  The teams traded free throws before time ultimately ran out on the Raiders, giving North Allegheny its eighth win in a row.

The loss dropped Seneca Valley to 5-5, 1-3 in section play.  They return to play Saturday in a home game against non-section opponent Oliver.  With the win, the Tigers improved to 10-2, 3-1 in the section, solidifying their grasp on second place in Section 3.  North Allegheny returns to the hardwood on Tuesday, with a visit from the North Hills Indians.  Catch all the action on the North Allegheny Sports Network.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 56  SENECA VALLEY - 51

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TIGERS RAIN THREE POINTERS, SINK GATEWAY 66-64

Steve Ferringer's three pointer from the corner in the final minute of play helped North Allegheny hang on, knocking off previously undefeated Gateway, 66-64.  Anthony Dallier, JC Howard, and Anton Constantino, all posted double figures, with 25, 15, and 13 points, respectively.  The Tigers started the game on fire, connecting with five first quarter threes.  Hot shooting, coupled with a suffocating pressure defense, led North Allegheny to a stunning 23-5 lead after the first quarter.

Gateway closed the gap to ten to begin the second quarter.  However, threes by Dallier, Ferringer, and Howard quickly negated the rally, as the lead inflated back to seventeen at halftime.  Although Gateway clearly had a height advantage, led by 6'10 junior Barnett Harris, they were unable to handle the North Allegheny press, or counter nine Tiger threes in the first half.  The Gators tried switching to a 2-3 zone for a short period of time to give a different defensive posture.  After failing to stifle the North Allegheny attack, the defense was scrapped shortly before halftime.

In the third quarter, Gateway roared back with 23 points, compared to just 10 for the Tigers, closing the gap to four.  Most of the Gators damage was done inside, capitalizing on driving lay-ups and short jumpers in the paint.  The fourth quarter began with Gateway maintaining the momentum, with Devon Cottrell sinking a running floater to cut the lead to two.  The Gators took the lead at 51-50, on a three pointer by Michael Corbett, his only basket of the game, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. 

After trading free throws, Constantino hit a clutch trey.  Gateway responded with a lay-up on the other end, knotting the game at 55.  North Allegheny was unsuccessful on their offensive possession, with Harris grabbing the rebound and leading Gateway on a fast break.  He was fouled intentionally by Kevin Cope, yet failed to connect with either free throw.  With the North Allegheny faithful calling for defense, the Tigers held Gateway without a field goal for the remainder of the game.  On the subsequent possession, a driving Byrum Louco found Daillier for an easy lay-up.  On the defensive end, Howard stole the ball, and found Louco on a fast break for another easy lay-up, and a four point lead.  Two Gateway free throws tightened the lead to 60-58, but Ferringer buried a three from the corner.  Free throws by Constantino and Ferringer helped put the game out of reach, as the Gators' frantic rally fell short.

With the win, North Allegheny improves its record to 8-2, while Gateway falls to 9-1.  North Allegheny returns to action Friday, as the Tigers travel to Butler to face the Golden Tornado.  Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 pm.  All the action can be heard on the North Allegheny Sports Network.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 66  GATEWAY - 64

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LOUCO'S CLUTCH SHOT HELPS NA TOP CATHEDRAL PREP 58-56

In another down to the wire non-section game, the North Allegheny Tigers held off Erie Cathedral Prep on Thursday night for a 58-56 victory.  Eerily similar to Wednesday night’s game against Perry, the Tigers built a double-digit lead over Cathedral Prep in the first half only to see the Ramblers take the lead in the second half.  However, a clutch shot in the waning minutes by Byrum Louco helped the Tigers claw their way to the win.

With hot shooting from beyond the arc, the Tigers built a 26-14 lead early in the second quarter.  Anthony Dallier and J.C. Howard knocked down a pair of treys each in the first half, and Anton Constantino added another to jump on the Ramblers for a 12 point lead.  The Ramblers chipped their way back into the game by dominating the boards.  In the first half, Erie Cathedral Prep out-rebounded the Tigers 25-9.  Most of those rebounds were pulled down by 5-11 senior Adam Blazek who posted eight in the first half and 14 for the game.  Blazek’s 10 first half points, and Joe Gnacinski’s six points and four rebounds brought the Ramblers to within two points by halftime, 29-27. 

Opening the third quarter, Prep’s Sheldon Zablotny hit a three-pointer to give the Ramblers their first lead of the night at 30-29.  Both teams traded baskets on the next few possessions before Cathedral Prep constructing their largest lead of the game at 38-33 with two minutes left in the third period.  North Allegheny responded with an 8-2 run to grab the lead back by the end of the quarter.  Howard capped the period with a three-point shot to give NA a 41-40 advantage. 

Riding the momentum from Howard’s three-point make, the Tigers continued their excellent perimeter shooting as Kevin Cope dropped in a pair of treys, including one in which he was fouled to send him to the line for a four point play.  Cope finished off the effort by making the free-throw to help increase NA’s lead to 48-42.  Dallier hit a pair of free throws moments later to make the score 50-42 with about six minutes remaining in the contest.  Courtesy of a 10-2 run, the Ramblers tied the ballgame at 52-52 with about three minutes to go.  After a foul by Zablotny on Constantino, the senior guard hit one of two free throws to put NA on top at 53-52 with 2:12 on the clock.  Dallier hit one of two free throws moments later to increase the Tigers lead to 54-52.  Erie Cathedral Prep instantly answered with a Zablotny three-pointer to give the Ramblers the lead back at 55-54.  With just under a minute to go, the Tigers came out of a time out with a baseline drive and bucket by Louco, who was fouled in the process by Zablotny.  Louco made the following free throw to convert the three-point play to put NA on top for good, 57-55.  The Tigers owned a 58-55 lead in the final moments when Nico Sisinni was fouled on a three point shot with 0.7 seconds on the clock.  Sisinni could hit only one free throw as North Allegheny outlasted Cathedral Prep for the 58-56 victory.

Offensively, Louco finished the night with 12 points, including the game winning shot.  For his outstanding game, Louco was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.  Howard paced the Tigers in scoring with 14 points.  Dallier added 13 points as well.  To lead all scorers, Prep’s Zablotny posted 19 points.  Adam Blazek also hit double-digits with 13 points. 

North Allegheny has now won five games in-a-row to improve their record to 7-2 on the season.  Up next for the Tigers is a meeting on Tuesday with the top-ranked team in Class AAAA, the Gateway Gators.  Erie Cathedral Prep drops to 3-6 on the year and will play Canisius next week.      

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 58  ERIE CATHEDRAL PREP - 56

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NA OUTLASTS PERRY IN OVERTIME 82-76

After blowing past the Monessen Greyhounds in the first round of the North Allegheny Holiday Tournament, the Tigers found themselves in the winner’s circle on Wednesday night thanks to an 82-76 overtime win over the Perry Commodores in the tournament final.  In similar fashion to their dominating win over Monessen, the Tigers’ defense helped NA establish a 27-11 lead in the first quarter.  Perry finally settled into the game by halftime, but still trailed North Allegheny 38-25.

The Commodores fought their way back into the game with their own pressure defense, forcing 16 second half turnovers from the Tigers.  Behind a 32 point night by senior guard Marcus Smith, Perry clawed their way back into the game.  On several different occasions in the second half, the Commodores trimmed the NA lead to one point but could not tie the score or take the lead.  That was until 30 seconds left in regulation.  With the Tigers holding 69-66 advantage, Bruce Grover squared up the score at 69-69 with a three-pointer.  Playing for the last shot of regulation, NA had the ball stolen away by Grover.  The Perry senior was fouled with 1.7 seconds remaining.  With a chance to give the Commodores the lead and possibly the win, Grover missed the front end of the one-and-one and the Tigers pulled down the rebound to send the game to overtime. 

In the extra period, the Tigers outscored Perry 13-7 in large part because of Anthony Dallier.  The senior swingman led the way for North Allegheny, finishing with a 35 point night and the tournament MVP award.  For his efforts on the evening, Dallier was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.  Chipping in for the Tigers, Anton Consantino and Byrum Louco each posted 13 points.  As a team, NA hit 48% from the field. Also a key fact in overtime, Perry’s Greg McGhee and Christian Perkins fouled out of the game as early foul trouble for the Commodores eventually caught up with them. 

North Allegheny improves to 6-2 for the year and Perry falls to 4-2 on the season.  NA hits the hardwood again tonight in a non-section affair with Erie Cathedral Prep.  Perry gets back to City League play with a Tuesday night meeting with Carrick.   

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 82  PERRY - 76 (OT) 

North Allegheny Holiday Boys' All-Tournament Team

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TIGERS EASILY LAP GREYHOUNDS FOR TRIP TO HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT FINAL

From the opening tip, the North Allegheny Tigers manhandled Monessen at the NA Holiday Tournament for a 70-34 win on Tuesday night.  However, the final score doesn’t indicate how truly one-sided this game was.  North Allegheny stormed out of the starting gates with a three-point jumper by Anton Constantino and the Tigers would runaway from the Greyhounds the rest of the night.

Before the second-ranked team in Class AA knew what hit them, North Allegheny had a 19-2 lead to start the game.  Monessen boasts a great deal of height but did not have an opportunity to use it because of the Tigers tenacious defense.  In the first half, North Allegheny posted 31 points on 25 Monessen turnovers.  The Tigers defense was a nightmare for Monessen, holding the Greyhounds to only 17 attempted shots through the first 16 minutes. 

It also didn’t hurt matters that the Tigers were white hot from three-point land.  NA knocked down eight threes in the first half and finished with 50% shooting from beyond the arc, hitting 10 of 20.  North Allegheny posted a 53% field goal percentage in the first half on their way to a 52-13 halftime lead.  In a dominating team performance, three different Tigers hit double digits by halftime.  Anthony Dallier posted 13 points by the half and 17 points total.  Constantino knocked down three treys for 11 first half points and 13 overall.  Junior J.C. Howard notched 10 points by halftime and 12 on the night.  Howard also swiped three steals and delivered three assists as he was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.

To start the second half, NA quickly eclipsed a 40 point lead over Monessen to invoke the mercy rule and the Tigers coasted down the backstretch to championship finals of the North Allegheny Holiday Tournament.  The Tigers improve to 5-2 on the season and will play the Perry Commodores Wednesday night at 8 pm.  Perry pasted Peters Township 99-49 to earn a trip to the tournament finals.  The North Allegheny-Perry contest will be carried live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network.     

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 70  MONESSEN - 34

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CONSTANTINO, DALLIER LIFT TIGERS
OVER PENN HILLS 60-51

North Allegheny picked up their second win in as many nights as the Tigers took down Penn Hills 60-51 in a non-section game on Wednesday night.  The game was an entertaining one that saw both teams run up and down the court, matching each other shot for shot for the entire first half.  The contest was tied 15-15 after the first period and was knotted up at 31-31 at halftime. 

Anthony Dallier and Anton Constatino were the pace setters for the Tigers.  Dallier posted 17 points in the first half and Constantino netted eight.  NA held a 31-26 lead with two minutes left in the half before Penn Hills’ Robert Agurs single handedly tied the score before halftime.  Following a block on Dallier by Agurs, the senior raced up court and scored on a lay-up to cut the score to 31-28 with just under 30 seconds to go in the half.  Agurs followed that up with a three-pointer with just four seconds on the clock to bring the game to a 31-31 score at the half.  Another standout for the Indians was Lamont Wright, who notched 16 points on perfect 8 for 8 shooting in the first half.  Wright finished with 22 points in the contest.

The lead changed hands four times in the first half, but the score would favor North Allegheny throughout the entire second half.  The Tigers stormed out of the locker room to grab a 40-33 lead, but Penn Hills would not go away by going on a 7-0 run, that was capped on a bucket by Wright to tie the score at 40-40.  That tie didn’t last long though as Constantino answered with a trey to give the Tigers the lead right back at 43-40 with about three minutes left in the third period.  The make by Constantino started a 9-1 run for the Tigers, giving NA a 49-41 lead by late in the third period, the largest advantage for either team at that point in the game. 

To start the fourth period, the Indians once again rallied by riding a 6-0 run to trim the Tigers lead to 49-47.  However, North Allegheny turned to Constantino again as he buried another three-pointer to steal away Penn Hills’ momentum and upping the Tigers advantage to 52-47.  The Tigers pressure defense forced 28 turnovers in the game and made sure that the Indians would come no closer.  Penn Hills could manage only six points in the final period, allowing the Tigers to come away with a 60-51 victory.

On the night, Dallier finished with over half of the Tigers’ total, 31 points, and Constantino ended the night with 17 points.  For his momentum shifting shots from beyond the arc, Constantino was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.    

North Allegheny’s record improves to 4-2 overall.  The Indians lost their fourth straight game, dropping their record to 2-5 overall.  The game was the third in as many nights for Penn Hills, including a one point loss to top ranked Gateway on Tuesday evening.  The Tigers will host Monessen next Tuesday at the North Allegheny Holiday Tournament, while Penn Hills visits Riverside on Tuesday at the Shady Side Academy Tournament.          

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 60  PENN HILLS - 51

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NA TAKES DOWN PINE-RICHLAND 72-58

The Tigers earned their first section win of the season with a 72-58 victory over the Pine-Richland Rams on Tuesday night.  North Allegheny’s offense was able to drive the lane successfully throughout the evening, something the Pine-Richland defense couldn’t contain.  With a 16-0 advantage scoring in the paint in the early going, North Allegheny jumped on the Rams early in the contest to build a 23-8 first period lead.

The Tigers would eventually build a 20 point lead to 63-43 with 4:44 remaining in the game before Pine-Richland went on an 11-1 run to bring the Rams seemingly closer. Pine-Richland’s Andy Anderle contributed on that run with a pair of treys, including a four point play when Anderle was fouled while hitting a three-pointer.  Anderle’s effort brought the Rams to 64-54 with 3:13 to play, but the Rams would get no closer.   

Anthony Dallier helped the Tigers put the game away with 25 points and by shooting 11 of 13 from the free throw line.  Dallier led NA with five rebounds and was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game for his play on the night.  Dallier was one of four players to score double-digits against the Rams as junior J.C. Howard attacked the cylinder for 13 points, junior Ricky Minsterman was strong inside by posting 12 points, and senior Byrum Louco chipped in with 10.

For Pine-Richland, Anderle and Eric Holmes each notched 15 points, and Ed Baranowski scored 13.  Ultimately, their production was not enough to overcome a solid effort by the Tigers on their own home court.  With the victory, North Allegheny improves to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the section.  Pine-Richland falls to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in section play.  The Tigers will be back in action on Wednesday night for a non-section meeting with the Penn Hills Indians. 

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 72  PINE-RICHLAND - 58

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NA DROPS SECTION OPENER TO SHALER, 59-47

The North Allegheny Tigers fell in their section opener at Shaler on Friday night.  Although the game was tight throughout the first half, in the second half, the Titans took advantage of poor North Allegheny shooting and turnovers, before blowing the game open on their way to a 59-47 victory.  After exploding for 29 against Mt. Lebanon on Tuesday, Anthony Dallier was held to just 12 points on 4 of 14 shooting.  Anton Constantino and Byrum Louco also posted double digits for the Tigers, with 16 and 10 points, respectively.

The lead changed hands several times in the early going.  Shaler found itself ahead 11-8 in the first quarter, sparked by a breakaway dunk by Geno Thorpe.  However, following the dunk, North Allegheny closed the quarter on a 7-2, leading 15-13 at the end of one period.  The game continued to be close through halftime, with Shaler leading 31-29.

In the second half, the Titans began with a 7-3 run, expanding their lead to 38-32.  North Allegheny quickly responded when, following a made basket, Dallier stole the inbounds pass, laid it in, and drew the foul.  After converting the free throw, the Tigers had dropped the deficit to one.  However, that was as close as they would get, as the Titans pulled away in the fourth quarter.

With respects to shooting the basketball, it was a tale of two halves for North Allegheny.  In the first half, they shot 57%, including 3 of 6 on three pointers.  However, after halftime, they shot a measly 27%, and failed to make a three.  Cold second half shooting, along with inopportune turnovers, led to several easy lay-ups for Shaler down the stretch, allowing the Titans to put the game out of reach.

The rematch between North Allegheny and Shaler is set for January 21, when the Tigers host the Titans at North Allegheny Senior High School.  Although it expects to be an equally intense contest, there may be some different faces on each bench

Shaler continues conference play on Tuesday, when they travel to Butler.  North Allegheny is also in action Tuesday, as they host section foe Pine-Richland.  The Tigers will then step out of section play Wednesday, when Penn Hills visits North Allegheny.  Both games will be broadcast on the North Allegheny Sports Network.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 both nights.

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NA TOPS DEFENDING WPIAL CHAMPION
MT. LEBANON, 63-57

by Don Rebel

North Allegheny used a tenacious defense and a big game from junior Anthony Dallier as the Tigers beat the defending WPIAL Class AAAA champions at Mt. Lebanon Tuesday night by a score of 63-57.  Dallier came out hot in the opening quarter before the Blue Devils kept him in check until the fourth quarter when he took control and put the Tigers on top to stay. 

Mt. Lebanon led early until the Tigers defense went to work to build a 29-20 lead by halftime and a double digit advantage early in the third quarter.  But Blue Devils guard Luke Hagy single handedly kept his team in the game with five 3-pointers in the third quarter alone.  Mt. Lebanon came back and tied the game 47-47 before North Allegheny put the game away thanks to Dallier and some clutch free throw shooting down the stretch.  The Tigers hit 18 of 23 free throws for the game and Dallier knocked down 9 of 10 from the line.  "We expect that kind of effort out of Dallier," NA coach Dave DeGregorio said afterward. 

Both Dallier and Hagy ended up with 29 points each. J.C. Howard and Byrum Louco collected 11 and 10 points respectively.  For the game, the Tigers offense was outstandingly consistent, shooting 50% from the field in both the first and second half.  North Allegheny improves to 2-1 on the season and will visit section foe Shaler on Friday night.  Mt. Lebanon drops to 2-1 and opens Section-4 play next Tuesday at Chartiers Valley.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 63  MT. LEBANON - 57

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NORTH ALLEGHENY EARNS SPLIT AT
STATE COLLEGE TOURNAMENT

The North Allegheny Boys' basketball team settled for a split at the State College Tip-Off Tournament this weekend.  On Friday night against Red Land, the Tigers owned a 33-23 lead at haftime, but Red Land's big men and second half adjustments helped the Patriots pick up a 57-50 win in the tournament opener.  Despite the loss, junior Anthony Dallier led the Tigers with 17 points and six rebounds.  Senior Anton Consatino followed with 11 points, hitting 3 of 8 from three point land.  In building a 10 point first half lead, the Tigers shot 43% from the field and 45% from beyond the arc.  However, in the second half, NA was held to 21% shooting from the field and only 8% percent on three point tries.  In Saturday's consolation game, the Tigers rebounded by smothering St. Marcellinus, Ontario 105-67.

After the opening weekend of basketball, the Tigers begin the season with a 1-1 record and will visit a very good Mt. Lebanon team on Tuesday night.

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Any questions or comments should be directed to Athletic Director
Bob Bozzuto at:  bbozzuto@northallegheny.org