H.S. Sports Central

Gateway senior Craig Banks tapped the rebound toward the basket and then teammates Devon Cottrell, Mike Kromka and Tyler Scott followed. One after another. they tried to swat the basketball into the hoop, with Scott finally succeeding.

No one could stop them.

North Allegheny had players there, too, but they were just out of reach, overmatched at times by the Gators' oversized lineup during Wednesday night's semifinal loss to Gateway, 65-56, in the WPIAL Class AAAA boys basketball playoffs at Fox Chapel.

And Gateway was given many chances.

North Allegheny made just 18 of 68 shots, including 7 of 34 from 3-point range. Gateway held a rebounding edge of 41-32 and blocked 15 shots.

"We didn't shoot the ball well," North Allegheny Dave DeGregorio said. "You've got to make a lot outside because you are not going to get them inside."

No. 6 seed Gateway will play Saturday against No. 1 seed Mt. Lebanon in the Class AAAA championship game. Mt. Lebanon reached the final by beating Upper St. Clair, 51-42.

Anthony Dallier, a 6-foot-5 senior, was the only North Allegheny starter taller than 6-2. Gateway started a lineup that stood 6-3, 6-3, 6-6, 6-7 and 6-7. And from the bench, Gateway brought 6-foot-10 sophomore Barnett Harris.

These teams met two months ago at North Allegheny for a Jan. 5 non-section game won by North Allegheny, 61-54. This time, though, the Tigers' shots didn't fall and they got few second chances.

A basket by Dallier with 2:20 left in the fourth cut Gateway's lead to six points, but North Allegheny got no closer. Dallier scored 24 points and Jack Counahan added 12.

"It would have been nice to see what would have happened if we made one when we got it cut to six," DeGregorio said. "That would have been interesting."

The lead changed hands five times in the first quarter and was tied four times as the teams traded baskets for much of the period. A basket by Cottrell started a short-lived 7-2 run that spanned the quarter's final two minutes, giving the Gators a 17-14 lead after one.

Eight players scored in the first period, but none scored more than four points.

In the second, Banks scored eight of his team-high 20 points, helping Gateway maintain its slim lead. Banks' points helped negate a strong quarter by North Allegheny's Dallier, who scored seven points.

Gateway led at halftime, 31-26.

A 3-pointer by North Allegheny's Ben Colobrese cut Gateway's lead to 11 with 6:08 left in the fourth quarter before Scott responded with seven consecutive points. Scott scored 19.

• Most Read
• Most E-mailed
• Latest News