By DEAN DELLAMALVA JR.
MVI Sports
The Monessen boys basketball team has struggled mightily this season with outside shooting.
Friday night’s section game against Jefferson-Morgan was no different as the Hounds had failed to hit a 3-pointer until the final seconds.
Kiantae Robinson hit a game-tying three with 10.2 seconds to play and Chas Mrlack won it with a drive down the lane at the buzzer as Monessen (6-5, 4-3) came out on top in a 57-55 win in Section 4-2A.
Mrlack had a game to remember, not only for the buzzer-beater, but for his line score of 22 points, 13 rebounds and five steals. Angelo Mauro added 14 points and eight boards.
Mrlack got a steal on an inbounds pass near the sideline and head coach Dan Bosnic called a timeout with eight seconds left to set up a play. Mrlack took the inbound pass, used a screen by Mauro and split a double team. He put up a banking runner as time expired for the win.
“I got the screen and got downhill, they double teamed me and I ducked through,” Mrlack said. “I double clutched it and put it up high off the backboard and it went in. I was just so hyped about it.”
Robinson’s three came off another heads-up play by a teammate. Dante DeFilices had missed his three point opportunity but the rebound was long. DeFilices got to the ball first and found Robinson open.
“My mentality was that if Dante was going to get the shot, I needed to get the rebound,” Robinson said. “But he got the rebound and I looked up at the clock and I knew I was going to have to take the shot. I was hoping it went in but if not I had to chase the rebound.”
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