Balanced effort leads Cougars over visiting Mt. Pleasant

Charleroi’s Braeden Todaro led all scorers with 16 points in a 68-51 win over the winless Vikings.

Charleroi’s dominant performance against Mt. Pleasant Friday secured a crucial 68-51 victory, pushing the Cougars closer to a playoff berth.

With both offenses clicking early, the first quarter saw a flurry of scoring as the two teams traded baskets in an up-tempo contest. Charleroi edged out a slim 22-20 lead, though both teams struggled with turnovers, committing six each.

The second quarter was when the game took a turn.

The Cougars (9-10, 3-5) erupted for a 13-0 run over the first five minutes of the frame, fueled by relentless defensive pressure that forced eight Vikings’ turnovers in that span.

Charleroi’s well-rounded offensive attack saw contributions across the board in the first half with Keranko scoring nine points. Braeden Todaro, Amaru Staub and Noah Pletcher each had eight to send the Cougars to the locker room with a 42-27 lead.

“It’s been a while since we’ve been in the playoffs, so that made this game a pretty big deal,” said Charleroi head coach Joe Dunn following the victory. “There was a lot of added pressure with that being at stake, and the guys came out and did what they had to do to get the job done. Our players are so resilient, and they’ve been that way all season. They play hard, trust each other and they’re just really enjoying it.”

Charleroi’s defense, which struggled to contain Mt. Pleasant in the opening quarter, tightened up significantly after the break. The Cougars’ defensive pressure prevented the Vikings from finding any offensive rhythm.

“We knew that if we gave them uncontested shots, they were going to start falling,” said Dunn when asked about defensive adjustments. “Just making sure we get a hand in the shooter’s face, force turnovers, and play aggressively on that side of the ball. Our guys have really bought into the importance of team defense.”

The Vikings managed to close the third quarter on an 11-2 run, cutting the deficit to 59-41, but the damage had already been done.

The fourth quarter saw Charleroi slow the tempo, using their lead to extend possessions and drain the clock.

The Vikings (0-20, 0-8) increased their defensive pressure in an attempt to spark a late comeback, forcing several turnovers, but they struggled to convert on the offensive end.

With 3:52 left in regulation, Charleroi called a timeout, still comfortably ahead at 64-49. Out of the huddle, the Cougars executed a pair of quick layups to close out the game.

Todaro led the way with 16 points and nine rebounds on an efficient 8-for-11 shooting night for the Cougars. Staub added 11 points while Pletcher contributed 12 points, five assists, and three steals.

Keranko’s all-around performance included 11 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals.

“The depth is wonderful,” Dunn said. “Those guys both play the same position and are asked to do similar things, so when they can both go out there and contribute the way they did tonight, that’s huge for us.”

Mt. Pleasant struggled to find consistent offense beyond Jonah Townsend and Isiah Taylor, who each scored 11 points. The Vikings committed 21 turnovers.

“We can’t be satisfied,” Dunn said. “There are still games to be played, and we can’t become complacent now.”

The Cougars travel to Brownsville to take on the Falcons on Tuesday.