Moon Deserves The Attention Whether You Like It Or Not

Source: TimeSmart Images Photography (Bob Millorino)

So far, the Moon Area Boys Varsity basketball team is the only WPIAL Boys basketball team that is undefeated. That is very impressive since there are 132 Boys basketball teams in the WPIAL.

Every single player that steps on the court for Moon knows that they are on a mission. Moon has done a good job handling the teams in their section as this season, they have more experience compared to last season. Moon's biggest win was on Friday when they defeated West Allegheny by a score of 71-28. Yeah, Moon won by whopping 43 points.

The closest that Moon ever won was by 5 points when they defeated Chartiers Valley by a score of 69-64. If you were at the Chartiers Valley and Moon game you knew what happened at the end that gave Moon a break and a win. If you didn't know what happened, let me tell you real fast; Moon Area player Donovan Johnson, stepped out of bounds after catching an offensive rebound and the referees did not call Johnson out of bounds. This happened with 12 or 13 seconds left to go in the fourth quarter. If the referees would have called the play out of bounds, the Colts would have had the ball and would have an opportunity to score a 3-point shot since the Colts were down 67-64 when the referees did not call the play out of bounds.

All that is all over. Referees make mistakes, they are not perfect. Let's talk about the future for Moon for this season. With all the remaining teams that Moon still has to play this season, there is no excuses is to why Moon cannot have an undefeated regular season. The two hardest teams that Moon would have to face before the regular season ends is Lincoln Park (at Sewickley Academy) and Chartiers Valley (at home). As long as Moon stays focus they can have an undefeated regular season record.

We all have to remember that there have been upsets that have happened in WPIAL sports history. So, maybe a team like South Fayette, Montour, Trinity or Thomas Jefferson can surprise Moon later on in the season.

Whether you like it or not, if you're trying to win a WPIAL Boys basketball championship in 5A, you will probably have to go against Moon to get that championship. The twins, Connor and Austin Ryan, now have too much experience under their belt to try to win themselves a WPIAL championship. Jioni Smith is playing at a level where NCAA Division 2 schools should be giving him full rides. Tre Carter is playing at a level where, if there was a 6th Man of The Year Award in the WPIAL, he would win it. And, of course the superstar, Donovan Johnson. Johnson makes dunking a basketball look so easy and you know that when he steps on the court that he is on a mission. You can see in Johnson's eyes that he is here at a Moon to win a WPIAL championship and nothing else.

This season, Moon has seven seniors on their roster and they will not be at Moon during the 2019-20 school year. All seven of those seniors know what it's like to win. If Johnson wants to win a WPIAL with Moon, this season is the best chance he has and you best believe the whole rest of this team knows that on. Each and every game the pressure for Moon increases. The question is, Can Moon be stopped? Because, this team has not taken any L's this season.