Chartiers Valley @ Moon 2-1-19 Recap

Chartiers Valley basketball player, Joe Pipilo (3), puts up the number 3 with his right hand after drilling a 3-pointer against Moon Area on February 1st 2019.

Source: TRIB LIVE HSSN

The Chartiers Valley Boys varsity basketball team defeated The Moon Area Boys varsity basketball team by a score of 69-66 on February 1st 2019. This was the first loss of the season for the Moon Area Tigers. This game needed two overtime rounds to determine a winner.

Moon was off to a fast start as in the middle of the first quarter they were leading 9-2. Moon Area basketball player, Donovan Johnson made a nice 3-point shot at the beginning of the game to indicate to Chartiers Valley that if they wanted to win that they better show that they want it.

Chartiers Valley started playing well in the paint late in the first quarter as they tied the game at 9 and then would later take a 17-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.

There was a lot of good defense played by both teams in the second quarter as Chartiers Valley scored only 6 points in the second quarter and Moon only scored 9 points. Moon had a 25-23 lead at halftime. Donovan Johnson made the only slam dunk of the entire game and it happened in the second quarter.

What was pretty funny was the fact that both CV and Moon's student sections were yelling across the court at each other. One second, Moon's student section would get all rowdy and then the next second CV's student section would get rowdy as well. It was back and forth action involving which student section was happy and cheering.

The referees and the Moon staff did not feel like listening to the phrase, "Refs, you suck." because when both student sections said that the refs gave both of them warnings.

In the third quarter, Chartiers Valley was drilling the 3-point shots as Jared Goldstrom, Sean Banas and Brayden Reynolds were the key guys that helped CV get a 43-40 lead over Moon at the end of third quarter.

There was back and forth action in the fourth quarter as with 24 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Austin Ryan hit a clutch 3-point shot to tie the game at 53 and extend the game to overtime. The moment that Austin hit that 3-point shot, the Chartiers Valley squad had to be thinking to themselves about when Austin's twin brother, Connor, hit a game winning shot against them at the same court, Moon Area High School, last season. Brayden Reynolds tried to shoot a game winning 3-point shot for CV with 6 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter; but, he missed it. Then, Austin Ryan had an opportunity to help give Moon the win at the end regulation as he attempted a 3-pointer at the buzzer; but, that did not go in.

In the first overtime round, both teams only scored 2 points. Moon Area player, Taru Jones, attempted a 3-point shot at the end of overtime; but, he missed it and that's why the game had to extend into double overtime as the game was tied at 55.

Chartiers Valley made 10 out of 12 free throw shots in double overtime and that was a big reason why CV won the game. Moon was at the free-throw line four times in double overtime and they missed all four shots. Moon Area player, Jioni Smith, missed two free throws with 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter as after he missed those two shots, one of the CV players threw a deep pass to Jared Goldstrom and he was able to make a layup to give the Colts a 68-63 lead. Donovan Johnson made a 3-point shot with 2 seconds left to make the CV lead only 2 points, 68-66. After the Johnson 3-point shot, the Tigers fouled Brayden Reynolds forcing him to shoot two free throw shots. Moon Area's student section was trying to get into Brayden's head by screaming, "Air ball" as earlier in double overtime he missed a free-throw shot that was an air ball. Reynolds missed the first free throw shot; but, then made the second one to give CV a three point lead. Then with 0 timeouts remaining for Moon, Johnson threw a deep pass to Austin Ryan and he tried to tie the game at 69 by shooting another 3-point shot; but, this time he missed it and CV won the game 69-66.

For Moon, Donovan Johnson scored 24 points, Connor Ryan scored 20 points and Jioni Smith scored 11 points. For Chartiers Valley, Joe Pipilo and Jared Goldstrom both scored 19 points while Brayden Reynolds scored 15 points. In the second half CV player, Sean Banas, basically followed Donovan Johnson everywhere while Moon was offense. Banas made sure that Johnson was covered at all times and because of that Johnson did not have his way in overtime.

On January 31st 2019 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writer, Steve Rotstein, reported that the Moon Boys basketball team is focused on titles, not having an undefeated season. This article came out right before the Moon and CV game. If Moon did not really want an undefeated season, they got that wish last night. Also in the article Moon Area player, Connor Ryan, said when being asked by Rotstein if it would be cool if they had a perfect regular season that, “It’d be pretty special, but our goal in the preseason was not an undefeated regular season. Our goal is to win our section, win the WPIAL and win the state title.” Well, if Moon is able to beat win their next two section games at Thomas Jefferson on Tuesday February 5th 2019 and at home against Montour on Friday February 8th 2019 then they will win their section.

Chartiers Valley have two more section games left. They will travel to Montour High School and play Montour on Tuesday February 5th 2019 and they will play their final home game of the regular season against West Allegheny on Friday February 8th 2019.

The WPIAL basketball playoffs are just around the corner and it will be fun watching both Moon and Chartiers Valley be a part of it.