After looking at his team’s results this season, Mt. Lebanon boys basketball coach Joey David told his team they needed a signature victory.
Following an upset of No. 4 Central Catholic on Tuesday, the Blue Devils’ resume received a big boost.
Sophomore Santino Fiumara beat his man down the right lane and scored with 4 seconds remaining as Mt. Lebanon came back to stun Central Catholic, 50-48.
“I told my team I was looking to see how many playoff teams we beat,” David said. “Beyond possibly North Hills, we haven’t beaten a really good team.”
The Blue Devils came back to knock off the Vikings, rallying from a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit. Lebo outscored Central down the stretch, 17-6.
Both teams shined in their half-court defense, keeping the game close throughout.
Central Catholic got the better of play in the opening quarter and led by eight.
Mt. Lebanon fought back in the second quarter, taking its first lead of the game with 1:13 left in the half on a 3-pointer by freshman Jacob Zaber and leading by one at the half, 20-19.
Big second halves by junior guards Enzo Khalil and Wills Kontul allowed the Vikings to build up to their biggest lead of the game midway through the fourth quarter, 42-33, before the Blue Devils’ pressure started turning defense into offense.
“I saw a lot of our team getting down because we lost to them earlier the same way in that we were close to them and they started pulling away,” Mt. Lebanon senior forward Sam Deibert said. “We just couldn’t let that happen, and we just pushed through.”
Deibert relied on the charity stripe for most of his offense, hitting on 9 of 10 from the free-throw line.
The defense came through again for Mt. Lebanon, which David realizes that has to be the case each time his team takes the floor.
“We’re not 6-3, 6-4 or 6-5 across the top like some teams, so we have to make up for it with our speed, our quickness and our intelligence,” he said. “I thought (we) really did a good job near the end.”
Deibert explained what his team needs to do to continue to be one of the top defensive teams in Class 6A.
“We’re talking on defense, making sure we are sliding over on our help defense, making sure we are communicating and staying down and staying focused the whole time,” he said. “Then when the shot goes up, making sure we are boxing out. We’re not the biggest team, so we need to do those things.”
After Deibert hit two free throws with 23 seconds remaining to tie the game, 48-48, Central Catholic never got a shot off on its next possession as Zaber knocked the ball away and Mt. Lebanon got the steal.
The Blue Devils tried to set Sheely up for the game winner on the wing, but when he was double teamed, he found Fiumara, who won the race to the hoop and laid in the game winner.
The victory improved Mt. Lebanon to 5-4 in the section and 9-6 overall as the Blue Devils moved into fourth place in Section 2-6A.
They were led by Deibert’s 15 points while Sheely, playing in only his fourth game of the season due to two injuries, added 14 points
Central Catholic falls into third place with the loss at 6-3 in the section and 9-6 overall.
Khalil led with 12 points while Kontul scored 11, with the two combining to score 16 of their combined 23 points in the second half.
“Central Catholic is well coached, and they are a good team,” David said. “They play hard every time, and you know you are in for a battle. I told our guys beforehand it was going to be physical. I’m happy to get out of here with a W.”