Fox Chapel boys basketball coach Zach Skrinjar recognized time is getting shorter. After the Foxes lost to New Castle at home, Skrinjar was happy because he felt maybe they had figured things out.
After losing to undefeated New Castle in a bizarrely paced contest due to breaks for a television broadcast, the Foxes bounced back with a 53-51 road win over Butler.
Fox Chapel snapped a three-game losing streak and elbowed its way into the final playoff spot in Section 1-6A. The Foxes, however, are still in a crowded room.
Seneca Valley and Butler were tied with Fox Chapel in the standings, while North Allegheny and Pine-Richland were only a game away.
“I thought this was by far the most competitive we were in a basketball game,” Skrinjar said after the loss to New Castle. “What we have to take from this is that our season starts right now. If we can use the competitiveness, the togetherness and the desire we showed in this game, we have good things in our future.”
That future ended up showing up against the Golden Tornado. Grant Fenton scored a team-high 15 points, while John Rehak added 14.
Fox Chapel trailed by two points entering the fourth quarter before rallying to win the game. Fenton put the Foxes ahead on a layup with four minutes remaining.
The game between Butler and Fox Chapel was a close one. Neither team ever led by more than nine points. There were 11 lead changes.
Much of the Foxes’ confidence started during the game with New Castle. Fox Chapel tied the game 37-37 with less than four minutes remaining.
Joe McGivney led the team with 12 points, while Jackson Helgert had 11 against the Red Hurricanes.
New Castle coach Ralph Blundo said he thought Fox Chapel ran good sets on offense.
“We’ll guard as long as we have to guard,” Blundo said. “They played at a deliberate pace, but we bothered them enough. They do good actions on offense.”
Reaching the playoffs isn’t going to be an easy task for Fox Chapel. Other than New Castle, no team in the section should feel comfortable with where it sits in the standings.
Fox Chapel playing tough against the Red Hurricanes could be a spark for the second half of section play.
“I just think it gives us the confidence that if we can continue to follow the game plan, follow what we’re doing and complete like we did, we’re going to have a chance to be really good,” Skrinjar said. “We’re really looking forward to getting back after it tomorrow and taking what we did today and continuing to work.”