With a clear lane on the path to Petersen Events Center, Fox Chapel boys basketball players knew their assignment: win Friday night at home and qualify.
After a quick start and an answer from Butler, the Foxes used an 11-0 run to break a tie on the way 75-51 victory over the Golden Tornado.
“That was the only path for us,” Fox Chapel coach Zach Skrinjar said. “There were so many scenarios, and all we talked about is we control our own destiny. Let’s make it easy, and let’s take care of business.”
The run that started with a 10-10 tie in the first quarter gave Fox Chapel a nine-point lead, which grew to a 16-point lead, and the Foxes never looked back. Guard Joey McGivney paced Fox Chapel in the first half with 14 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. The junior did not score in the second half but has put up 63 points in the last three games.
“At the beginning of the year, he was just kind of our vocal leader,” Skrinjar said of McGivney. “The last couple of weeks, he has just really come on. He recognizes matchups, communicates more on the court and with the coaching staff. Everyone has responded well but Joey has especially.”
Senior John Rehak led the Foxes with 18 points (three 3-pointers). Grant Fenton chipped in 11.
“He has been solid the last couple of weeks, too,” said Skrinjar about leading scorer Rehak, who is averaging more than 11 points. “We had 15 assists at halftime, and that is just a monster stat to be able to share the basketball like that. And that’s when we’re at our best, John included.”
Butler (6-14, 4-10 Section 1-6A), already eliminated from playoff contention, got big games from senior guards Stainton Forbes and Andrew Gettinger.
“Coach (Matt) Clement is great guy,” Skrinjar said of his Butler counterpart. “He has two really great players. I though what he did (subbing out the seniors in the fourth quarter) was very classy.”
Forbes had a great second half and finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Gettinger played well in the first two quarters and finished with nine points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots.
Fox Chapel (12-9, 7-7) had a stretch earlier in the regular season when it lost five of six games. Skrinjar and his staff sat down with the team to reset and focus on finishing strong.
“We had a pretty good long, hard talk with these guys a couple of weeks ago,” Skrinjar said. “I was honest with the kids: If we don’t win, we’re moving on, and I think that is a life lesson.
“As a group, they are all really playing better together. They feed off each other and have been doing that pretty well, and I’m just really proud.”
The Foxes have won four of their last five games, with a nonsection tuneup against Avonworth remaining.
To snag one of the playoff spots, Fox Chapel has been in a grind-it-out mode, and Skrinjar knows that attitude and play will be a key for the Foxes in the playoffs.
“I just thought that this was a game that we needed. We came out with that urgency. You know, in a week or so, we’re going to have our shot at it”
The postseason appearance is the 10th straight for Fox Chapel and the 14th time the Foxes have qualified in Skrinjar’s 17 years at the helm. The WPIAL will announce the playoffs pairings Monday.