Oftentimes, he is the tallest player on the basketball court, but Markus McGowan is not a traditional post player for Jeannette.

Far from it, in fact. He is more of a natural guard than a stretch forward.

Sure, the 6-foot-3 McGowan will post up occasionally, but usually he is running wide and lining up behind the 3-point arc.

The Jayhawks’ wing man has been in a groove of late.

McGowan, a junior, has scored 26 points in his last two games, both PIAA playoff wins that propelled the Jayhawks (24-2) into the Class 2A state quarterfinals at 2 p.m. Saturday against Mercyhurst Prep (21-6) at Sharon.

“When you work hard in practice and prepare, the game becomes easy,” Jeannette coach Adrian Batts said. “Markus is shooting the ball at a high level.”

In both wins – 72-34 over Northern Cambria and 68-36 against Jefferson-Morgan – McGowan made four 3-pointers.

So, what is behind this hot stretch?

McGowan admits the loss to Sewickley Academy in the WPIAL championship lit a fire under him.

“It was that loss, man. It hurt,” said McGowan, who had 13 points in the first quarter Wednesday against Jefferson-Morgan. “I don’t want us to lose again for these seniors. I want to go out with a bang.”

Jeannette, which is trying to win its second state title, the first since 2008, could see Sewickley Academy (27-1) again in the next round. If both teams win Saturday, they will meet Tuesday night in a much-anticipated state semifinal — the Western final.

That Jeannette could not win back-to-back WPIAL titles eats at the players and coaches.

“We want them again,” McGowan said.

Said Jeannette senior Kymon’e Brown after the 52-38 loss in the WPIAL final: “We’ll play them again, and we’re going to win. That’s all there is to it.”

McGowan averages 18.6 points and has made 68 of 161 3-pointers (42%). He has 1,194 career points.

McGowan has natural ability, but he doesn’t rest on that laurel. He has been putting in extra hours of practice, and it shows.

“I’ve been in the gym,” he said. “I know I can always get better. It’s fun to see what can happen.”

McGowan gave up football last year — he is the only Jeannette starter who does not play both sports — to focus on basketball.

The full-time hooper wants to play in college but understands coaches at the next level often shy away from one-dimensional players. McGowan is a dead-eye shooter with touch, but he is trying to round out his game with a year-plus remaining in his prep career.

He spends time after practice getting shots up, but also works with his father, Markus, at a local church gym.

They have lost track of time. The hours are a chain-link of time spent grinding.

“My dad is always pushing me and working with me,” the younger McGowan said. “I have been working on my catch-and-shoot, but also on moves and getting to the hoop.”

Jeannette has won 22 of its last 23 games.