Orioles' seasons ends with loss in state playoff opener

If willpower was all that was needed to win a basketball game, Rocky Grove would have taken the victory Friday night based on the passionate play of Landon Carter alone.

​The sophomore forward recorded a double-double at North Allegheny High School as the Orioles looked to rebound from a loss to Farrell in the District 10 championship game last week.

Unfortunately for the Orioles, they struggled to tame The Neighborhood Academy Bulldogs, falling 63-40 in the opening round of the PIAA  Class 1A state tournament. 

Rocky Grove started off strong, with Schiffer Anderson hitting the first shot of the night - a three-pointer.

​The two teams traded baskets for the remainder of the quarter which ended with the Orioles ahead 13-12. 

In the second, the Bulldogs took control, outscoring the Orioles 20-6. Carter, who had seven defensive rebounds in the first half, downed two treys, Rocky Grove's only points of the quarter. 

The Orioles came out of the lockers ready to make a run of it, but unable to shut down Neighborhood's offensive attack. Both teams logged 14 points in the third, and the Bulldogs held a 46-32 lead going into the final stanza. 

Neighborhood outscored the Orioles 17-7 in the fourth quarter to seal the deal and win the game, which ended in nondramatic fashion with Jamison Hughes shooting two foul shots with .3 seconds to go. 

Scoring for Rocky Grove were Carter with 12 points and 12 rebounds, Noah Baughman and Josh Stevenson with seven apiece, Anderson with five, and Connor Ritchey with three. Aiden Focht, Steven Gibbons and Hughes each had two points. 

With the loss, the young Rocky Grove squad ended their season at 16-9. Good news for the Orioles - all but one starter will be eligible to return to next year's team and all three seniors (Stevenson, Gibbons, and Chippy Whitling) were able to play on Friday.