Sports
USC Boys Look For Season Sweep Over Mt. Lebo
It will be a packed house Friday night at Upper St. Clair when section 4 powerhouses meet for the second time this season.
The game has no playoff implications. Both teams have secured their spot in the postseason dance. However, it still may be the biggest game of the year for Upper St. Clair and Mt. Lebanon.
The Panthers turned their season around with a surprising which is now 19-2. Following a three-game losing streak that had head coach Danny Holzer at a loss, Upper St. Clair moseyed on into Mt. Lebo's gym and pulled out a narrow 54-51 victory.
"We don't guard anybody," coach Holzer said in the midst of the three-game losing streak.
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That all changed in that narrow three-point victory. The Panthers held Mt. Lebanon to one of their lowest point totals of the season in that game.
The other glaring problem with the Panthers during the losing streak was the issue of scoring. Only two players were making baskets. That all changed as well in January's win over the Blue Devils. Senior guard/forward Steve Limberiou was held to 11 points in that contest, but the role players finally stepped up and have been doing so ever since. Senior guard Dakota Conwell scored 17 points in the game including five 3-pointers. Derik Young also added 8 points as Mt. Lebo's defense concentrated heavily on Limberiou forcing others to make shots. They did, and handed Mt. Lebo their only section loss of the year. The Blue Devils have won seven straight league games since that defeat, and it's the only loss in their past 18 games.
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Since the win over Mt. Lebo, Upper St. Clair has won six straight league games, and Steve Limberiou is coming off a scintillating 32 point performance in a narrow . Limberiou averages 21.5 points/game and will most likely need to match that average against Mt. Lebo's great defense in order for Upper St. Clair to win bragging rights in the South Hills.
For the Blue Devils, Friday night's game is their season finale -- momentum heading into the playoffs rides on this game. The Panthers still have to play Chartiers Valley Saturday afternoon, but momentum heading into their postseason also rides on this long awaited rematch.
The stands will be packed. The atmosphere will wreak of playoffs. The student section will be rocking. It will be high school basketball at its finest. Upper St. Clair Patch will be there covering the game. Look for our report on Saturday.
