Chartiers Valley (15-2) took down Moon (13-4) to take firm control of second place in 5A Section 4. This matchup featured two of the best young coaches in the WPIAL with Corey Dotchin of Chartiers Valley and Gino Palmosina of Moon.
Chartiers came into this one looking to get back in the win column after dropping a tough section game last Friday to top-seeded Montour. Moon came in needing a win if they wanted to try to keep pace with Montour and Chartiers Valley in the section.
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This game was tight from the jump as each team traded threes early in the first quarter. Chartiers Valley Junior, Logan Helfrick, knocked down two threes early and Chartiers freshman, Luca Federico, cashed in shortly after checking into the game. Moon’s Michael Santicola scored on a nice drive in the waning seconds of the first quarter to tie it at 17 after 1.
Moon did a great job of keeping Chartiers Valley star, Jayden Davis, in check early in the game, but his teammates stepped up as they have all year. They shot the ball extremely well and Davis was filling up the assist column in the first half. He commanded so much attention from the defense, and he did a great job finding open teammates
Moon was able to keep things close in large part due to senior, Carter Tumulty, who drained 4 threes in the first half. The 6’6” sharp-shooter has a very quick release and his height allows him to easily shoot over smaller defenders, which he did with great confidence tonight. At the break it was Chartiers Valley ahead 31-27.
The Tigers stormed out of the gates to start the second half, scoring the first 7 points of the third quarter and taking a 34-31 lead in a hurry. Davis ended the scoring drought with a three ball of his own to tie it at 34.
The Colts then began splashing it from everywhere as Davis hit one from Steph Curry range and Jake Lewis walked into a three at the top of the key to give Chartiers a 6-point lead. Moon wouldn’t go away though as Santicola was able to find Amir Turner under the basket for an easy 2 to end the quarter. Chartiers Valley led 42-40 as we headed into the 4th.
Federico then stole the game in the 4th quarter for Char Valley. He showed poise throughout the game as if the moment never seemed too big for him.
He scored 19 points off the bench tonight to lead the Colts, including a side-step 3 midway through the 4th quarter to give Chartiers a 7-point advantage. Tumulty kept Moon in the game as he hit his 5th three of the night with under two minutes to go to make the score 54-49 in favor of Chartiers Valley.
There little bit of late game controversy with Moon at the foul line late in the 4th quarter. Santicola made the first one at the line to make it a 4-point game, but he missed the second. Moon grabbed the rebound and got the putback to cut it to 2, but whistles sounded, and the refs said that Moon called timeout before the shot.
Palmosina insisted that he didn’t call the timeout, but his appeal fell flat. No basket. Moon still trailed by 4.
They never got closer that that. Julian Semplice knocked down 1 of 2 free throws for Chartiers Valley to ice the game, and the Colts would hold on to win 57-52.
It may have been senior night, but it was the freshman, Federico, who was the hero for Chartiers Valley. Davis was in double-figures as well with 12 points. Tumulty and Santicola led Moon with 21 and 20 respectively.
Both teams will be in action again on Sunday for the PBC Classic at North Allegheny. Chartiers Valley will take on Allderdice at noon, while Moon is set to play Bethel Park at 4:30pm.