by Jake DeLuca
The Armstrong River Hawks (10-8, 4-4) handed the Gateway Gators (9-9, 7-1) their first WPIAL 5A Section 3 loss of the year at Armstrong High School Tuesday night.
The Armstrong River Hawks(10-8, 4-4) varsity basketball team handed their section rivals, the Gateway Gators their first section loss of the year - defeating the Gators 46-39.
The River Hawks played at Gateway earlier in the year and lost in a defensive battle 38-31 where Armstrong’s offense shot just 17%. This time for Armstrong their strong defense was repaid with some timely offense.
In the first quarter the two section rivals played strong defense, leaving the score 8-4 heading into the second quarter.
In the second quarter Armstrong went on a run, outscoring the Gators 8-2 at one point in the quarter. Armstrong would head into halftime with a slim 18-14.
Heading out of halftime the offensive intensity ratcheted up for the River Hawks. Armstrong outscored Gateway 13-7 in the third quarter which included a 9-2 run to end the quarter which was topped off by a Dawson Porter last second layup to give the River Hawks a 31-21 lead heading into the fourth.
Armstrong entered the fourth on fire on both ends of the court. Offensively the River Hawks jumped out 6-0 run and defensively they held Gateway from scoring for the first 3:49 on the fourth.
Gateway would make things interesting down the stretch, but the Armstrong lead was too big to over come and the River Hawks were able to walk away winners by the final score of 46-39.
Armstrong’s Dawson Porter lead the team scoring Tuesday night with 17 points, after the game Dawson gave his thoughts on the win.
“It was a big win tonight. We needed it, (this win) helps us in the section. We just need one more win and we clinch playoffs, it was a huge win,” Porter said.
River Hawks Head Coach Greg Hutcherson also weighed in on what this win means for his team.
“It keeps us alive, now we have to win one more to get a playoff birth, but more than anything it gives us a sense of believe and a sense of confidence. These guys are so confident and to beat a team that was undefeated in section just gives them just that much more (confidence),” Hutcherson said.
The River Hawks will now need to win just one more game down the stretch to clinch their schools first varsity boys basketball playoff birth.
The River Hawks will be on the road Friday to take on another section opponent in Franklin Regional before returning home for Senior Night next Tuesday, February 7 against Kiski at 7:30 PM.