WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA New Castle fizzles in overtime, falls to North Allegheny

The Hurricanes were outscored 14-8 in overtime to lose their third in a row.
By BILL ALBRIGHT
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- In their match-up with North Allegheny on Friday, the New Castle High boys basketball team led only once.
That was when Devin Taylor sank a free throw in the first minute of overtime, after Ralph Currie drained a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left in regulation for a 46-all tie.
However, for the remainder of the extra period following Taylor's free throw, North Allegheny took charge as the Tigers outscored the Hurricanes 14-8 in the extra period to post a 60-54 win.
"We were putrid, just putrid," said Hurricane coach John Sarandrea, who listened to the final 20 minutes of the game after he was hit with a pair of technical fouls. "We weren't ready to play and at times, it just seemed as though we didn't want to be here."
Took control early
North Allegheny took command of the game early, as it threatened to run away while building a 20-7 advantage at the end of the first period.
However, as lackluster as the Hurricanes were offensively, they wouldn't allow that to happen as Taylor kept them in the game by scoring 10 of his total of 18 during the second period in a 13-0 run.
"I don't think it had anything to do with the way they came out," said Sarandrea of North Allegheny's quick start. "I think it had everything to do with the way we came out. I would like to give them the credit for it, but it had nothing to do with them and everything to do with us."
To lose a game is one thing, but Sarandrea was quick to point out that the manner in which his team lost the game bothered him the most.
"We just had none," said Sarandrea about the emotion of his club. "We just played emotionless and desire-less and maybe I have to start looking at myself because, for whatever reason, these guys are just not into it.
"I am extremely frustrated with them and I think they are frustrated with me because I expect them to be so much better than they are," he added.
Couldn't turn corner
Although they hung around, the Hurricanes just couldn't turn the corner to go on top. During the final period of regulation, they trailed by one, three, then two, but couldn't put anything together on the offensive end of the floor to take the lead.
"Four minutes into the fourth quarter, neither team had scored," pointed out Sarandrea. "We had the opportunity to come back and get it [the lead and win], but we just didn't get the job done. It is unfortunate, but what are you going to do?"
With his team now 4-4 with three straight losses, Sarandrea isn't happy with what he is seeing.
"Until we start doing a little bit more, we are going to be on the short end of a lot of close games," he said.