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The Westmont Hilltop High School boys basketball program recognized its all-time leading scorer, Gary Pagano, before Tuesday’s championship game in the Hilltopper Classic.
Pagano, 73, scored 1,968 career points in three seasons before his 1970 graduation.
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The 6-foot-2 guard tallied 705 points as a senior on a 24-2 team.
Fifty-five years have passed since he played, but Pagano provided the current Hilltoppers with sound advice during a locker room chat.
“I told them, ‘I’m here tonight to celebrate my memories,’ ” Pagano said. “I just told them to go out and make their memories. ‘Just play as hard as you can, and give everything you can, every game that you have because those go quickly, and suddenly, you’re graduating. Cherish the moments. Wear your uniform proudly.’ ”
Westmont Hilltop 6-2 senior guard Jack Wesner and his teammates heard the message.
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Wesner netted a game-high 25 points in the Hilltoppers’ 72-62 victory over Mercyhurst Prep in the title contest.
Already a 1,000-point scorer, Wesner surpassed the 500-rebound milestone and broke the program’s career assist record that had stood for 25 years.
“We’ve been tested early this season,” Wesner said of Hilltop’s ability to bounce back after the Lakers outpointed the hosts 23-12 in the third quarter to lead 49-46.
“We’ve had a bunch of close games against a bunch of good teams. We’ve been there before and we knew what to do.”
Wesner appreciated the connection between present and past Hilltoppers on a night when some of Pagano’s 1970 teammates and family members traveled from as far as Florida and Connecticut to attend.
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“It was awesome,” said Wesner, who has 504 rebounds and a program-record 442 assists (Ryan Gleason, 438). “What an incredible legacy (Pagano) left here. Just an incredible player. So well deserved.”
Westmont Hilltop improved to 9-1.
Juniors Grant Craig, who scored 23 points against Mercyhurst Prep, and Landen Valente, who made four 3-pointers in the opening half en route to scoring 13 points, joined Wesner on the all-tourney team.
“I loved our unselfishness, especially in the first quarter,” Westmont Hilltop coach Dave Roman Jr. said. “Both nights Landen Valente got us off to a great start.
“He’s kind of the forgotten guy sometimes. Our guys know that he can shoot it and they find him.
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“When teams are going to key on Jack (Wesner) and Grant (Craig), he’s going to have open shots and he knocks them down.”
Westmont Hilltop led 16-12 after the first quarter and 34-26 at halftime.
Mercyhurst Prep (4-3) surged in the third quarter, taking its first lead (38-36) on two Ryan Harris (13 points) free throws at 3:46. Carson Coleman (13 points) made a 3-pointer to push the advantage to 41-36, but Westmont regrouped.
The Hilltoppers doubled up the Lakers 26-13 in the final quarter to pull away.
Jake DiBello-Millimaci scored 13 points for Mercyhurst Prep, and Trent Bengel had eight points and was named to the all-tournament team.
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“That third quarter, we were able to pressure them off the line a little bit,” Mercyhurst Prep coach Sean Baer said.
“Westmont’s a great team. We know that they’re going to be a playoff power.
“We want to make sure that we understand, put it in perspective, and use that third quarter – use some of the good moments from this game – to get us ready for league play back home.”
Bishop Carroll Catholic 70, Propel Montour 40: In the consolation game, all-tournament team member Jace Casses netted 24 points, and Winston Hall-Campbell scored 10 as the Huskies posted a 30-point margin over the Legends.
Bishop Carroll (5-4) built a 25-9 first-quarter lead. Propel Montour pulled within 36-21 at halftime, but the Huskies outscored the Legends 29-6 in the third quarter to put a running clock into motion.
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“We switched our lineup a little bit and some good things happened,” Huskies coach Cosie Aliquo said.
“Good things happen when you’re stealing the basketball.”
An all-state selection in both his junior and sophomore seasons, Casses made 10 field goals, three from 3-point range.
“He’s got the green light,” Aliquo said. “He is the one. How he goes, we go.”
Propel Montour’s Marjai Porch scored a team-high 22 points and took a spot on the all-tournament team.
“The competition is great in this tournament,” Aliquo said. “It’s a good tournament for us.”
Mike Mastovich is a sports reporter and columnist for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5083. Follow him on Twitter @Masty81.
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