Trinity coach Joe Dunn was surprised Saturday when star senior Josh Valentic scored 46 points -- but not by his performance.
What surprised him was the ho-hum reaction.
"It's being taken lightly," said Dunn, who has seen Valentic surpass 40 points three times this season, including a 51-point game against Highlands, when Micah Mason scored 44.
"People are missing it," Dunn said. "I find that astounding."
This season in the WPIAL and City League, 40 points has become nearly commonplace. More than a dozen boys basketball players have scored at least that many.
The day after Valentic scored 46, Chartiers Valley's Matt Noszka had 43.
Highlands' Mason has made 40 points seem routine, having surpassed that mark in six games. His recent 64-point game against Valley drew the most attention, but in that same game, Valley's Geoff Fuquay scored 45.
"This isn't happening by accident," Dunn said. "These guys didn't wake up yesterday and become 40-point scorers. All of them have spent a lot more time shooting than playing video games."
The list is lengthy: North Allegheny's Anthony Dallier had 47 points. Kiski Area's Zach Barker twice scored 40. Mars' Christian Locher had 48. Kittanning's Nathan Stolitza has scored 43 and 47 points. Schenley's Brandon Johnson had 44. Fort Cherry's Nate Bellhy had 45. Penn-Trafford's Joe Bortak had 43. Neshannock's Brandon Marinelli had 42, and Allderdice's Justin Dobbs had 40.
Just last Tuesday, Ringgold's Andrew Stine set a school record with 42 points.
Dunn attributes the 40-point surge to several things, including the growing use of the dribble-drive offense and a more up-tempo game.
"We don't play with a shot clock," Dunn said, "but you wouldn't know it."
All-America nominees
Mt. Lebanon's Madison Cable and Anna Kestler, Baldwin's Belma Nurkic and Shaler's Val McQuade are among the nominees for the McDonald's All-American game -- a list that contains approximately 1,000 senior girls, including 12 from Pennsylvania.
That list will be narrowed to 24 before Feb. 10, when the all-star team is revealed on ESPNU at 5:30 p.m. The game will be played March 30 at Chicago's United Center.
The boys nominees also were released, but no WPIAL players were included. None of the 15 Pennsylvania boys nominees lived west of Harrisburg.
Big defense
Don't blame Deer Lakes for seeming a little defensive. The girls team, ranked No. 2 in Class AA, is giving up 29.8 points per game, the second-best average in the WPIAL behind Avonworth's mark of 26.1 entering Monday's games.
Deer Lakes stood strong Saturday against Class A No. 3 Aliquippa, winning 53-42. The Lancers forced the high-scoring Quips into 15 turnovers and held them nearly 15 points below their season average.
"Just like scoring, our defense pumps us up," forward Megan Kohan said. "So we try to put a lot of pressure on the ball."
Deer Lakes has only four players 5-foot-8 or taller, yet has given up fewer than 25 points six times.
"Defense has to be our ticket because of our size," coach Dana Petruska said.
Week's best
If you're looking for a good game, try these:
» Either the Bethel Park (14-2, 7-1) or Mt. Lebanon (11-5, 6-1) will lead girls Section 4-AAAA after their 7:30 p.m. game Thursday at Bethel Park. On Jan. 10, Mt. Lebanon won, 61-47.
» Led by Micah Mason, Highlands (13-3, 8-2) has been one of the hottest boys teams in recent weeks, winning six straight. Mars (13-3, 8-2) will try to claim the Section 1-AAA lead Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Highlands. On Jan. 11, Mars won, 74-72.
Milestone
Norwin's Matt Palo reached the career 1,000-point mark last Tuesday during a 79-54 loss to Hempfield.
