That’s the best way to describe the difference in the play of Monessen’s boys basketball team before and after the Greyhounds played in the presttstigious Blackhawk Holiday Invitational Tournament. Sure the Greyhounds were winning before and after they went to the event filled with larger, powerful teams. But how they won afterward is the difference. The Greyhounds started the season predicted to be one of the top teams in Class A. They opened the campaign with an 80-57 romp over Greensburg Salem as Brandon Jackson showed his promise with a 28-point performance. But then Monessen was derailed in its home opener by AAAA power Uniontown, 58-46. Even in defeat, Monessen coach Joe Salvino said he thought his team played hard against one of the finest teams in the state. Monessen then went to the Mon Valley United Way Shootout where the Greyhounds successfully defended their title with close wins over Ringgold (71-67) and Belle Vernon Area (61-58). Salvino’s team opened Sec. 3 A play with three easy wins over Cornell, St. Joseph and Our Lady of Sacred Heart. Then came the Blackhawk tournament. Monessen went there as the only Class A team in a field of AAAA and AAA powers. Still, Salvino and his team had hopes of playing well. The Greyhounds came home losers in all three games, bowing to Potomac, Va., (79-43), Pine-Richland (62-53), and Shaler (84-62). ‘I thought we played OK considering the competition,’ said Salvino. ‘But I think the players got angry because they were beaten so badly.’ And they returned from Blackhawk a more determined unit. Monessen was 7-4 when the tournament ended. They are 13-1 since. That set the stage for tonight’s Class A championship game against Vincentian. And while the Greyhounds are definitely on a roll, having won nine straight games, Salvino looks back to the Blackhawk tournament experience and the three losses as his team’s turning point. ‘I think they became more determined not to lose, to prove they were a good team, after the tournament,’ said Salvino. ‘Maybe they didn’t think anyone could beat them like that. I don’t know. But we’re definitely a much better team for playing in that tournament.’ The Greyhounds have made their season using mostly an iron man lineup of starters Brandon Jackson and A.J. Jackson as well as Dent and senior leaders Tory Williams and Mark Novicki. Many opposing coaches have called this lineup the strongest they seen in Class A in years. Salvino has another description. ‘This is a close team,’ he says. ‘These players all like each other. They get along. They aren’t jealous of each other. They’ve shown what can happen when you play as a team.’

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