Consiglio

Taurean Consiglio has a career-high of 29 points in his time as a Bishop Guilfoyle star. He sat at 28 points with a pair of free throws with under two minutes left in Tuesday night’s game with Huntingdon.

Consiglio hit the first, but the second rattled out. He was given a standing ovation only a few seconds later as he came off the court on senior night with another 29-point performance.

It was the second time this season that Consiglio had 29 points, but he was still the main catalyst in the Marauders’ 73-47 victory over Huntingdon at the Pleasant Valley Gymnasium.

He had a little extra motivation to get over the 30-point mark as he needed 37 to break 1,000 for his career. He now sits eight points shy of that mark heading into the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference playoffs.

“I just want to break 30 for once,” Consiglio said with a smile.

Consiglio, along with classmates Jake Kissell and an unavailable Tyson Lestochi, were honored before the game. Kissell also turned in a solid night with a rebound shy of a double-double with 14 points.

“Jake, Taurean and Tyson are a very special group to me,” BG coach Ryan Lestochi said. “I’ve coached them since they were little guys coming through. They mean a lot to me and a lot to this program. I’m proud of the way they’ve carried themselves and the way they’ve played.”

Like Consiglio, Kissell found himself not wanting to come off the floor as he shook his head while jogging off.

“It’s senior night and you want to stay in as much as you can,” Kissell said. “We only have a couple more games on this court. It’s a really special environment.”

Bishop Guilfoyle Academy (19-3) found itself in a tight game with a 30-27 lead at halftime. Huntingdon (13-9) led 18-13 after the first quarter, but was crushed by a 26-point third quarter from the Marauders.

“It was really simple. I wiped the whiteboard off and I said, ‘This comes down to two things — pride and trust,'” Lestochi said. “We needed a little pride in ourselves in how we do things, and just trust your teammates on the offensive end. We had an emotional and draining game (Monday), and we were dragging a little bit to start the game.”

“Their intensity picked up, and we just started playing into their hands,” Bearcat coach Jordan Fortson said. “In the first half I thought we did a good job playing at our pace, and the second half we kind of played their game.”

The two teams traded the first four baskets of the second half before BG went on an 11-2 run, which was capped by a Kissell 3-pointer.

The Marauders improved their lead to 15 by the end of the quarter, which was capped on an Alex Krimmel trey to give BG a 56-41 lead going to the fourth quarter.

Kissell had 19 of his 29 points in the second half, including nine in the final period to put the game away.

After Consiglio’s 29 and Kissell’s 14, Bishop Guilfoyle also got double figures from Krimmell and Grant Okonak with 10 points apiece.

Elliott Guisler led Huntingdon with 10 points. The Bearcats will now get ready for the District 6 4A playoffs.

“We just have to put full games together,” Fortson said. “Our first half of this game and the first half against Tyrone (Friday night), I thought we played very good basketball. It’s just about playing four quarters and playing our game. I think we’ll be alright to make a run at this thing in 4A.”

Bishop Guilfoyle plays at Greater Johnstown on Thursday evening in the LHAC semifinals. Clearfield and Forest Hills will meet in the other semifinal.

“Coaches always say you want to be peaking at this time of year, and I feel that’s where we’re at,” Lestochi said. “We’re finally in shape after a delayed start to the season. We’re really hitting our rhythm right now.”

HUNTINGDON (47): Morris 0 0-0 0, Carthen 3 0-2 8, Guisler 5 0-1 10, Lane 3 0-1 6, Rutter 4 1-1 9, Sullivan 3 1-1 7, Anders 2 2-2 7, Nance 0 0-0 0, Zauzig 0 0-0 0, Humphrey 0 0-0 0. Totals — 20 4-8 47.

BISHOP GUILFOYLE (73): Consiglio 11 5-8 29, Ruggery 3 2-2 8, Krimmel 2 4-4 10, Kissell 4 4-6 14, G. Okonak 4 0-0 10, C. Okonak 0 0-0 0, Lightner 0 0-0 0, Baker 0 0-0 0, MIsiura 1 0-0 2, Shellenberger 0 0-0 0, Wheeler 0 0-0 0. Totals — 25 15-20 73.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Huntingdon 18 9 14 6 — 47

Bishop Guilfoyle 13 17 26 17 — 73

3-point goals: Huntingdon 3 (Carthen 2, Anders); Bishop Guilfoyle 8 (Consiglio 2, Krimmel 2, Kissell 2, G. Okonak 2).

Records: Huntingdon (13-9); Bishop Guilfoyle (19-3).

JV: Bishop Guilfoyle, 59-22. High scorers–Uhrich, H, 8; Wheeler, BG, 13.