Photo for the Mirror by Roger Kerekes BG’s Troy Ruggery tries to work around FH’s Koy McGough.

LORETTO — Bishop Guilfoyle Academy has seen a great deal of Forest Hills these last two basketball seasons. Neither school would be surprised if they meet again before the end of March.

The Rangers held Bishop Guilfoyle to three field goals in the fourth quarter and breezed to a 62-46 victory in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference championship game on Saturday night at Saint Francis University.

“We got away from what we wanted to do. We took rushed quick shots; we had breakdowns defensively. And they hit shots,” Bishop Guilfoyle coach Ryan Lestochi said.

A second meeting between these budding conference rivals would be fine with Rangers coach Dominic Vescovi. A third game between the schools is also possible should they collide in the state playoffs.

“I guess that’s our little caveat: Hopefully, we’ll get them another time or two. We would like to see them again,” Lestochi said.

“They’re a great team. And we hope we can play them again. That would be awesome if we could play them for the district championship,” he said.

“I’d love to see them two more times, to be honest,” Bishop Guilfoyle senior Taurean Consiglio.

Top-seeded Bishop Guilfoyle received one of three first-round byes that were awarded in the District 6 Class 3A tournament. The Marauders will play host to tonight’s Marion Center at Southern Huntingdon County winner on Thursday.

The game lent a bonus attraction: a match-up between Bishop Guilfoyle 1,000-point scorer Consiglio and Dylan Stohon of Forest Hills. The two spent nearly the entire night in each other’s grills.

Stohon hit four of eight field goal attempts, including a 3-point field goal, to help the Rangers build a 27-21 lead midway through the second quarter. Consiglio made good on three of 10 from the field, grabbed nine rebounds and added a steal.

Both coaches and rival star players downplayed the significance of what stood to be the night’s marquee match-up.

“Dylan’s a stud. He is really difficult to guard. He’s big, strong and a very smart basketball player. He puts a lot of pressure on your defense. I think for the most part we guarded him well. He had to make tough shots. And then we had a few breakdowns in the fourth quarter that got them some easy (baskets),” Lestochi said.

“It was a pretty even match-up. I liked how after we ran a play in the second half, Taurean got a charge called on Dylan. And (as they went) back they kind of smiled at each other. (It reflected) competitiveness that you like to see. Not like, ‘I’m going to try to one-up you. But I’ll do my best,’ ” Vescovi said.

The mutual respect proved to be evident from Consiglio and Stohon.

“I’ve known him for a long time, since we were in sixth grade. Playing against him and guarding him is really fun,” Consiglio said.

“I love playing against Taurean. He’s a great player,” Stohon said.

The first half ended in a 31-31 deadlock.

Grant Okonak hit the first of his two 3-pointers in the third quarter at the 6:30 mark to give the Marauders their first lead, 34-33, since the midway point of the first quarter.

That lead, as was the case with the 7-6 lead the Marauders took in the first period, did not last. Forest Hills went on a 14-3 run that put the Rangers ahead by 10. Okonak beat the third-period buzzer with another 3-pointer to pull Bishop Guilfoyle within 47-40.

Bishop Guilfoyle was playing its fifth game in the last eight days.

“We turned the ball over. We didn’t care of it. They were scoring and we were tired,” Consiglio said.

“The big thing was we closed down on rebounds. Early in the third quarter and in the first half they got offensive rebounds, and that’s what kept them in the game. They were dominating the boards,” Vescovi said.

“We put heavy emphasis on talking on defense, playing as a team and working together,” Stohon said.

Forest Hills toughened up on defense and expanded the lead to 60-44 with 2½ minutes left in the final period.

“They’re a great team. We did not play the way we wanted to,” Lestochi said.

High scorer honors went to two talented if unheralded players. Koy McGough hit five of the Rangers’ nine 3-point field goals. He finished with 25 points.

“We played together as a team and move the ball well,” Stohon said.

Jake Kissell led the Marauders with 17 points and five rebounds.

“Jake did a great job. Jake is a super confident kid. He kept us in the game and held us together for a while,” Lestochi said.

Forest Hills, which entered the game averaging 74.6 points per game, received the No. 2 seed. Richland will visit Penns Valley this evening, with the winner traveling to Sidman.

FOREST HILLS (62): McGough 10 0-2 25, Stohon 4 1-2 10, Gramling 1 0-0 3, Richardson 3 1-2 9, B. Gregovich 4 1-2 9, Gabany 3 0-1 6, Edmunson 0 0-0 0, Myers 0 0-0 0, Tokarsky 0 0-0 0. Totals – 25 3-11 62.

BISHOP GUILFOYLE (46): Consiglio 3 2-2 9, Ruggery 3 1-1 8, Krimmel 1 0-0 3, G. Okonak 2 0-2 6, Kissell 5 5-6 17, C. Okonak 1 0-0 3, Lightner 0 0-0 0, Shellenberger 0 0-0 0. Totals – 15 8-11 46.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Forest Hills 17 14 16 15 – 62

Bishop Guilfoyle 13 18 9 6 – 46

3-point field goals: Forest Hills 9 (McGough 5, Richardson 2, Stohon, Gramling), Bishop Guilfoyle 8 (Kissell 2, G. Okonak 2, Consiglio, Krimmel, Ruggery).

Officials: Kevin Charney, Chad Walsh, Kevin Laird.

Records: Forest Hills (21-3), Bishop Guilfoyle (20-4).