CLARION – Leechburg doesn’t want to know what it would be like
to play Elk County Catholic when the Crusaders are on top of their
game.

ECC, according to head coach Aaron Straub, was banged up and
didn’t shoot the ball well, but still embarrassed Leechburg by 32
points, 81-49, in the opening round of the PIAA Class A playoffs at
Clarion University on Friday.

“We have not shot the ball well, and I don’t want to dwell on
it, but we just didn’t shoot as well as we’re capable,” Straub
said. “But when we need to shoot well, we will. I’m confident of
that. Those games are coming shortly.

“Number one, we need to get healthy,” Straub continued. “We’re
banged up right now and that’s something we haven’t had to face
this year. My first concern is getting healthy.”

The Crusaders were decidedly off the mark in the early going as
neither team could score until, fittingly, Jesse Bosnik (Elk’s
leading scorer) got his team started with a steal and layup.

Enter Josh Salter.

Off a Bosnik deflection, Salter blitzed the rack for two. One
minute later Salter cashed in from beyond the arc and it was 7-0
Elk.

Then No. 30 shocked all of Tippin Gymnasium when he took off
outside the lane and just inside the baseline to throw down an
unbelievable one-handed slam.

While the Elk faithful raucously rejoiced, Blue Devil fans just
… sort of … stood there.

“Josh played very well,” Straub commented. “He is a very good
offensive player and we’re working with him to make him a complete
player. When he becomes a complete player he’s going to be very
special.”

The Crusaders limited the Blue Devils to 15 first-half points
and then picked up the pace in the second half to wind up scoring
their usual 80 points.

“I was very proud of the kids,” Straub emphasized. “I thought
our quickness was good and our defense created our offense. I was
very happy with our defensive intensity. Everybody really got up in
the passing lanes well.

“All in all, we made a few adjustments, started shooting a
little better at the free throw line and from three points.”

So while the Blue Devils were able to hang around for most of
the first half, layups don’t grab the same momentum as dunks and
free throws can’t keep up with threes.

What’s more, Bosnik attacked the basket and made smart passes to
his teammates, the crowning jewel of which came with four minutes
left in the third quarter.

The standout junior guard found Salter flashing toward the hoop
on the right baseline with a perfect alley-oop that resulted in
another electrifying one-handed flush.

And while Straub “would be much happier with a charge drawn or a
good closeout,” he had to admit Salter’s dunks were “pretty
exciting.”

He also praised the play of Bosnik.

“I thought we passed the ball very well tonight and that starts
with Jesse. He has been seeing the court very well. He has been
creating a lot of offense for us and I’m happy with the way he’s
playing.”

Bosnik wound up with 17 points and Salter finished with 14
marks, while Tony Lecker didn’t miss much inside to collect 11 and
reserve Jimmy Higgins contributed 11.

“I’m happy with our balance,” Straub said.

Defensively, ECC held Leechburg star Nick Matviko to just seven
points.

“We played a premier player tonight in Matviko,” Straub
observed. “He does so much for their team and we did a good job
keeping the ball out of his hands.

“I have a lot of respect for the team we played tonight. They
came in with three quality players and we knew it would be a
battle.

“Leechburg is a very deceptive team in terms of their record
(now 12-11),” Straub explained. “They play great competition and I
thought our kids were ready to play them. We responded very
well.”

The Crusaders, now 29-0, will face District 5 champion Southern
Fullton on Tuesday at a site and time to be announced.

Straub knows his team will move on from this 32-point
shellacking and be focused for their next opponent.

“We’ll learn a lot more from tonight when our guys get back from
the game (emotionally). Our guys have got it pretty well in view
and I think they’ll keep things very much in perspective.”

Elk is now in the second round, but the Crusaders know that this
isn’t merely the second season, it is the season – it is what they
have been playing for all year.