The Bethel Park Boys Varsity Basketball team should have felt confident as they went into their game against Chartiers Valley on January 16. They were riding a five game winning streak, and they were going to face the leader of their division in an attempt to gain ground. Well, Matty McConnell did not want that to happen.

McConnell scored 54 points and had 24 rebounds as the Chartiers Valley Colts held off the Bethel Park Black Hawks, 90-76. The senior guard finished 21 of 36 from the field, and hit 5 of 8 three-point shots.

McConnell, who has been recruited by Robert Morris University, also had five rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in the game. He has averaged 31.7 points per game this season, which leads the WPIAL.

McConnell netted a school record with his 54 points. This point total beat his brother, T.J., who scored 52 points. McConnell also got a career high with 54, and a WPIAL season high for all players.

McConnell scored the first 23 points in the second half for the Colts (11-2, 6-1). In addition, the only other player to score more than ten points for the Colts was Eddie Flohr, who added eleven. The team has now emerged victorious in four straight games.

Senior guard Joe Mascaro scored 30 for the Hawks (9-5, 5-2). With the loss, their five-game winning streak was snapped.

The Black Hawks pulled within six of the Colts with less than five minutes left in the game after Mascaro converted one of two free throws. However, McConnell scored the next two buckets, and Bethel Park could get no closer than seven points the rest of the game.

BP’s next game will be at home vs. Peters Township in a league event on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. Chartiers Valley’s next game is away at Canon-McMillan in a league event on January 20 at 7:30 p.m. BP and Chartiers Valley will face off again at Chartiers Valley High School on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m.