O'HARA TWP — A relentless style of play had North Catholic riding a 14-game winning streak entering the WPIAL boys basketball playoffs.

From the opening tip Friday night, No. 15 was never in doubt.

The Trojans did not allow a field goal for the first 10 minutes of the game while Isaac DeGregorio and Jackson Paschall led a balanced offense in steamrolling Shady Side Academy, 86-36, in a Class 3A first-round meeting at Fox Chapel High School.

“The playoffs are a new season,” said Paschall, a senior forward. “Coach (Dave DeGregorio) told us during the game in the huddle tonight, 'Don't give this team a chance to get back in it.'”

That mentality has become a theme for the Trojans (21-2), who will face Carlynton (15-8) in a quarterfinal Thursday at a site and time to be determined.

North is averaging 79.3 points per game. That's the most of any team, regardless of class, in the WPIAL. The Trojans have now won eight games this season by at least 40 points and are a perfect 19-0 against WPIAL competition. Five of those games have come against Class 6A teams.

“It all comes down to effort,” said Dave DeGregorio. “These guys bring it every time, every game, they play hard.

“In the state playoffs last year, we lost to a team (Forest Hills) that I don't think we should've lost to. Our players understand that you can go down against any team.”

Another loss last season is also still fresh in the Trojans' minds, a 62-50 defeat to Lincoln Park in the WPIAL title game. Lincoln Park and North are the No. 1 and 2 seeds, respectively, in this year's tournament.

“Getting back to the WPIAL championship game, that's what motivates us,” said Paschall. “We have to keep pushing. Even if we're up by 20 points, keep pushing.”

Point guard Isaac DeGregorio (17 ppg), Paschall (14) and Ryan Feczko (10) led the team in scoring. Guard Isaiah Jackson and center Jake Tomer are the other starters.

Defense has been a catalyst for the Trojans and a big reason why the team has a chance to play for a while.

“The defense has improved 100 percent,” said Dave DeGregorio. “Earlier in the year, we had to play zone because we couldn't get matched up well in man-to-man. Now we can and we're a better team when playing man defense.”

According to Paschall, North's practices are intense.

“We go light in practice right before a game, but other than that, we go at each other hard,” he said. “That's how we're going to get better as players and as a team.”

As impressive as Friday's playoff win was, Dave DeGregorio believes his team can get better.

“We were much better on defense tonight than we were on offense,” he said. “We got bumped off our path on our drives too much. We need to be more physical.”

SHADY SIDE ACADEMY 36

Alex Kramer 0 1-2 1, Brice Delaney 1 5-6 7, Grady Munroe 3 0-0 6, Ethan Salvia 2 0-4 4, Mason Tomlin 2 12-19 16, Austin White 1 0-0 2, Jack Thornton 0 0-1 0, Lau Thompson 0 0-0 0, Cayden Leavy 0 0-0 0, David Liang 0 0-0 0, Thomas Muse 0 0-0 0, John Salvitti 0 0-0 0. Totals: 9 18-32 36.

NORTH CATHOLIC 86

Jackson Paschall 6 2-2 14, Nick Maher 1 0-0 2, Isaiah Jackson 2 0-0 6, Ryan Feczko 3 0-0 8, Connor Maddalon 2 3-5 7, Tommy Molenda 0 2-2 2, Anthony Serventi 2 0-0 4, Hans Rottmann 3 4-5 12, Kyle Tipinski 1 0-0 2, Jake Tomer 2 0-0 4, Andrew Ammerman 4 1-1 9, Isaac DeGregorio 5 3-3 16, Owen DeGregorio 0 0-0 0, Matt Gregor 0 0-0 0. Totals: 31 15-18 86.

SSA 3 13 11 9 — 36

North Catholic18 30 26 12 — 86

3-point goals: North Catholic 9 (I. DeGregorio 3, Jackson 2, Feczko 2, Rottmann 2).

Thursday: North Catholic vs. Carlynton, WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal, TBD