ROSS TWP — The North Catholic boys basketball team has been putting up gaudy offensive numbers all season.

The Trojans led all classes of the WPIAL with 80 points per game in the regular season, but they found themselves with just 18 at the half against South Allegheny in the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals at North Hills Middle School Monday night.

It was an unfamiliar situation for North Catholic, which had rarely seen such a low offensive total after two quarters.

Well, even more rare than that.

“Never,” said North Catholic coach Dave DeGregorio. “Never. Never.”

Still, the Trojans had an 18-17 lead at the break and the offense woke from its slumber in the second half on the way to a 51-40 win over the Gladiators.

While the offense has gotten all the attention for North Catholic this season, it's actually been the defense that's been the difference-maker.

“We're the highest-scoring team, but it doesn't mean we're the best offensive team, you know what I mean? We just play more possessions,” DeGregorio said. “That number sometimes is a false number — points for, points against. I don't believe in that because pace of play has a lot to do with it. We've given up points, but fewer than we have in the past.”

South Allegheny (23-2) forced North Catholic (23-2) to play at a slower pace in the first half. The Trojans didn't shoot well, but made up for it on the other end.

The Gladiators couldn't take advantage of holding North Catholic far below its scoring average.

“We were really solid the whole night on defense,” DeGregorio said. “When you do that you can weather the hey-we're-not-making-shots storm.”

North Catholic was also able to weather a different kind of storm.

Isaac DeGregorio, who scored 34 in the Trojans quarterfinal win over Carlynton, was held to just seven against South Allegheny.

Ryan Feczco and Jake Tomer picked up the slack. Feczko had 11 of North Catholic's 18 points in the first half and finished with 16. Tomer added 13.

The 6-foot-5 Tomer had three 3-pointers in the second half.

North Catholic scored the first seven points of the third quarter to take a 25-17 lead. South Allegheny never got closer than four after that.

Thank that underrated Trojan defense.

“People see our scores and they think we don't guard and jack up 3s,” Coach DeGregorio said. “A lot of that is our defense causing turnovers at the other end.”

North Catholic will take on Lincoln Park at 9 p.m. Thursday at the Petersen Events Center.

“We have the West Coast game,” DeGregorio quipped. “It should be awesome. The opportunity to play for a championship, what else can you ask for.”

NORTH CATHOLIC 51

Jackson Paschall 2 0-0 4, Isaiah Jasckson 0 2-4 2, Ryan Feczko 5 6-8 16, Hans Rottman 2 1-1 5, Jake Tomer 5 0-0 13, Andrew Ammerman 1 2-3 4, Isaac DeGregorio 1 4-5 7. Totals: 16 15-21 51.

SOUTH ALLEGHENY 40

Ethan Kirkwood 2 1-1 7, Bryce Epps 5 3-4 14, Antonio Epps 4 4-5 14, Omar Fauhemore 2 1-3 5. Totals: 13 9-13 40.

North Catholic 12 6 17 16 — 51

South Allegheny12 5 12 11 — 40

3-point goals: Feczko,Tomer 3, DeGregorio; Kirkwood 2, B.Epps, A.Epps 2

Thursday: WPIAL Class 3A Championship-North Catholic vs. Lincoln Park, 9 p.m., Petersen Events Center