Moniteau's Ethan Pry (30) tries driving past Wilkinsburg defender Elijah Hill during the Warriors' 73-43 loss inPIAA Class AA boys basketball tournament play.

MONROEVILLE — The Wilkinsburg boys basketball team thrives on fast breaks.

On Saturday afternoon, Moniteau simply allowed too many of them.

Twenty-seven turnovers in the first three quarters doomed the Warriors in a 73-43 loss in the first round of the PIAA Class AA playoffs at Gateway High School.

“Most of the credit goes to their defense,” Moniteau coach Randy Armagost said of the Tigers. “They have a lot of speed and we hadn't faced a team with that kind of quickness this season.”

Moniteau faced a 55-38 deficit at the start of the fourth quarter, but two straight Wilkinsburg turnovers along with a pair of free throws from Kyle Armagost and a basket by Jonathan Loos caused Tigers' coach Reuben Coleman to call a timeout.

Wilkinsburg responded by closing the game with an 18-1 run.

“We just had to get back to what we do in practice,” said Coleman. “Go out and execute.”

The first quarter saw both teams take modest leads.

Kyle Armagost's 3-pointer with 2:11 left handed the Warriors a 13-12 edge, but the Tigers led 19-17 after eight minutes of play.

“We had to get rid of the nerves,” said Coleman. “Being a state playoff game, our guys were a bit jumpy. Once we get loosened up, things come easier for our guys.”

Seven turnovers played havoc with Moniteau in the second period as the Warriors were outscored 24-14, though Armagost's 60-foot desperation heave beat the halftime buzzer before banking in, cutting the Tigers' lead to 43-31 at intermission.

The bit of momentum the Warriors did have entering the third quarter gave way to a seven-point and 12-turnover period, allowing Wilkinsburg to take the 17-point lead with one quarter to play.

“They did a good job of double and triple teaming us at certain times,” said Coach Armagost. “Again, their speed was the difference.”

Kyle Armagost led Moniteau (15-10) with 17 points and Zach Sloan had 11.

Robert Taylor paced the Tigers (18-6) with 19 points.

MONITEAU 43Kyle Armagost 5 5-6 17, Zach Sloan 2 7-8 11, Andrew Armagost 2 0-0 4, Heath Lominski 1 0-0 2, Ethan Pry 1 0-0 3, Jon Loos 1 1-2 3, Jordan Smith 1 1-2 3, Dalton Shuler 0 0-0 0, Tanner Blair 0 0-0 0, Mitch Hunter 0 0-0 0, Colton Cumberland 0 0-0 0, Drew Yeckel 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 13 14-18 43.

WILKINSBURG 73Elijah Hill 5 2-3 15, Elisah Hill 4 0-1 8, Robert Taylor 9 1-4 19, Jordan Howard 3 0-0 6, Rasheed Howard 2 0-1 4, Davon Washington 6 2-5 14, Ed Morgan 1 0-0 3, Kameran Germany 1 0-0 2, Mark Williams 1 0-0 2, Maurice Minifield 0 0-0 0, Kyle Kregar 0 0-0 0, Ishmael Scott 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 32 5-14 73.

Moniteau 17 14 7 5—43Wilkinsburg 19 24 12 18—733-point goals: Moniteau 3 (K. Armagost 2, Pry); Wilkinsburg 4 (Elijah Hill 3, Morgan)