The boys basketball team fell to section rival Upper Saint Clair 63-54 in a scrappy affair on Friday night.

The game was tight and hard-fought throughout, but Upper Saint Clair pulled away in the second half.

“I thought we played well, but foul trouble hurt us late in the game,” junior Andy Degenhardt said.

The team was without sophomore starter Connor Lavelle, who was out with an ankle injury.

“We all were able to work together, and were able to play a strong game, even without Connor,” Degenhardt said.

There are some downfalls to the aggressive nature of the game, with Degenhardt getting ejected in the final minute, and being suspended for their next game as well.

The team is now 0-2 in section play, and will continue section play on Tuesday night with an away matchup against Peters Township.

“We need to really control the rebounding and the three-point line in order to give ourselves a chance on Tuesday,” Degenhardt said.