Sports

Last Updated on Monday, 24 January 2022 22:34

By Matthew Peaslee

The Baldwin boys basketball team had a hot streak in the middle of January, winning three consecutive games. An impressive 86-66 win against Bethel Park on Jan. 18 was one for the record books.

Not only has Bethel Park been one of the top teams in the section in recent years, the Blackhawks already reached double digit wins for the season. In the victory, Baldwin junior James Wesling set a new school record with 48 points. The longstanding Baldwin record was 42 points. The mark was also the highest scoring output by an WPIAL player this season.

“My first shot went in and after that I just kept going,” Wesling said on the Fighting Highlanders Sports Network following the game.

“I’m happy. I’m so excited to beat a team that’s 10-2 by this big of a margin. Coming out here and playing with my teammates, it was a big win.”

Wesling was 10 of 14 in field goal shooting and made seven 3-pointers. Twenty nine of his points came in the second half to add to the dominant surge against Bethel Park. Wesling added to his stat line with six steals.

In their previous game, Wesling scored a team-high 24 points in a 66-49 win against Peters Township.

Before the high-scoring output against Bethel Park, Wesling’s previous personal best was scoring 27 points in the second game of the season against Albert Gallatin.

Freshman Nate Wesling is also on the Baldwin basketball team, the younger brother of James.

The entire Baldwin boys basketball team was featured on WPNT_TV 22 ‘The Point’ in early January in the inaugural live televised game on the network. The Highlanders took on Mt. Lebanon in the first-of-its kind broadcast which was seen in thousands of homes in the Pittsburgh region.