FOX CHAPEL — Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic boys basketball coach Dave Long kept waiting for the proverbial football to be pulled out from under him.

The Trojans made sure everything stayed grounded.

North Catholic was patient on offense in the fourth quarter of a 59-49 win over Sewickley Academy in a PIAA Class A play-in game Monday night at Fox Chapel High School.

“One my assistants offered the analogy, every time you think this team is going to get it done it's kind of like 'Peanuts',” Long said. “Lucy jerks that football out when you think she's going to hold the ball down so you can kick it solidly. We were getting the feeling the team is a little bit like Lucy. This time, they kept the football down.”

North Catholic (15-9) will play Cornell Thursday at a site and time to be determined to determine who will be the WPIAL's fifth seed.

The Trojans had the football — and their WPIAL title hopes — yanked away during the quarterfinals when they lost a 12-point lead in the final eight minutes against Jeannette.

Long thought the Trojans pressed too much against the Jayhawks. North Catholic found a better balance against the Panthers (22-2).

Once the Trojans took a 46-44 lead on a trey by Timon Gribbin with 4:48 remaining, they never gave it back to Sewickley Academy.

“Any time you get them to do what they need to do to win a game there is a certain feeling of gratitude on the part of the coaching staff to know they are takings steps forward,” Long said.

Four Trojans — Gribbin (15 points), Tristan Newcamp (14), Kenny Fukon (12) and Vince LeGrande (11) — scored in double figures.

North Catholic made 5-of-6 free throws in the final frame to help put the game out of reach.

“I think we were more in control,” said Newcamp, who added three assists and four rebounds. “The coach told (Timon) to slow it down and take control and we were able to close it out.”

Gribbin heated up in the fourth quarter, scoring 12 points.

His go-ahead 3-pointer was the start of an 8-2 run that ended with North Catholic ahead 51-46 with 3:30 remaining.

“We were looking to slow the ball down and we did do that for three or four possessions in a row,” said Gribbin, who also handed out six assists. “Every single possession we got a bucket. We kept being patient and slowed it down.”

Sewickley Academy couldn't find its rhythm in the second half. Drew Johnson and Declan Hickton made 3-pointers that pushed the Panthers ahead 42-38 to start the fourth quarter.

Chris Groetsch and Justin Pryor scored 14 apiece for Sewickley Academy.

“We play a lot of young kids and I think our team wore down in the second half,” Panthers coach Win Palmer said. “We're not a physically strong team and I think North Catholic is. They took advantage of that.”

The game was knotted at 26 at halftime and 36 after three.

Gribbin was happy the Trojans pulled out the win and still control their fate.

Last season, they would have had to sit and wait to see how Jeannette finished in the follow-the-leader format.

“No one wants end their career on a two-game losing streak,” Gribbin said. “Hopefully, we can get the win against Cornell Thursday and move into states.”

CW NORTH CATHOLIC 59

Tom Braun 0 0-0 0, Chris Goetz 1 0-0 3, Tristan Newcamp 5 2-4 14, Jake Matschner 2 0-0 4, Kenny Fukon 5 2-3 12, Timon Gribbin 5 2-3 15, Vince LeGrande 4 3-3 11. Totals: 22 9-13 59.

SEWICKLEY ACADEMY 49

Scott Brown 0 0-0 0, Declan Hickton 2 2-3 8, Chris Groetsch 4 6-7 14, Justin Pryor 5 3-6 14, Drew Johnson 2 0-0 5, Anthony Muscato 2 0-1 5, Chris Johnson 2 0-1 5, Dave Goetsch 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 12-18 49.

North Catholic 10 16 10 23 — 59

Sewickley 12 14 10 13 — 49

3-point goals: North Catholic 6 (Gribbin 3, Newcamp 2, Goetz); Sewickley 5 (Hickton 2, Pryor, Johnson, Muscato)

Thursday: CW North Catholic vs. Cornell, TBD