Local roundup: Charleroi tops Trojans, gives Greer first win
Bryce Large scored a game-high 18 points to help Charleroi defeat visiting California, 48-38, and give Joe Greer his first victory as coach of the Cougars in non-section boys basketball action Wednesday night.
Jake Chambers followed with 12 points for Charleroi (1-4).
The game was tied 10-10 after the first quarter before the Cougars used a 12-4 edge in the second to take a 22-14 halftime lead.
The Trojans (0-4) fought back to tie it again at 28-28 in the third quarter but Charleroi went ahead to stay with an 8-2 burst that included four points by Jackson Keranko.
The Cougars led 36-31 after three quarters and outscored California 12-7 in the final frame to secure the win.
Keranko and Brock Henderson each contributed eight points for Charleroi.
Jacob Ziolecki led the Trojans with 14 points. Vinny Manzella added 10 points.
Monessen 84, Aquinas Academy 80 – Lorenzo Gardner poured in 36 points as the Greyhounds rode a big fourth quarter to a close victory over the Crusaders in a non-conference shootout.
Timothy Kershaw and Devontae Robinson followed with 19 and 16 points, respectively, for Monessen.
Aquinas Academy jumped out to a 28-16 lead in the first quarter and led 39-32 at halftime and 65-55 after three quarters.
The Greyhounds exploded to a 29-15 advantage in the fourth quarter in rallying for the win.
Sam Duer paced the Crusaders with 27 points and was followed by Jacob Guillen (22) and David Zaharko (11).
Girls basketball
Burgettstown 50, Yough 32 — The Lady Blue Devils pulled away in the second half for a non-section home victory.
Burgettstown (3-2) led 23-16 at halftime and then outscored the Lady Cougars in the second half, 27-16.
Autumn Matthews led Yough (4-2) with 13 points. Hailey Bock finished with 11 points.
Burgettstown’s Kaitlyn Nease scored a game-high 26 points. Paige Klodowski added eight points.
Hempfield 68, Ringgold 28 – The Lady Spartans raced out to a 22-4 lead in the opening quarter on their way to a non-section win over the visiting Lady Rams.
Sarah Podkul led Hempfield (4-1) with 16 points, Allie Cervola contributed 13 and Mia Shipman had 12.
Kamryn Webb scored 16 points to tie for game-high honors for Ringgold (1-3).
Boys wrestling
Frazier 44, Southmoreland 33 — The Commodores’ Rune Lawrence was out with an injury, but the visitors still came through with a Section 2-AA road victory.
Lawrence, the three-time defending state champion, suffered the injury in last weekend’s Ironman Invitational.
The Scotties’ Micah McGeary spotted the home team the early lead after he pinned Tanner Hayes. Frazier (1-0, 4-2) rallied with pins from Landon Hough (127), Chase Celaschi (133), and Ty Clark (139).
Southmoreland (1-1, 4-3) slowed the run with Kashton Bish’s pinn at 145 pounds.
Frazier’s Jonah Erdely won by fall at 152 pounds, and Southmoreland countered with Shawn Hollis’ pin at 160 pounds.
The Commodores’ then had another run with pins by Ryan Celaschi (172), Austin Wilson (189), and Jackson Angelo (215) to make the score 42-18 and secure the match.
Southmoreland’s Jacob Govern won a 5-3 decision at 285 pounds, and teammates Bryce Greeko (107) and Nicholas Lubuki (114) received forfeits.
Burgettstown 44, Jefferson Morgan 24 — The Blue Devils returned home with a Section 1-AA victory against the Rockets.
Jefferson-Morgan surged into the lead after pins from Chase Frameli (160), Grant Hathaway (172), Brock Bayles (189), and Adam McAnany (215).
Burgettstown then ran the final six bouts with two pins, two major decisions, a decision and a forfeit.
Bentworth 51, West Greene 21 — The Bearcats received four forfeits in a Section 1-AA road victory at West Greene.
Alex Rusilko (285), Baylee Oreski (107), Nick Krutules (121), and Chris Vargo (133) all won by forfeit for Bentworth.
The Bearcats’ Bryce Crowson (139), Owen Ivcic (152), and Vitali Daniels (189) won by fall. Ty Watson (145) and Brayden Taggart (189) secured decisions.
The Pioneers’ Noah Collins (114), Seth Burns (127), and Colin Whyte (215) had pins, and Hayden Hamilton (160) won a 4-0 decision.
Boys swimming
Belle Vernon 49, McKeesport 24 — Tim Reda (200 IM, 100 breaststroke), Gauge Watson (100 butterfly), and Brian Nguyen (100 freestyle) all won individual events in the Leopards’ victory over the Tigers.
Belle Vernon (3-2) swept the relays.
Girls swimming
Belle Vernon 27, McKeesport 13 — Melina Stratigos (200 freestyle), Martyna Maley (100 butterfly, 100 backstroke), Emily Newbould (100 freestyle), and Ava Bosetti (100 breaststroke) all had first-place finishes for the Lady Leopards.
Belle Vernon (3-2) won all three relays.