Local roundup: Beth-Center tops Burgettstown to clinch playoff spot
Jason Zellie scored 22 points and Beth-Center rode a big second quarter to a 50-40 victory at Burgettstown to clinch a playoff spot in Section 3-2A boys basketball action Tuesday night.
The Blue Devils jumped out to a 12-6 lead in the first quarter but the Bulldogs (6-7, 9-12) out-scored the hosts 24-11 in the second to take a 30-23 halftime lead.
Beth-Center held a 20-17 advantage in the second half to secure the win.
Braden Hull added 10 points for B-C.
Blake Neal scored 18 points for Burgettstown (2-11, 5-15) which also got 14 points from Parker Rommes.
Jefferson-Morgan 51, Carmichaels 28 – Dayten Marion scored a game-high 16 points and the Rockets clinched at least a share of second place in Section 3-2A with a win over the host Mikes.
Houston Guesman followed with 13 points for Jefferson-Morgan (10-3, 14-6) which trailed 7-5 after the first quarter but surged to a 23-15 halftime lead and pulled away from there.
Jaymison Robinson added 10 points for J-M.
Alex Toth tossed in 11 points for Carmichaels (4-9, 5-15).
Fort Cherry 62, West Greene 61 – Shane Cornali scored the last of his 11 points on a driving layup as time ran out to give the Rangers a Section 3-2A win at West Greene.
Matt Sieg tallied a team-high 16 points for Fort Cherry (8-4, 10-8) which trailed 48-44 going into the fourth quarter. Evan Rogers (14) and Greg Grace (10) also hit double figures for the Rangers.
Lane Allison rang up a game-high 24 points for the Pioneers (9-4, 11-8) who also got 14 from Parker Burns and 11 from Darren Knight.
Geibel Catholic 75, Environmental Charter 42 – Gary Tarbuk and Evan Strimel poured in 20 points apiece as the Gators wrapped up a playoff spot with a win at Envoronmental Charter (0-9, 0-14).
Geibel (4-5, 12-9) led 21-8, 38-25 and 54-34 at the quarter breaks.
Roman Riccelli added 11 points for the Gators and Seth Dolan chipped in with nine points, including a 3-pointer to give him 50 treys on the season.
Bentworth 74, California 57 – Chris Harper scored 28 points in the Bearcats’ Section 1-2A win at California.
Lucas Burt and Ben Hays added 17 and 14 points, respectively, for Bentworth (6-6, 9-9) which secured a playoff spot with the victory.
Jacob Ziolecki made three 3-pointers and tied for game-high honors with 28 points for the Trojans (0-13, 2-17).
Belle Vernon 83, Greensburg Salem 48 – Zion Moore totaled 28 points, six rebounds, six assists and five steals, and Trevor Kovatch made six 3-pointers in scoring 24 points as the visiting Leopards hammered the Lions in a Section 3-4A game.
The victory clinches at least a share of the section crown for Belle Vernon (11-1, 18-4) which has won 12 in a row. Curtis Wade added 20 points for the Leopards.
Braedon Leatherman had 18 points for Greensburg Salem (3-8, 5-15) which also got 13 points from Jackson Steven.
Ligonier Valley 47, Waynesburg Central 39 – Michael Vargulish-Graver scored 18 points in the host Rams’ Section 4-3A win to pull into a second-place tie with the Raiders.
Michael Wisniewski tossed in 13 points for Ligonier Valley (6-3, 12-8).
Cole Headlee paced Waynesburg (6-3, 8-11) with 14 points, Austin Surber added 12 points and Alex Eck pulled down 16 rebounds.
Central Catholic 65, Connellsville 31 – Calvin Vento scored 13 points and Enzo Khalil followed with 10 as Central Catholic (10-3, 13-6) triumphed over the visiting Falcons in a Section 2-6A game.
Lucas Harwood had 10 points for Connellsville (0-13, 3-17).
Chartiers-Houston 79, Mapletown 18 – Nate Gregory racked up 34 points in the first-place Bucs’ Section 3-2A win over the visiting Maples.
Justin Buckingham had 14 points for Chartiers-Houston (12-1, 18-2).
Lucas Stevenson tossed in eight points to pace Mapletown (0-12, 0-18).
Southmoreland 59, Mount Pleasant 44 – Noah Felentzer scored 10 points in the first-place Scotties’ Section 4-3A victory at Mount Pleasant.
Ty Whoric (12) and Elliot Premus (10) also hit double figures for Southmoreland (9-0, 16-4).
Kade Hutchinson led the Vikings (0-9, 0-21) with 18 points and Johah Townsend had 10.
Charleroi 54, Brownsville 29 – Noah Pletcher scored a game-high 20 points as the Cougars (4-5, 10-10) locked up a playoff spot while eliminating the host Falcons from postseason contention.
Kaden Wimmer led Brownsville (2-7, 4-16) with eight points.
Springdale 60, Frazier 43 – Liam Dexter scored 17 points in the Dynamos Section 1-2A victory at Frazier.
Robby Simmen had 13 points for Springdale (7-7, 13-7).
Freshman Kolby Stewart rang up 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Commodores (2-11, 5-16) and Dailan McManus also scored 16 points.
Girls basketball
Keystone Oaks 51, Brownsville 30 – Natalie Tortorella tallied 17 points, Hannah York added 15 and Laney Wagner added 10 as host Keystone Oaks beat the Lady Facons in a Section 3-3A game.
Zhariah Reed and Ava Clark each scored 13 points for playoff-bound Brownsville (5-7, 13-9).
Peters Township 63, Uniontown 19 – Natalie Wetzel tossed in 15 points and Jordyn Welsh added 12 as the first-place Lady Indians (11-0, 18-2) knocked off the visiting Lady Raiders in a Section 4-5A game.
Freshman Charley Murtha led Uniontown (1-10, 5-15) with 11 points.
West Greene 56, Carmichaels 16 – Madelyn Roberts led the Lady Pioneers with 12 points in a non-section win over the visiting Lady Mikes.
Marissa Tharp chipped in with 10 points for West Greene (13-7).
Joselyn Carter led Carmichaels (2-7, 2-18) with six points.