Pioneers edge Rockets in section battle
West Greene took a three-point lead into halftime and hung on for a 45-39 victory over Jefferson-Morgan in Section 3-2A play on Tuesday at West Greene Junior/Senior High School.
The Pioneers (8-3, 10-7) trailed 12-9 after the first quarter, but a 13-7 advantage in the second period provided the home team with a 22-19 lead at halftime. Both teams scored 11 in the third quarter before West Greene used a 12-9 edge in the fourth to hand the Rockets their third loss in section play. J-M is 8-3 in the section and 12-6 overall.
The Pioneers’ Lane Allison scored a game-high 18 points.
Jeremiah Robertson led the Rockets in scoring with 14 points.
Belle Vernon 71, Elizabeth Forward 43 — The Warriors hung tough in the first quarter, but once the Leopards got going, Belle Vernon earned a key victory in Section 3-4A.
The Leopards avenged their lone section setback to Derry last Friday and have handed Elizabeth Forward their two section losses. Belle Vernon improved to 9-1 in section play and 16-4 overall, while the Warriors fell to 7-2 and 14-4.
Geibel Catholic 62, St. Joseph 41 — The Gators took control in the second and third quarters in earning a Section 2-1A victory.
Geibel’s Evan Strimel led the game in scoring with 21 points. Teammate Seth Dolan made five 3-pointers, and finished with 19 points.
St. Joseph’s Ben Bartolovic scored 13 points.
The Gators improved to 3-4 in section play and 11-7 overall. St. Joseph fell to 2-5 and 7-10.
Carmichaels 61, Beth-Center 52 — The Mikes rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to top the Bulldogs in Section 3-2A action.
Beth-Center (5-6, 8-10) had a 29-15 halftime lead before the Mikes (3-8, 4-13) outscored the visitors, 21-12, in the third quarter, and 25-11 in the fourth period.
Beth-Center’s Jason Zellie scored a game-high 23 points. Teammate Jonah Sussan added 10.
Robbie Wilson-Jones led Carmichaels in scoring with 12 points. The Mikes’ Dakota Reynolds put in 11.
Southmoreland 77, Ligonier Valley 70 — The Scotties built up a 20-point lead after three quarters and held off a Rams’ rally in the fourth period to win a Section 4-3A game at home.
Southmoreland improved to 7-0 in section play and 14-4 overall. Ligonier Valley fell to 3-3 in the section and 9-8 overall.
The Scotties’ Brady Sherbondy scored a team-high 21 points. Teammate Noah Felentzer added 19. The Scotties’ Stanley Chapman (16) and Elliot Premus (14) were in double figures.
The Rams’ Michael Wisniewski had a game-high 25 points. Teammates Brian Wisniewski (13), John Jublunovsky (12) and Simon Pope (10) were in double digits.
Franklin Regional 49, Laurel Highlands 44 — The Mustangs had the opportunity to tie the Panthers in Section 1-5A play at Harold “Horse” Taylor Memorial Gymnasium, but their 3-pointer near the end of the game didn’t fall and Franklin Regional escaped with a victory.
Following the miss, the Panthers’ Connor Crossey made two free throws to finish with a game-high 27 points. Crossey was 13 of 14 at the foul line.
Laurel Highlands (1-10, 4-15) had a 13-7 lead after the first quarter, but Franklin Regional (4-7, 9-10) cut the deficit to 28-25 at halftime after outscoring the home team, 18-15, in the second period.
The Panthers took the lead in the third and hung on in the fourth.
Luke Martin led the Mustangs in scoring with 11 points. Aiden Black, Antwan Black and Sevi Vecchiolla all scored 10 points apiece for Laurel Highlands.
Gateway 56, Albert Gallatin 30 — The Colonials couldn’t find their offense in a Section 1-5A loss at Gateway.
The Gators (8-3, 10-7) led after every quarter break. Gateway’s Mykel Bruce-McCrommon led the game in scoring with 26 points.
JJ Jackson led Albert Gallatin (2-9, 7-11) in scoring with 13 points.
Upper St. Clair 63, Connellsville 36 — The Panthers remain undefeated in Section 2-6A action after downing the Falcons.
Upper St. Clair (11-0, 18-1) had a 26-5 lead after the first quarter and cruised to victory. The Panthers spread around the scoring, as Gianna Disora, Kaamil Jackson, Tyler Robbins and Ryan Robbins all put in 10 points.
Tyler Burkus led Connellsville (0-11, 3-15) in scoring with nine points.
Jeannette 68, Frazier 35 — The Jayhawks jumped out early and never looked back in a Section 1-2A triumph at Frazier.
The Jayhawks (8-1, 15-1) had four players in double figures, as Xavier Odorisio-Farrow had 20 points. Kymone Brown put in 15 and Markus McGowan 13. Noah Sunder added 10.
Trey Whitehead led the Commodores (1-10, 3-15) in scoring with 13 points.
Clairton 60, California 48 — The Bears outscored the Trojans by 17 in the second quarter to take control and win a Section 1-2A game at Clairton.
Despite the loss, California’s Jacob Ziolecki scored 29 points. Clairton’s Jontere Sanders had 12 points. Teammate Drachir Jones added 11.
The Bears improved to 7-2 in section play and 7-6 overall.
Girls basketball
Brownsville 61, Waynesburg Central 29 — The Lady Falcons continue to push for a playoff spot, and moved one step closer after a Section 3-3A home triumph over the Raiders.
Brownsville improved to 4-5 in section play and 11-7 overall. Waynesburg fell to 3-6 in section play and 8-9 overall.
The Lady Falcons’ Skyler Gates led all scorers with 17 points. Teammate Zhariah Reed had 15. Ciara Horabik made four 3-pointers and had 14 points for the home team.
Brownsville’s Ava Clark chipped in with 11.
The Lady Raiders were led in scoring by Mya Smith’s 10 points.
Geibel Catholic 64, East Allegheny 33 — The Lady Gators earned a non-section home victory over the Lady Wildcats.
Emma Larkin paced Geibel’s scoring attack with 33 points. The Lady Gators’ Mallory Clemmer put in 19 points.
East Allegheny’s Dezlyn Clary had 13 points. Teammate Ronniya Lawrence dropped 10.
Geibel Catholic improved to 18-1 this season. Geibel is 10-1 in section play.
Carmichaels 45, Bentworth 28 — The Lady Mikes took control in the second half to earn a Section 3-2A victory.
Carmichaels’ Ali Jacobs led the game in scoring with 16 points. The Lady Mikes’ Avery Voithofer had 11 and teammate Joselyn Carter put in 10.
Bella Moyer led the Lady Bearcats in scoring with 10 points.
West Greene 37, Mapletown 30 — The Lady Maples had a six-point lead after the first quarter, but the Lady Pioneers battled back for a Section 2-1A road victory.
West Greene improved to 5-5 in section play and 11-6 overall. The Lady Pioneers’ Kendra Tharp scored 13 points. Teammate Madelyn Roberts added 11.
Mapletown was led in scoring by Nicole Barrera’s 13.
Baldwin 60, Albert Gallatin 30 — The Lady Highlanders doubled up the Lady Colonials in a Section 4-5A victory at Baldwin.
The Lady Highlanders’ Lynsey Bernotas scored a game-high 16 points. Teammate Julianne Ott added 12, as Baldwin improved to 5-4 in section play and 10-8 overall.
The Lady Colonials were led in scoring by Grayce Panos’ 12 points.