Local roundup: Jackson scores 24 as AG knocks off Tigers
Jason Jackson scored a game-high 24 points and Albert Gallatin rode a big third quarter to a 63-50 win at McKeesport in a Section 1-AAAAA boys basketball game Friday night.
The victory moved the Colonials (2-1, 6-2) into a four-way tie for second place in the section with the Tigers (2-1, 3-5), Gateway and Latrobe behind front-running Uniontown.
McKeesport led 13-11 after the first quarter but AG surged to a 29-27 halftime lead then outscored the hosts 16-6 in the third for a 45-33 advantage.
Shymere Wilson followed with 15 points for the Albert Gallatin.
Lamont Perkins and Brian Jones led the Tigers with 22 and 15 points.
Latrobe 61, Laurel Highlands 47 – The Wildcats used a 23-12 edge in the fourth quarter to pull away from the visiting Mustangs in a Section 1-AAAAA game.
Latrobe (2-1, 7-1) led 17-14, 23-20 and 38-35 at the quarter breaks before finally taking control in the final frame.
Max Butler led the Wildcats with 16 points and was followed by Andy Tatsch (12), Kyle McNeil (10) and Ian Decerb (10).
Aiden Black led Laurel Highlands (0-3, 2-5) with 15 points and Tyrone Burton added 10.
Waynesburg Central 69, Brownsville 41 – Dane Woods racked up 26 points, seven rebounds and four assists as the host Raiders earned their first win of the season against the Falcons in the Section 4-AAA opener for both teams.
Alex Eck contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds for Waynesburg (1-0, 1-7) and Alex VanSickle chipped in with 10 points.
Cameron Phillips paced Brownsville (0-1, 1-7) with 13 points.
Clairton 78, Frazier 45 – Taris Wooding made six 3-pointers on his way to a game-high 23 points and the Bears beat the host Commodores in a Section 1-AA game.
Mikey Ruffin added 12 points for Clairton (2-1, 2-3).
Kolby Stewart totaled 19 points and 13 rebounds for Frazier (0-3, 2-6) which also got 14 points from Brant Alekson.
Jefferson-Morgan 75, Mapletown 29 – Houston Guesman tallied 23 points and the Rockets shot out to a 26-6 lead in the opening quarter and never looked back in defeating the visiting Maples in a Section 3-AA game.
John Woodward Jr. followed with 13 points and Dayten Marion tossed in 10 for Jefferson-Morgan (3-0, 5-2) which sits in a first-place tie with West Greene.
Tyler Howard scored 14 points and Cooper Franks had 10 for Mapletown (0-2, 0-6).
Beth-Center 71, Fort Cherry 58 – Jason Zellie led a balanced attack with 19 points as the visiting Bulldogs upended the Rangers on a Section 3-AA game.
Beth-Center jumped out to a 16-10 lead in the first quarter, increased it to 32-19 by halftime and made that margin stand up in the second half.
Brayden Hull followed Zellie with 14 points for the Bulldogs (2-1, 4-3) who also got 11 points from Tyler Kurowski and 10 from Parker Amos.
Shane Cornali had a game-high 21 points for Fort Cherry (1-2, 2-4) and Gavin Grace had 13.
Derry 67, Belle Vernon 61 – The host Trojans outscored the Leopards 10-4 in overtime to pull out a Section 3-AAAA win.
Stanley Rajkowich scored 26 points to lead the way for Derry (3-0, 6-3) which took over sole possession of first place in the section.
John Wasnick added 19 points for Derry.
Trevor Kovatch and Jude Minitti paced Belle Vernon (2-1, 6-3) with 12 points apiece. Luca Ghilani followed close behind with 11.
Southmoreland 52, Charleroi 45 – Noah Felentzer scored a game-high 22 points in the host Scotties’ win over the Cougars in the Section 4-AAA opener for both teams.
Stanley Chapman added 10 points for Southmoreland (1-0, 4-2) which led 17-10, 23-20, 41-30 at the quarter breaks.
Jackson Keranko and Shea Smith paced Charleroi (0-1, 4-4) with 12 and 10 points.
Ligonier Valley 71, Mount Pleasant 51 – Michael Wisniewski tossed in 26 points and the Rams exploded to a 29-11 lead in the first quarter on their way to a Section 4-AAA win at Mount Pleasant.
Parker Hollick had 19 points for Ligonier Valley (1-0, 5-3).
Jordan Grieff led the Vikings (0-1, 0-8) with 15 points, Gage Vallone added 12 and Cole Massari contributed 11.
Greensburg Central Catholic 96, California 37 – The unbeaten Centurions erupted for 40 points in the opening quarter in their Section 1-AA victory over the visiting Trojans.
Liam Gallagher scored 22 points for GCC (3-0, 8-0) which also got 16 points from Brady O’Rourke, 13 from Dave Wachinski and 11 from AJ Tarpley.
Vinny Manzella had 11 points for California (0-3, 1-6).
Girls basketball
Bentworth 36, Mapletown 23 – Kayla O’Dell scored 15 points as the Lady Bearcats (4-4) knocked off the Lady Maples in a non-section game.
Nicole Barerra scored 12 points for Mapletown (2-7).