Mustangs down Colonials to set up showdown with Uniontown
Laurel Highlands had a memorable “Senior Night’ in a 66-27 victory over Albert Gallatin on Friday in Section 1-5A play at Harold “Horse” Taylor Memorial Gymnasium.
The Mustangs improved to 5-7 in the section and 11-8 overall.
Laurel Highlands will be at cross-town rival Uniontown (6-6, 10-9) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Red Raiders are tied with McKeesport for fourth place in the section, while the Mustangs share sixth place with Latrobe.
Uniontown won the first meeting against Laurel Highlands.
The Mustangs host Penn-Trafford (8-4) in the section finale on Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. The top five teams in the section will qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.
In Friday’s contest, Laurel Highlands had a 14-7 lead after the first quarter, and after outscoring the Colonials, 7-0, in the second period, took a 21-7 advantage into halftime.
The Mustangs won the third quarter, 24-17, and the fourth quarter, 21-3.
Laurel Highlands’ two seniors, Luke Martin and Sevi Vecchiolla, had solid outings, as Martin led the game in scoring with 16 points and Vecchiolla put in 10.
The Mustangs’ Kayden Smith had 13 points. Nick Crouch added 10.
Elliott Sines led Albert Gallatin in scoring with 11 points.
GATEWAY 63, UNIONTOWN 42 — The Gators used a strong finish to down the Red Raiders and clinch the Section 1-5A championship at Gateway High School.
Gateway (11-1, 13-6) outscored Uniontown, 17-7, in the fourth quarter to extend its advantage from 11 to 21. The Gators had a 15-12 lead after the first quarter and a 30-21 advantage at halftime. Gateway won the third quarter, 16-14.
The Gators’ Mykel Bruce-McCrommon led all scorers with 24 points.
Teammates Jax Vovaris (17) and Isaiah Allah (12) were also in double figures.
Nolan Baker paced Uniontown with 12 points. Isaac Ellsworth had 11 and Cam Dugan 10.
JEFFERSON-MORGAN 52, FORT CHERRY 42 — The Rangers rallied from a six-point third quarter deficit to send the Section 3-2A contest into overtime, but the Rockets outscored the home team by 10 in overtime for the victory.
Jefferson-Morgan’s Jeremiah Robertson led all scorers with 26 points. Teammate Dayten Marion had 14.
Gavin Grace led Fort Cherry (8-4, 10-8) in scoring with 10 points.
The Rockets improved to 11-1 in the section and 18-1 overall.
BELLE VERNON 77, EAST ALLEGHENY 69 — The playoff-bound Leopards used a strong second quarter to take control and win a Section 3-4A contest over the Wildcats at East Allegheny High School.
Belle Vernon (8-3, 12-9) trailed 19-17 after the first quarter, but a 22-15 advantage in the second provided the visitors with a 39-34 halftime edge. The Leopards won the third quarter, 19-16, and both teams scored 19 points in the final frame.
Belle Vernon’s Luca Ghilani led all scorers with 21 points. Teammate Dane Daugherty added 19 and Cam Jenko dropped 10.
Cedric Mack led East Allegheny (4-5, 9-7) in scoring with 16 points. James Patterson had 15 and Chris Portis chipped in with 13.
MOUNT LEBANON 61, CONNELLSVILLE 56 — The Falcons had a five-point advantage in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t rally past the Blue Devils in Section 6-2A action at Mount Lebanon High School.
Both squads scored 13 points in the first period before Mount Lebanon (7-5, 13-6) outscored the visitors, 17-7, in the second quarter for a 30-20 halftime lead. After each team scored 15 in the third period, Connellsville held a 21-16 edge in the final frame.
The Blue Devils’ Liam Sheely led all scorers with 28 points. Teammate Carter Gould had 11.
Christian Thomas led the Falcons with 20 points. Lucas Hardwood (17) and Jayden Mickens (15) were also in double digits.
SOUTHMORELAND 62, WAYNESBURG CENTRAL 61 — The Scotties pulled out a one-point victory in a Section 4-3A tilt that went back-and-forth at Waynesburg Central High School.
Southmoreland, who is in the driver’s seat to win the section championship with a record of 7-0, had an 11-8 lead after the first quarter before the Raiders (4-3, 6-11) took a 29-25 edge into halftime after outscoring the visitors, 21-14, in the second period.
A 21-10 advantage in the third quarter had the Scotties back in front heading into the fourth frame at 46-39. Waynesburg won the fourth quarter, 22-16, but fell short by one point for the second time this year against the section leaders.
The Raiders’ Jackson Dean had a game-high 23 points. Teammate Cole Headlee put in 14.
Southmoreland was paced by Noah Felentzer’s 20 points. Brock Pritts (18) and Brady Sherbondy (10) were in double figures for the Scotties.
CHARLEROI 63, MOUNT PLEASANT 59 — The Vikings battled back in the fourth quarter, but weren’t able to get over the hump in a Section 4-3A setback at Mount Pleasant Junior/Senior High School.
The Vikings (1-7, 5-15) trailed 48-31 after three quarters but outscored the visitors, 28-15, in the final period that cut into the Cougars’ lead, but Charleroi (4-3, 10-9) had built up too much of a lead.
The Cougars’ Xavion Thomas paced all scorers with 27 points. Jackson Keranko (11) and Brock Henderson (10) were also in double digits.
Gage Valone led Mount Pleasant in scoring with 14 points. Ray Arrigo put in 10.
LIGONIER VALLEY 73, BROWNSVILLE 51 — The Rams jumped out early and cruised to a Section 4-3A triumph over the Falcons at Ligonier Valley High School.
Ligonier Valley (5-2, 10-8) had a 20-12 lead after the first quarter and a 32-18 halftime advantage. The Rams edged Brownsville, 20-18, in the third quarter, and 21-15 in the fourth.
Ligonier Valley had a pair score over 20 points in Michael Vargulish (26) and Michael Wisniewski (23).
The Falcons’ Cameron Phillips scored 17 points.
FRAZIER 60, CALIFORNIA 36 — Kolby Stewart scored 28 points and the Commodores rolled to a Section 1-2A triumph at Henry DiVirgilio Field House.
Frazier (3-8, 7-11) had a 17-6 lead after the first quarter and a 26-14 halftime advantage. The Trojans had a 16-14 edge in the third period, but the home team outscored the visitors, 20-6, in the fourth frame.
The Commodores’ Austin Stewart (15) and Brant Alekson (13) were in double figures.
Chase Shemansky led California in scoring with 13 points.
CHARTIERS-HOUSTON 58, BETH-CENTER 35 — The section-leading Buccaneers were too much for the Bulldogs in a 3-2A triumph at Beth-Center High School.
Chartiers-Houston (12-0, 17-3) had a 19-7 lead after the first quarter and never looked back. The Bucs had a 30-16 halftime advantage, and a 45-26 lead after the third period. The visitors outscored the home team, 13-9, in the final frame.
Chartiers-Houston had four players in double figures, and were led by Bryson Boskovich’s 14 points. Brody McCrerey added 12. Aaron Walsh and Wes Yeater scored 11 points apiece.
Jason Zellie led the Bulldogs (6-6, 10-10) in scoring with 13 points.
CARMICHAELS 67, MAPLETOWN 35 — The Mikes had a trio of double-figure scorers in a Section 3-2A victory at Carmichaels Area High School.
Scott Maskil led the game with 20 points. Alex Toth had 11 and Chase Ankrom 10.
The Mikes (3-9, 4-14) won the first three quarters by scores of 28-12, 11-7 and 20-6 before the Maples had a 10-8 edge in the fourth period.
Colton Taylor led Mapletown in scoring with nine points.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
WEST GREENE 46, CLAIRTON 27 — The Lady Pioneers turned an eight-point game at halftime into a comfortable victory in Section 2-1A play at Clairton High School.
West Greene (8-3, 13-5) outscored the Lady Bears, 21-3, in the third quarter for a 42-16 advantage heading into the fourth. Clairton (3-8, 6-9) won the final frame, 11-4.
The Lady Pioneers had a 10-4 advantage in the first quarter and an 11-9 edge in the second period.
West Greene has qualified for the WPIAL playoffs for the 10th straight season.
The Lady Pioneers were led in scoring by Madelyn Roberts’ 16 points. Teammate Kendra Tharp added 11. Tharp had eight rebounds.
Karma Fuqua led the Lady Bears in scoring with 15 points.
BALDWIN 66, UNIONTOWN 60 — The Lady Red Raiders battled back in the second half, but couldn’t rally past the Lady Highlanders in Section 4-5A play at Baldwin High School.
Uniontown (2-7, 9-9) trailed second-place Baldwin, 39-24, at halftime, but had an 18-13 advantage in the third quarter, and won the fourth period, 18-14.
Lynsey Bernotas led the Lady Highlanders (8-2, 16-3) and the game in scoring with 27 points. Teammate Julianne Ott added 11.
Lyric McLee paced the visitors in scoring with 19 points. The Lady Red Raiders’ Aierra Jenkins had 18, and Charley Murtha chipped in with 11.
PETERS TOWNSHIP 63, ALBERT GALLATIN 16 — The Lady Indians earned a home victory over the Lady Colonials in Section 4-5A action at AHN Arena on the campus of Peters Township High School.
Ally Froelich led Peters Township (4-6, 10-9) in scoring with 12 points.
CALIFORNIA 42, CARMICHAELS 12 — The Lady Trojans took control in the second quarter and cruised to a Section 3-2A win at Carmichaels Area High School.
Lila Mitchell led California (6-1, 9-8) and the game in scoring with 19 points.
Ke’Lani Chun put in four points for the Lady Mikes.
McGUFFEY 40, BROWNSVILLE 33 — The Lady Highlanders gradually pulled away from the Lady Falcons in a Section 3-3A triumph at Brownsville Area High School.
McGuffey (7-3, 12-8) had a 12-0 lead after the first quarter and a 18-15 halftime advantage. The visitors won the third and fourth quarters by scores of 11-9.
Brownsville’s Ava Clark had 19 points to lead all scorers.
Mykenna Meighen led the Lady Highlanders in scoring with 12 points. Teammate Elianna Janovich had 11.
YOUGH 52, SOUTHMORELAND 36 — The Lady Cougars took off after a close first quarter in a Section 3-4A win over the Lady Scotties at Yough High School.
After both teams scored 16 points in the opening stanza, Yough used a 12-5 advantage for a 28-21 lead at halftime. The Lady Cougars outscored the visitors, 20-8, in the third period.
Southmoreland had a 7-4 edge in the fourth frame.
Yough’s Brooke Kowalski put in a game-high 18 points. Teammates Daisey Miller (13) and Carly Fitzgibbons (10) were in double digits.
Ashley Seder paced the Lady Scotties with 10 points.