Feb 22, 2017 2 min read

Center Joe Sabolek scored 16 points and Belle Vernon held Deer Lakes to three second-quarter points as the Leopards rolled to a 57-31 victory in a Class AAAA first-round playoff game Wednesday night at Gateway High School.

Belle Vernon (17-6), the SAection 3 champion, advances to play fourth-seeded Central Valley (13-9) in the quarterfinals Saturday. Central Valley had a first-round bye.

The Leopards led 12-10 after one quarter and took control of the game by outscoring Deer Lakes 11-3 in the second quarter. Belle Vernon pushed its lead to 41-22 after three quarters.

Belle Vernon had 10 players in the scoring column led by Sabolek.

Derek Thomas was the only other player to score in double figures as he finished with 10 points.

Josh Solomon led Deer Lakes (12-11) with eight points.

South Fayette 63, Freeport 60: South Fayette capped a good night for Section 3-AAAA by defeating Freeport 63-60 in a first-round game at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic.

South Fayette (13-10) rallied in the fourth quarter after trailing 32-30 at halftime and 47-45 after three quarters.

No game details were made available to the Observer-Reporter.

South Fayette advances to play second-seeded Quaker Valley (20-2) in the quarterfinals Saturday.

Section 3 teams went 3-1 on the night with the lone loss being Elizabeth Forward’s setback against Indiana.