Feb 24, 2015 4 min read

McMURRAY – Despite an overtime loss Monday night that ended its WPIAL Class A title hopes, California’s girls basketball team moved one step closer to its second consecutive appearance in the PIAA playoffs with a victory 24 hours later.

Sophomore forward Kylie Huffman and senior center Lyndsey Huhn combined for 32 points as the Trojans defeated Jefferson-Morgan, 59-42, in a WPIAL Class A consolation game at Peters Township High School.

California (23-2) advanced to the PIAA play-in game Thursday at Peters Township where it will face Serra Catholic. The winner will clinch the fifth and final seed in the PIAA Class A playoffs. The Rockets’ season ended with a 20-4 overall record with three losses to third-seeded Cal and a loss in the quarterfinals to No. 2 North Catholic.

“The team just didn’t want to see their season end,” California head coach Chris Minerd said. “They felt the disappointment of losing and they didn’t want that feeling again. Even though we can’t play for the WPIAL title, we have another tournament to play for.”

The Trojans bounced back after a loss to Riverview in the quarterfinals, but it did not happen without another scare.

There were seven lead changes in the final four minutes of the half, but the Trojans took a 25-24 lead into hafltime on Huhn’s two free throws. California then outscored J-M, 34-18, in the second half to extend its season.

The Rockets were led by sophomore Anna Mattish’s nine points.

“I told the team at halftime that if they didn’t want to see their season end, they’d have to win the second half,” Minerd said. “They responded.”

South Park 74, McGuffey 59: South Park used a 23-10 run to open the game to defeat McGuffey, 74-59, in a WPIAL Class AAA consolation game at North Hills.

Allison McGrath scored 22 points, Alyssa Greer 18, Natalie Clydesdale 18 and Brittany Andrews 12 for South Park, accounting for 70 of South Park’s 74 points.

The four-person attack was enough for South Park (15-11) to overcome a 34-point night from McGuffey senior Sammie Weiss, who was the lone Highlanders player in double figures.

With the win, South Park advances to play Beaver, a winner Tuesday night over Trinity, in the fifth-sixth place game.

McGuffey (18-8) will play the Hillers Thursday night at Canon-McMillan High School to decide which team wins the seventh, and final, spot from the WPIAL in the PIAA tournament. The two teams split in the regular season.

Monessen 85, Vincentian 73: Monessen went on a 13-0 run in the fourth quarter to break open a close game and earn a spot in the WPIAL Class A boys basketball finals with an 85-73 victory over Vincentian Academy in a semifinal game at Baldwin.

Lavalle Rush scored 31 points for the Greyhounds (19-6), who trailed 64-56 entering the fourth quarter and 67-62 with five minutes remaining in the game.

The win was the eighth-straight by the Greyhounds.

A three-pointer by Justice Rice with 3:24 remaining tied the game at 68, and the Greyhounds closed things out on a 17-5 run to earn a second-consecutive trip to the WPIAL final. The Greyhounds, who will play Jeannette at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Peterson Events Center, lost to Lincoln Park in the finals last year.

Justice Rice added 21 for the Greyhounds and Noah Rullo had 10. Rush pulled down 13 rebounds.

Jamison Nee scored 20 points for Vincentian (16-9).

Hampton 61, South Fayette 46: Four players scored in double figures to help Hampton roll past South Fayette, 61-48, in a WPIAL Class AAA play-in game Tuesday night at North Allegheny High School.

Jack Morrison led the way with 17 points for the Talbots (20-5), who outscored South Fayette, 20-5, in the third quarter. Joey Lafko tossed in 13 points, Dave Huber 11 and Anthony Ionadi 10.

Brett Brumbaugh was the only player in double figures for South Fayette (18-6) with 12 points.