Feb 5, 2019 8 min read

Scoring the opening 15 points of the game, Washington quickly erased any thoughts of an upset to defeat Beth-Center, 56-28, and clinch a share of the Class 3A Section 4 title Tuesday night.

The Prexies, who led 28-6 at halftime, were led by Dan Ethridge’s 12 points.

Washington (10-1, 12-7) also outscored the Bulldogs in the final two quarters.

Andrew Bower led Beth-Center (2-8, 8-11) with seven points.

McGuffey 74, Charleroi 61: McGuffey responded in a big way after a sluggish first quarter, going on a 23-point run to begin the second that sparked a 74-61 victory over Charleroi in Class 3A Section 4 game.

The win keeps the Highlanders’ chances alive for a share of the section championship. They play Washington, which already clinched a share of the section with a win over Beth-Center, at 7:30 p.m., Friday night.

Trailing 12-3 after the first quarter, McGuffey (9-2, 14-6) took a 26-12 lead after the 23 consecutive points. Three players, including two with career highs, sparked at least 20 points in each of the final three quarters for the Highlanders. C.J. Cole scored 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Ethan Janovich had 18 points and Dylan Summers scored 12, both career highs. Colin Walters scored nine points and added nine assists. Nate Witkosky also scored nine.

A fourth-quarter rally by Charleroi (7-4, 10-9) fell short, despite scoring 33 points in the final eight minutes.

Legend Davis led the Cougars with 16 points. Joe Caruso scored 15, Lee Zanardini had 11 and Zach Usher finished with 10.

Belle Vernon 72, Elizabeth Forward: 64: Three players from Belle Vernon had double-doubles and the Leopards controlled the middle two quarters to defeat Elizabeth Forward, 72-64, and earn a berth into the WPIAL playoffs.

Belle Vernon (4-6, 7-14), which started the season 2-12 but won five of its last seven, outscored the Warriors 38-23 in the second and third quarters to take command of the game.

Mitch Pohlot had 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Hunter Ruokonen scored 13 and had 10 rebounds. Cam Nusser scored 13 points and had 11 assists. Larry Callaway also scored 18 points for the Leopards.

Pat Filson and Chase Whatton led Elizabeth Forward (2-7, 6-14) with 22 and 19 points, respectively.

Uniontown 82, Waynesburg 65: Billy DeShields and Jahmere Richardson combined to score 50 points as Uniontown ended Waynesburg’s playoff hopes with an 82-65 victory in Class 4A Section 3.

A Belle Vernon win over Elizabeth Forward and a Waynesburg loss eliminates the Raiders’ playoff chances.

DeShields scored a team-high 29 points, while Richardson finished with 21 points.

Uniontown (9-0, 15-3), which already clinched the section title, raced out to a 45-26 halftime lead and cruised the rest of the way.

Lucas Garber scored a game-high 32 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Waynesburg (2-7, 9-12). Richard Bortz also had 12 points.

Chartiers-Houston 78, Bentworth 51: A big second quarter helped Chartiers-Houston take another step toward a WPIAL playoff berth as the Bucs defeated Bentworth, 78-51, in a Class 2A Section 2 game.

Anthony Tomassetti and Evan Simpson scored 23 of the Bucs’ 31 points in the second quarter as Chartiers-Houston (5-5, 10-9) took a 47-26 lead into the half.

Tomassetti led all scorers with 26 points. Simpson scored 17. Austin Arnold and Christian Berry each added 10 for C-H.

Bentworth (0-10, 0-19) was paced by Jason Burke’s 21 points. Shawn Dziak scored 12.

Monessen 87, West Greene 47: Devin Whitlock and Elijahwa Payne each scored 19 points as Monessen dominated the final three quarters to defeat West Greene in a Class A Section 2 game, 87-47.

Tied 14-14 after the first quarter, Monessen (11-0, 13-7) scored 27 points in the second quarter and 46 in the second half in the 40-point victory.

Dishon Howell and Zairik Anderson both scored 13 points for the Greyhounds.

Nathan Brudnock led West Greene (4-7, 6-12) with 18 points. Ben Jackson was also in double figures for the Pioneers with 13.

South Fayette 66, West Mifflin 34: A solid defensive effort was aided by balanced scoring attack to give South Fayette a 66-34 victory over West Mifflin and end a six-game losing streak in Class 5A Section 2.

The Lions hadn’t allowed an opponent to score 60 points since early January but hadn’t scored 60 points in a game since Jan. 11.

Drew Franklin led South Fayette (4-9, 8-11) with 14 points.

West Mifflin falls to 1-12 in the section and 3-17 overall.

Jeannette 56, California 50: Jackson Pruitt scored a game-high 23 points as Jeannette edged California in overtime, 56-50, in a Class 2A Section 2 game.

The Jayhawks outscored California (6-5, 11-7) by six points, 13-7, in overtime. Marcus Barnes also scored 11 points.

Malik Ramsey led the Trojans with 18 points. Austin Grillo added 10.

Jeff-Morgan 56, Avella 46: Devin Stoneking scored 20 points to lead Jefferson-Morgan to a 56-46 victory over Avella in a Section 2-A game.

Elijah Saeson contributed 12 points and Tahj Jacobs poured in 10 points for Jefferson-Morgan (3-7, ,5-15), which outscored Avella (4-7, 6-14) by a score of 20-7 in the third quarter.

Gabe Lis, Owen English and Tyler Derciello each scored 8 points for Avella.

Ringgold 60, South Park 49: Jaden Taylor poured in a game-high 24 points to power Ringgold to a 60-49 victory over South Park in a Section 3 game in Class 4A.

Luke Wyvratt had a double-double — 18 points and 16 rebounds — for the Rams (6-4, 13-6).

South Park (5-4, 8-11) was paced by Aidin Rongaus’ 14 points and Hunter Lindsay’s 13 points. 

Burgettstown 54, Shenango 52: Dante Gianfrancesco hit a floater at the buzzer to give Burgettstown a 54-52 victory over Shenango in a Section 3 game in Class 2A.

At first, it was not ruled the shot beat the buzzer but after a conference, the referees ruled it a good basket.

Gianfrancesco was one of three seniors to reach double figures on Senior Night with 14 points. Scott Ferris dropped in 18 points,  and Bob Kozares added 10 points for Burgettstown (3-8, 9-11).

Colin McQuiston scored a game-high 23 points and Ryan Perretti contributed 12 points for Shenango (6-5, 9-11).

West Allegheny 67, Trinity 51: A 14-4 run in the second quarter gave West Allegheny a 67-51 victory over Trinity in a Section 2 game in Class 5A.

Jackson Faulk scored 26 points, Scott Bilovious added 17 points and Zach Logan contributed 10 points for WA.

Michael Koroly led Trinity with 16 points. Mike Dunn had a double-double – 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Girls results

Mapletown 35, Monessen 28: In a win-and-in situation for both teams in their Class A Section 2 finale, Taylor Dusenberry scored a game-high 13 points as Mapletown clinched the final playoff berth with a 35-28 win over Monessen.

The Maples, who improve to 6-6 in the section and 11-9 overall, built their advantage by limiting Monessen to one point in the first quarter. They led 12-8 at halftime.

Monessen (5-7, 6-14), which was paced by Qitarah Hardison’s eight points, kept it close until the fourth quarter. The Greyhounds were outscored 14-9 in the finale eight minutes.

Kelsi Smith added seven points for Mapletown.

Upper St. Clair 45, Trinity 37: Jumping out to a 10-point lead after the opening quarter, Upper St. Clair defeated visiting Trinity, 45-37, in a non-section game.

The Panthers held Trinity (10-10) to four points in the first quarter and six in the second to lead 20-10 at halftime.

Sarah Price led Upper St. Clair (11-10) with 12 points. Lindsay Meyer added 10 points.

Courtney Dahlquist paced the Hilers’ offense that finally got going in the second half with 27 points. Dahlquist scored 17. In her second game back, Riley DeRubbo scored eight points in 16 minutes.

Frazier 64, Bentworth 36: Sierra Twigg and Brooke Poling combined for 34 points to lift Frazier over Bentworth, 64-36, in a Class 2A Section 3 game.

Twigg scored a game-high 18 points, while Poling finished with 16.

Frazier (9-2, 13-7) took a 36-22- lead into halftime.

Jocelyn Timlin led Bentworth (0-10, 1-18) with 12 points.

Seton-La Salle 38, Charleroi 33: Vanessa Hudson and Savannah Carr combined for 22 points as Seton-La Salle downed Charleroi, 38-33, in a Section 2 game in Class 3A.

Vanessa Hudson scored 12 points and Savannah Carr added 10 points for Seton-La Salle (10-3, 11-8), which led 18-14 at halftime.

Charleroi (1-12, 4-16) was paced by Cierra Gazi’s 14 points and Bella Skobel’s 12 points.

Burgettstown 51, Carmichaels 36: Burgettstown clinched a playoff berth in Section 3-AA with a 51-36 victory over Carmichaels.

Avery Havelka led the way with 16 points and Madison Kozares chipped in with 11 points for Burgettstown (6-5, 10-10), which led 26-11 at halftime.

Carmichaels (1-8, 5-14) was paced by Kylie Sinn, who scored 16 points. 

Monday Result

Burgettstown 37, Chartiers-Houston 23: A 13-3 run in the second quarter provided the cushion for Burgettstown to take a 37-23 victory over Chartiers-Houston in Section 3-AA

The win ties Burgettstown with C-H at 5-5 in the section.

Geena DeMario scored 14 points and Emily Prasko tossed in 10 points for Burgettstown (9-10), which led 21-7 at halftime.

The Bucs (7-12) were led by Dominique Mortimer’s 11 points.