Dec 27, 2018 6 min read

GIRLS BASKETBALL

North Catholic 65, Trinity 54: Four players scored in double figures as North Catholic to defeated Trinity, 65-54, in the Penn Hills tournament.

It ends a 90-game streak by Trinity of not allowing opponents from Pennsylvania to eclipse 60 points in a single game. The last time the Hillers surrendered 60-plus points to a team within the state was a 68-59 loss to McGuffey on Feb. 26, 2015.

Tess Myers led North Catholic (6-0) with 14 points. Cassie Foster and Kylee Lewandowski each scored 13 points. Belle O’Hara was the final player in double figures for the Trojans with 11 points.

Trinity (4-3) cut the deficit multiple times in the second half but failed to capture the lead. Kaylin Venick scored a team-high 13 points. Julia Chakos finished with 10 points, while Marlaina Bozek and Courtney Dahlquist each had nine.

The loss ends the Hillers’ three-game winning streak.

Mapletown 37, California 28: Mapletown outscored California by 15 points in the second half to complete the comeback victory and avenge an early season loss by downing the Trojans, 37-28, in the Bentworth tournament.

The Maples, who won their second consecutive game to improve to 2-4 overall, lost to California, 49-40, in a section game Dec. 13.

Abby Antill and Kayla Smith both scored in double figures for Mapletown, which trailed 18-11 at halftime. Antill scored a game-high 15 points. Smith finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Sydney Smichnick scored 10 points for California (3-4).

Northgate 50, Avella 44: Holding a seven-point lead entering the final quarter, Avella was outscored 24-11 in the final eight minutes as the Eagles fell to Northgate, 50-44, in the Rochester tournament.

A 17-point second quarter made up for a sluggish start for Avella (5-2) as it took a 22-17 into halftime.

Cierra Mason scored a game-high 25 points in the comeback victory for Northgate (3-4), helping end a three-game losing streak. Shayla Stiegler also scored 16 points.

Jordan Rush led the Eagles, who saw its four-game winning streak end, with 17 points.

Laurel Highlands 64, Monessen 30: Taylor Smith used four three-pointers and outscored the entire Monessen team with 36 points as tournament host Laurel Highlands defeated the Greyhounds 64-30.

Laurel Highlands (3-4), which halted its three-game skid, quickly took and kept the lead with a big first half. The Mustangs held a 37-16 advantage at halftime.

Lori Miller also scored 14 points for Laurel Highlands.

Monessen (1-7) was led by Sydney Caterino’s seven points.

Waynesburg 48, Geibel Catholic 16: Waynesburg didn’t allow a point in the first quarter as the Raiders built an early lead and cruised past Geibel Catholic 48-16 in an opening round game at the King Coal Lions’ Christmas Tournament.

Waynesburg (4-3) led 9-0 after the first quarter and 17-6 at halftime before finding an offensive rhythm with 31 second-half points.

Emma Mankey was the only player to score in double figures for either team, pacing Waynesburg with 12 points.

Geibel Catholic falls to 0-8 overall.

McGuffey 36, Fort Cherry 22: Abby Donnelly and Keira Nicolella led McGuffey offensively as the host Highlanders stifled Fort Cherry on defense for a 36-22 victory.

Donnelly led all scorers with 11 points, while Nicolella scored 10 for the Highlanders, who improve to 3-5 overall.

Abby Cooper and McKenzie Faure paced Fort Cherry (4-4) with six points each.

South Fayette 61, Ambridge 43: Clare Relihan made six three-pointers as South Fayette used a 26-point second quarter to defeat Ambridge, 61-43, in the Bethel Park tournament.

Leading all scorers with 26 points, Relihan helped the Lions take a 34-17 lead into halftime. Maura Castelluci provided secondary scoring for South Fayette (7-1) with 15 points.

The lone offensive threats for Ambridge (3-3) were Aniya Walekr and Dasha Jackson. The two combined two scored 38 of the Bridgers’ 43 points, each finished with 19.

Beth-Center 71, Propel Braddock Hills 6: Not allowing more than two points in any of the four quarters, Beth-Center routed Propel Braddock Hills, 71-6, in the California University Hoopfest tournament.

After the teams went to the break with the Bulldogs holding a 53-2 lead, the second half was played with a running clock.

All 10 players scored for Beth-Center (4-3), including a team-high 20 points from Elizabeth Trump. Olivia Greco had eight steals and seven assists to go along with her 17 points. Anna Sloan scored 12 points.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Burgettstown 67, Avonworth 65: All five starters for Burgettstown scored in double figures as the Blue Devils held off a fourth-quarter rally to defeat Avonworth, 67-65, in the Avella tournament.

The Antelopes couldn’t fully erase their 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter despite outscoring Burgettstown (4-3) 17-8 in the final eight minutes.

Deon Thomas led the Avonworth (4-2) comeback with a game-high 19 points. Turner Grau also scored 18 points for the Antelopes.

The balanced scoring effort from the Blue Devils was led by Dylan Poirier and Cole Shergi with 14 and 13 points, respectively. The other three starters for Burgettstown, Bobby Kozares, Dante Gianfrancesco and Scott Ferris, each finished with 10 points.

Chartiers-Houston 55, Fort Cherry 51: Scoring 16 points in both the third and fourth quarters, Chartiers-Houston rallied from a slow start to defeat Fort Cherry, 55-51, in the Avella tournament.

The Bucs outscored Fort Cherry (0-6) 32-25 in the second half, enough to erase their slim three-point deficit at the half.

Evan Simpson scored a team-high 14 points for Chartiers-Houston (4-4). Christian Berry and Austin Arnold each finished with 11 points.

Brendan Anderson led the Rangers with 15 points. Noah Babirad scored 11.

Carmichaels 76, Mapletown 50: Carmichaels found its offense in the second quarter as the Mikes downed Mapletown, 76-50, during the opening day of the  King Coal Lions’ Christmas Tournament.

With a one-point lead after the first quarter, Carmichaels (5-2) outscored the Maples 29-8 in the next eight minutes to blow the game open.

The Mikes were paced by Garrett Ponick, who led all scorers with 18 points. Matt Barrish scored 16 and Al Cree finished with 14 for Carmichaels.

Ryan Tuttle scored 17 points for Mapletown (0-7).

California 73, West Greene 42: Malik Ramsey led all scorers with 19 points as California defeated visiting West Greene 73-42 in a non-section game.

The Trojans extended their lead in the second quarter, outscoring West Greene 16-6 and taking a 31-18 halftime lead.

Jaeden Zuzak scored 12 points for California (6-2), which has won five of its last six games.

Nathan Brudnock led West Greene (2-6) with 18 points.