WPIAL Basketball Playoff Recaps for Friday, February 13th

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, February 14, 2015 | 12:30 AM

The curtain has gone up on the 2015 WPIAL Basketball Playoffs with Preliminary Round and First Round action from Boys Class AAA, Boys Class A, Girls Class AAAA and Girls Class AA. There were no surprises as First Round winners move on to the Quarterfinals next Friday while Preliminary Round victors prepare for Round One on Tuesday. Here are recaps from the nine boys and nine girls games on Friday the 13th.

A special thanks to Paul Paterra, Brian Mroziak, Mark Schaas, Sean Meyers, Lou Rood, Steve Nagler, Mike Azadian, Scott Briggs, Mike Sackley, Josh Rowntree, Lanfer Simpson, Matt Vandriak, Lanny Frattare, Bob Orkwis and Bob Barrickman for their help on these recaps.

Boys WPIAL CLASS AAA Preliminary Round:

Laurel Highlands Mustangs 47 – Montour Spartans 43 
A senior-laden Laurel Highlands team had to fend off a late run from a young Montour squad Friday night at Peters Township High School, but the Mustangs prevailed in the Class AAA preliminary round game 47-43. LH led by as much as 19 early in the 4th quarter, but Montour made a strong run late, forcing numerous turnovers and getting some big three-point shots from multiple players, including freshman KJ Rhodes who led all scorers with 17 points. The Spartans did not make a three-point shot until late in the 3rd quarter, but once they started hitting from beyond the arc, it helped build momentum and nearly got them a win. Laurel Highlands got off to a quick start, finding space in the paint against Montour’s defense early in the game. The Mustangs were able to keep a steady lead in the 1st half despite their leading scorer, sophomore Jake Swartz, having to sit the bench after two early fouls. Swartz finished with seven points on the night. Senior forward David Rusko and sophomore forward Hudson Novak picked up the slack. Rusko led all Mustang scorers with 13 points. Novak had 10. Senior guard Tyler Eadie also had 10 for the Mustangs. While Laurel Highlands held a decent lead much of the way, the Spartans closed in the end, forcing LH into sloppy turnovers. Eventually, the Mustangs were able to cycle the ball late in the 4th quarter, eating valuable time off the clock and keeping Montour from making a full comeback. A young Montour team ends its season at (9-14) overall, with a lot of promise ahead. Laurel Highlands improves to (13-10) and becomes the #16 seed in Class AAA. They move on to face top-seeded Mars Tuesday night at Fox Chapel High School.

Knoch Knights 45 – Greensburg-Salem Golden Lions 37 
Lions & Tigers & …. Oh … The Knoch Knights battled past the Greensburg Golden Lions Friday night and now face the Tigers of Beaver Falls in the first round of the WPIAL class AAA Basketball Playoffs on Tuesday night at North Allegheny. Knoch jumped out to a 7-0 lead – and never trailed despite constant comebacks by the Golden Lions.  The Knights led 10-4 after one, but Greensburg-Salem closed the gap to 17-14 at the half.  The Knights used a 12-4 third quarter to expand the lead they would never lose, despite a frantic comeback but the Golden Lions in the 4th.  The Knoch lead would dwindle to 4 late in the game, but six consecutive free-throws – 2 by junior point guard Aiden Albert, and 4 from sophomore big-man P.J. Gourley – locked in the lead for the Knights. Knoch won the game 45-37.  It was the 15th time this season Knoch held a team to less than 50 points. Greensburg- Salem’s Delaine Hughes, playing in his final game, was the contest’s leading scorer with 12 points – 9 of those in the 4th frame. His teammate Caleb Key netted 11 in the loss.  Senior Matt Zanella led Knoch with 11, but it was the Knight’s underclassmen who hit the big buckets at the end – Sophomores Gourley, Jackson McKee and Mac Christy, accounted for 12 of winner’s 16 fourth quarter points. Knoch, one of four Section 1 teams to be in the final 16, face the #2 seeded Beaver Falls Tigers next – Oh My!

Southmoreland Scotties 50 – West Allegheny Indians 44 
The Southmoreland boys basktball team defeated West Allegheny 50-44, in a class AAA WPIAL preliminary playoff game at Baldwin High School. The Scotties outscored the Indians14 to 5 in the third quarter on way to building a 15-point fourth quarter lead.  However, West Allegheny, thanks to the shooting of senior Andrew Koester, struggled back to within 2 before Southmoreland pulled away in the later stages of the game. Koester, who led all scorers with 19 points, posted 15 in the fourth period. Sophomore Tommy Pisula, the top Southmoreland scorer, had 14 points. Southmoreland, which was 0 and 21 two years ago, is 18 and 5 this season. The win was the first for a Southmoreland boys basketball team in nearly 9 years. The Scotties advance to meet the AAA #3 seeded Hampton Talbots Tuesday evening in the WPIAL first round.

Highlands Golden Rams 89 – West Shamokin Wolves 55
Highlands used a tenacious offensive onslaught to grab a convincing 89-55 AAA Boys Preliminary Round win over West Shamokin on Friday night at Plum High School. Four of the Golden Rams’ starters scored 15 or more points and Highlands won the rebounding battle 37-16. Mitch Dezort led all players with 21 points, including 13 in a decisive third quarter that saw Highlands put the game away. Kaison Branch (16 points), LaMontae Martin (16) and Brayden Thimons (15) all hit double figures for the Golden Rams as well. Scott Przybysz led the Wolves with 17 points, while Ryan Dean added 14.  The win propels the Golden Rams (12-11) into the WPIAL AAA First Round, where they will meet #4 West Mifflin on Tuesday at 8pm at Baldwin High School. This was reportedly the final game at West Shamokin for head coach Mike Hagy, who informed his team earlier in the year that this was the final season for the 15th year leader of the Wolves.

Boys WPIAL Class A Preliminary Round:

Serra Catholic Eagles 67 – Geibel Catholic Gators 38 
Serra Catholic stormed out to a 23-7 lead at the end of the first quarter and never looked back. Joe Satira paced Serra Catholic with 35 points. Nate Andrews chipped in with 13. James Ewing lead Geibel, which had only four players score, with 15 points, 14 in the first half. Kyle Toth added 11 for Geibel and Bailey Miller pitched in with 10. Serra Catholic advances to take on top-seeded Sewickley Academy Tuesday night.

Boys WPIAL Class A First Round:

Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans 63 – Winchester Thurston Bears 51 
In a rematch from the 2014 Class A playoffs, once again the Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans defeated the Winchester Thursday Bears in the first round of the Class A Boys Basketball Playoffs.  But, this time, it wasn’t as easy.  The Trojans built a 21-10 lead in the 2nd quarter before seeing the Bears rattle off 8-straight points to cut the lead to 21-18.  It wasn’t until the Trojans got two late first half 3-pointers from Timon Gribbon and Tom Braun that gave the Trojans some breathing room at the break, 30-24.  While the Trojans were able extend their lead to double-digits in the 3rd quarter, the never-say-die Bears cut back into the lead in the 4th quarter.  Winchester Thurston outscored CW North Catholic 7-1 to begin the final quarter which cut the lead to 47-41.  But, the Trojans were too tough in the end as Vince LaGrande (18 points) and his teammates were able to salt away the victory with big buckets and clutch foul shooting down the stretch.  Tristan Newcamp (13) and Isiah Harvin (12) contributed mightily to the Trojans victory while Tyler Coleman’s 18 points led the way for the Bears.  Max Calhoun added 17 points for Winchester Thurston as well.  The Bears end their season with a strong 11-8 record while the Trojans (14-8) advance to the quarterfinals and will take on 5th seeded Jeannette next Friday.

Jeannette Jayhawks 66 – Riverview Raiders 42 
Jeannette’s mastery of Riverview continued in this opening round matchup from Yough High School.  The Jayhawks won their 5th consecutive game over the Raiders behind another big game from Julian Batts.  Batts led all scorers with 30 points, as the Jayhawks jumped out to an early lead and never looked back.  Jeannette lead 15-5 after the first quarter, and 32-19 at the half.  They’d push that lead to 53-30 after the 3rd quarter behind Batts, who has scored 30 or more points in 2 of last 3 meetings on the hardwood between these schools. Mike Pompei added 10 points for Jeannette, while James Malik came off the bench to pull down 7 rebounds.  Nico Sero led Riverview with 15 points, while Ben Lazor added 13 in the losing effort.  With the win, Jeannette improves to 14 and 7 on the season and will move on to face #4 seed Cardinal Wuerl-North Catholic in the Quarterfinals next Friday night.  Riverview, who was back in the post season for the first time since the 2011-12 season, finished the year at 10 and 12.

Vincentian Academy Royals 82 – Imani Christian Saints 55 
The Royals placed all five starters in double figures and forced 42 turnovers with their trapping defense to advance to the quarterfinals. Vincentian Academy set the tone in the opening quarter, jumping out to a 25-14 lead and really never looked back. The Saints would be as close as 13 points in the second quarter but the Royals used a 13-0 run to pull away and led by as many as 30 in the second half. Jamison Nee and Jack Monahan each scored 15 points, Jay Cortese added 14 and 10 rebounds. Ryan Wolf also scored 14 and Ian Taylor tacked on 11 points. Vincentian Academy is now 15-8 on the season, the Royals shot 28 of 64 from the floor. Jasmyn Mitchell led the Saints with 20 points and 12 rebounds, Makis Rivera added 15 points and 9 boards. Malik Allen scored 10 points and grabbed 11 off the glass. Imani Christian shot 25 of 48 for the game, but just 1 of 8 from outside the arc. The Saints finish the season at 8-13.

Cornell Raiders 67 – Jefferson-Morgan Rockets 52 
Tonight’s game between the Raiders of Cornell and the Rockets of Jefferson-Morgan was a great matchup of just what you would expect coming in as a 6 and 10 seed in the WPIAL A boys playoffs. Cornell jumped out to an early lead behind the star talent of PITT recruit Dane Jackson. It looked as in my be a run away, but some great 3 point shooting by Austin Clark kept the Rockets within 5 at the half. The second half adjustments by Cornell allowed them to start to pull away midway through the 3rd quarter. Rece Henneman tried to bring the rockets back into in the 4th. However, the Raiders were just too much to handle tonight. Jackson led all scoring with 27. Clark and Henneman each scored 15 for Jefferson-Morgan.

GIRLS WPIAL CLASS AAAA First Round:

Bethel Park Black Hawks 51 – Hempfield Spartans 36 
The WPIAL Girls Basketball AAAA first round game between the #4 seed Bethel Park and the #13 seed Hempfield was actually much closer than the final score indicated.  Hempfield led at the end of one 12-9, trailed by 3 at the half 22-19, and by 2 at the end of 3, 31-29 before Bethel Park outscored them 20- 7 in the 4th quarter.  The Lady Blackhawks nailed 13 of 18 from the free throw line in the decisive period to put the game out of reach. Mia Mattes was 7-8 from the charity stripe in the fourth and Justina Mascaro was 3-4 as Hempfield was forced to foul and Bethel Park made them pay.  Mascaro led all scorers in the game with 18 points and was helped by Shannon Conely and Mattes 13 points apiece.  Leah Knizner led Hempfield with 16 points followed by Aubree Halusic with 12 and Lexi Irwin with 8.  The win was the 16th in a row for Bethel Park who ran their record to 19-4 and will play Pine Richland in the next round.  The Lady Rams defeated McKeesport 56-43. Hempfield will close its season at 14-9.

Pine-Richland Rams 56 – McKeesport Tigers 43
Sophomore Amanda Kalin scored 31-points for Pine-Richland as the Knights advanced to the WPIAL Girls AAAA Quarterfinals with the 56-43 win at Fox Chapel High School. Kalin, a (5-8) sophomore who is headed to Rutgers on a soccer scholarship, went 9-of-11 from the free throw line, pulled down 4-rebounds and added 3 steals in the victory. Kalin averaged 20 PPG during the regular season. McKeesport led 6-4 in the 1st quarter before the Rams went on 1 24-6 run which helped Pine-Richland lead by 17 at halftime. The 12th seeded Tigers would not quit, largely due to their advantage on the boards. However, McKeesport could get no closer to the Rams than 8-points in the fourth quarter. Sophomore forward Johnasia Cash had a game-high 14 rebounds to go with 10-points before fouling out. Senior T.T. Burke posted a double-double with 11-points and 12-rebounds. Ronnie Upsher had only 2-points but added 8-rebounds while largely guarding Kalin man-to-man in the contest. Senior guard Nassiah Bray led McKeesport (13-8) with 15-points while adding 3-steals. Sophomore Caitlyn Byerly finished with 9-points for the Rams while junior Chelsea Rourke added 7 for Pine-Richland who improved to (19-4) with the win. The 5th Seeded Rams have won 16 of their last 18 games. Next up for Pine-Richland in the quarterfinals is 4th seeded Bethel Park, a 51-36 winner over Hempfield. The Blackhawks, also (19-4) on the season are the section champions from AAAA/4 and Bethel Park will take a 16-game winning streak into the matchup which will take place next Friday February 20th at a site & time to be determined. 

Norwin Knights 66 – Plum Mustangs 48
Trailing 9-8 after an early Plum basket in the second quarter, Norwin went on a 12-0 run to take control of the game and the Knights never looked back defeating the Mustangs 66-48 at Fox Chapel High School in the 1st Round of the WPIAL Girls AAAA Playoffs. Norwin outscored Plum in the second quarter and held Courtney Zezza to 2-first half points and 2 rebounds to lead by 16 points at halftime. Junior guard Alayna gribble paced the Knights in the win with 24-points and 10-rebounds. Gribble came into the game averaging 18 PPG. No other Knight scored in double figures although senior guard Amanda Batey finished with 9-points and was all over the floor for Norwin on defense. Junior Taylor Sabol pulled down 7 rebounds to go with 6-points to help the Knights cause. Sophomore Danielle McMaster added 8-points of the bench for Norwin. Zezza, who is headed to St. Francis (PA) to play basketball in college, did finish strong, ending with 19-points and 8-rebounds. The 6-3 senior finished her career with 1,098 points. Junior guard Ashley Amato added 13-points and 3 steals for Plum while Mandy Majocha added 12-points. The 14th seeded Mustangs season ends at (12-11). Third-seeded Norwin advances to the quarterfinals for the second consecutive season. The Knights improved to (18-4) and will face sixth-seeded Shaler next Friday February 20th. The Titans defeated Upper St. Clair 63-38 to improve to (19-4) and earn a spot on the quarterfinals.

Shaler Titans 63 – Upper St. Clair Panthers 38 
The 6th seeded Shaler Titans rode an 18-0 run in the first half to victory as they outshined the Upper St. Clair Panthers in the first round of the Class AAAA Girls Basketball Playoffs.  The Titans, who trailed 9-8 with just over two minutes left in the first quarter, scored the final 5 points of the quarter to take a 13-9 lead.  They then shut out the Panthers in the 2nd quarter while scoring 13 points of their own to assume a 26-9 lead at the halftime break.   And, while the Panthers got two early 3-pointers from Rachel Mazzie and Madison Serio to begin the 3rd quarter, the young Titans never wavered and actually extended their lead at the end of the 3rd quarter by outscoring USC 22-10 in the quarter.  Shaler was led by freshman Gia Thorpe who scored a game-high 26 points, twenty coming in the second half.  Andi Lydon (12) and Liz Kline (10) also scored in double-digits for the Titans.  Alli Steve paced the Panthers with 11 points while Serio added 10.  With the loss, the Panthers season ends with a 13-10 record.  The Titans (19-4) advance to the quarterfinals and will now face the Norwin Knights next week.

GIRLS WPIAL CLASS AA Preliminary Round:

West Shamokin Wolves 42 – Charleroi Cougars 32 
The West Shamokin girls’ team capitalized on a cold shooting second half by Charleroi, as the Wolves scored a 42-32 victory in Class AA Preliminary Round play at Plum Senior High School. After trailing by 24-20 at halftime, the Wolves used a 9-0 run to start the third quarter to take command. West Shamokin’s success was keyed by a dominant performance on the glass, as it rebounded Charleroi 45-19 in the contest. To compound the Cougars’ problems, Charleroi was held without a field goal in the second half until the closing seconds of regulation. Andrea Orlosky netted 15 points for the Wolves in the triumph, while Katie Glover added 10. In the defeat, Jen Tilghman paced the Cougars with 12 points. With the win, West Shamokin earns the No. 16 seed, and will face top seeded Seton-LaSalle on Tuesday.

Freedom Bulldogs 43 – Brentwood Spartans 38 
A 16-0 RUN IN THE FIRST HALF CATAPULTED THE FREEDOM LADY BULLDOGS TO A 43-38 VICTORY OVER BRENTWOOD IN A WPIAL AA GIRLS PRELIMINARY GAME FRIDAY AT HAMPTON.  THE LADY SPARTANS JUMPED DWOUT TO A 17-5 EARLY LEAD BEFORE FREEDOM SCORED THE NEXT 16 POINTS.  DEANNA DROBKA PACED THE BULLDOGS WITH 16 POINTS WHILE MADI DAUBENSPECK ADDED 15.  MOLLY HUFFMAN AND ALECIA FOLINO LED BRENTWOOD WITH 11 POINTS EACH.  THE SPARTANS FINISHED THEIR SEASON AT 11-10.  FREEDOM IS NOW 11-12 AND WILL PLAY SETON-LASALLE ON TUESDAY.

Frazier Commodores 56 – Apollo-Ridge Vikings 53 
The Frazier Lady Commodores overcame an early 15 to 2 deficit and rallied back to defeat Apollo Ridge 56 to 53 in a Girls “AA” Preliminary Round game on Friday Night at Yough High School.  The rally back was in part due to Frazier Junior Alena Blaszcak who came off the Commodores bench with her team down 13, 4 minutes into the game and connected on 3, 3 pointers in the 1st half and had 12 points at halftime.  Frazier pulled back to within 18 to 13 of Apollo Ridge after 1 quarter of play and managed to outscore the Vikings 16 to 6 in the 2nd quarter to lead at halftime 29 to 24.  The Commodores never trailed in the 2nd half and got help from Senior Guard Jamie Muccioli who connected on 5 of 6 free throws and scored 7, 4th quarter points to help her team seal the win.  Apollo Ridge got a spirited effort in the 4th quarter from Senior Julia Demeno who scored 14 of her game high 23 points in the 4th quarter, but Demeno missed on a drive inside in the final 10 seconds and Frazier Sophomore Hannah Fell came out of the pack with the loose ball to send Frazier to a 6:30pm Tuesday Matchup with #4 Seed Carlynton at Canon McMillan High School.  Apollo Ridge ends their season with a 13-10 record.  Frazier’s record improves to 13-8 with the win.

Beth-Center Bulldogs 59 – Avonworth Antelopes 45 
At Peters Township high school in WPIAL girls AA preliminary round action the Beth Center Bulldogs defeat the Avonworth Antelopes 59-45. They advance to the first round and will play Greensburg Central Catholic on Tuesday February 17th at Peters Township High School. The game was a close affair in the first quarter  as the Antelopes Anna Joyce hit three 3 point baskets, and the Bulldogs Ali Trippy had 4points to pace  their respective teams and it was 14-11 Avonworth after one quarter. Beth Center took off in the second quarter led  by Kinlee Whited and Madison Darney who both had 4 points. Joyce hit two more three’s for the Lopes and Freshman Nicole Costa poured in 5 points to help, but Avonworth would trail 29-27 at the half. Beth Center with 3 senior starters, a junior, and one Freshman starting had experience and bench depth. Avonworth with not a senior on the roster of first year coach Toni Roscoe started one junior, three sophomores and a freshman, with a freshman as their 6th man. They hung tough in the 3rd quarter behind Kathryn Gould’s 4 points, but trailed 39-36 going into the 4th quarter. Beth Center was led by senior star Anna Bartman with 8 points in the quarter including two 3 point goals. The fourth quarter was all Bulldogs as Bartman poured in 8, and Whited hit 7 free throws as Beth Center pulled away outscoring Avonworth 20-9 to win by fourteen, 59–45. Bartman had 24, and Whited 16 for Beth Center, for Avonworth Joyce led them with 18, on 6 three pointers. Gould would add 11 for the Lopes. Bulldog head coach and Stephen Beyer in his 16th year proudly said after the game “Im very proud of these girls, I give them all the credit here tonite, we played a good team and were going to take some time to celebrate before I get ready for our next game’

Washington Little Prexies 46 – Shenango Wildcats 39 
Wash High hung on for the win, despite going 2 of 8 from the foul line in the fourth quarter. Senior Taylor Ellis drained four three pointers, the final one coming after the Wildcats had cut the lead to four on a Sam Seaburn basket with 3:50 to play. Ellis scored 12 points for Washington, now 14-9. The Little Prexies won Section 4-AA but were the only section champion forced to play a preliminary round game. The Little Prexies were able to take a 12 point lead in the second quarter, Nicole Hoffman hit a three pointer, Wash High was 6 of 13 behind the arc and shot 16 of 39 for the game. Gordon led the way with 14 points, Mikala Maltony scored 10 points, 7 rebounds and added 4 blocked shots. Emmalea Beck grabbed nine rebounds, Wash High outrebounded Shenango 36-32. Shenango struggled all night from the field, going 4 of 19 in the final quarter, the Cats were 19 of 58 for the game, including 2 of 15 from behind the arc. Seaburn scored 14 points to lead Shenango, she also grabbed 8 boards. Angelina Sibeto added 10 points and 9 rebounds, Jacqui Baker scored the first six points of the game for the Wildcats, she finished with nine points and six boards.  Shenango finishes the season at 12-10, but returns four of five starters next season.