PIAA basketball roundup: Marcus Hooker leads New Castle boys in rout of Fort LeBouf

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, March 9, 2018 | 10:54 PM

Marcus Hooker's all-around effort was on full display Friday night, as the Ohio State football recruit led the New Castle boys basketball team to an 80-48 win over District 10 fourth-place finisher Fort LeBouf (8-16) in the PIAA Class 4A first round at Butler.

Hooker had 21 points, seven steals, six rebounds and five assists for the WPIAL champion Red Hurricanes (22-4), who will play South Fayette in the second round Tuesday at a time and site to be determined.

Lorenzo Gardner added 18 points in the victory. New Castle made a 22-4 run in the second quarter.

Hickory 92, Belle Vernon 52 — The Belle Vernon boys basketball team appeared in its first state playoff game in 20 years Friday.

But Hickory was determined to make sure the Leopards' stay didn't last long.

The Hornets (21-5) held a 23-point advantage at halftime and added on in the second half en route to a convincing victory in a PIAA Class 4A first-round matchup at Sharon.

Brandon Beader (21), Donald Whitehead (17) and Jaylen Jarvie (14) combined for 52 points in the victory.

Joe Sabolek scored a team-high 19 points for Belle Vernon (18-7).

Hickory led 46-23 at halftime before outscoring the Leopards, 46-29, in the second half.

Johnstown 67, Indiana 59 — Gerrell Simon had 21 points to lead District 6 runner-up Johnstown (19-7) to a PIAA Class 4A first-round win at Forest Hills. Carlos Carter had 23 points to pace WPIAL fourth-place finisher Indiana (18-7).

Sharon 72, Valley 45 — The District 10 champion Tigers (24-2) rolled to the PIAA Class 4A first-round victory at Slippery Rock. Six-foot-8 Ethan Porterfield led four Sharon players in double figures with 17 points and Tristan Ballard had 13 rebounds. Valley (14-6), in the PIAA playoffs for the 14th time, was led by Dru Stokes with 14 points and Deonte Ross added 10.

South Fayette 55, Clearfield 44 — At St. Marys, Tim Locher had 16 points and Conner Mislan added 14 as WPIAL fifth-place finisher South Fayette (17-8) won a PIAA Class 4A first-round game.

Class 5A

Carrick 51, Hollidaysburg 39 — Lamar Lewis had 16 points to guide City League representative Carrick (20-5) to a PIAA Class 5A first-round win at Altoona. Ernest Howard had 12 points in the win.

Carrick will play Highlands in the second round.

Trinity 45, Cathedral Prep 42 — Joey Koroly scored 23 points to lift WPIAL third-place finisher Trinity (21-5) to a PIAA Class 5A first-round victory at Edinboro. The Hillers will play Mars in the second round.

Class A

Bishop Carroll 85, Imani Christian 76 — Ben Eckenrode had 21 points to lead District 6 champ Bishop Carroll (18-8) to a PIAA Class A first-round win over Imani Christian (13-11) at Central Cambria.

Eden Christian 30, Johnsonburg 28 — Led by Chase Haring's 13 points and 10 from Dylan Kingan, WPIAL sixth-place finisher Eden Christian (17-6) won a PIAA Class A first-round game at Clarion.

Kennedy Catholic 73, Propel Andrew Street 26 — Propel (17-7) fell behind 17-0 early on in a PIAA Class A first-round loss to District 10 champion Kennedy Catholic (19-4) at Slippery Rock.

Shade 67, Cornell 63 — Desmond Ross had 21 points for WPIAL third-place finisher Cornell (18-8), which fell to District 5 champion Shade (23-3) in a PIAA Class A first-round game at Pitt-Johnstown. Vince Fyock had 31 points for Shade.

Union 71, North Clarion 56 — In the PIAA Class A first round at Butler, Tre Charles had 35 points to guide WPIAL runner-up Union (18-6) to a victory. Union will play Kennedy Catholic in the second round.

Vincentian Academy 46, Cameron County 27 — WPIAL champion Vincentian Academy improved to 19-7 with a PIAA Class A first-round win over Cameron County (17-8) at Northgate. Vincentian will play Shade in the second round.

Girls basketball

Class 6A

Altoona 54, Mt. Lebanon 33 — Bridgid Fox had 21 points to guide District 6 runner-up Altoona (21-4) to a PIAA Class 6A first-round win at Tyrone. Haley Sabol had 12 points for Mt. Lebanon (13-13), the WPIAL's third-place finisher.

Bethel Park 44, Peters Township 35 — Tied at 17 at halftime, WPIAL fourth-place finisher Bethel Park (18-6) pulled ahead in the third quarter to secure a PIAA Class 6A first-round win at Canon-McMillan. The Black Hawks will play State College in the second round.

WPIAL runner-up Peters Township finished the season 21-5.

North Allegheny 46, Upper St. Clair 21 — Piper Morningstar had 18 points to guide WPIAL champion North Allegheny (26-0) to a PIAA Class 6A first-round win at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic. The Tigers will play Altoona in the second round Tuesday.

Class 3A

Bishop Canevin 62, Central Cambria 57 — Shamyjha Price scored 22 points and Brionna Allen added 13 to lead WPIAL champion Bishop Canevin (21-4) over Central Cambria (18-9) at Peters Township, the third consecutive year that the Crusaders have beaten the Red Devils in a PIAA first-round game.

Price scored eight points to fuel a 21-point fourth quarter, when Bishop Canevin converted 10 of 16 free throws.

The Crusaders, who have won the past two WPIAL Class 3A championships, as well as the Class 2A title in 2016, pulled ahead for good, 47-46 on a layup by Price with 3:56 remaining, part of a 9-2 run.

Gillian Gustine, with 10 points, also scored in double figures for Bishop Canevin.

Central Cambria was led by Cassidy Bezek's 22 points. McKenna Hayward added 16 for the Red Devils, the fifth-place team in the District 6 playoffs.

East Allegheny 54, Central Martinsburg 28 — The sisters tandem of Amani and Amaia Johnson combined for 38 points for WPIAL runner-up East Allegheny (25-1) in a rout of Central Martinsburg (20-6) in a PIAA Class 3A first-round game at Peters Township.

Amani Johnson, a senior headed to Kennesaw State, scored 24 points for the Wildcats, who jumped to a 9-0 lead and were never threatened. They led at halftime, 29-10.

Sophomore Amaia Johnson contributed 14 points for East Allegheny, whose only loss was to Bishop Canevin in the WPIAL championship game.

Cassie Mock and Maddi Metzler scored 10 points apiece to pace Martinsburg Central, the fourth-place team out of the District 6 playoffs.

Everett 56, Neshannock 53 — District 6 runner-up Everett (22-5) held off WPIAL fourth-place finisher Neshannock (20-5) in a PIAA Class 3A first-round game at Bedford.

Laurel 49, Seneca 40 — Caroline Gibson and Faith Gibson each had 13 points to guide WPIAL fifth-place finisher Laurel (14-11) to a PIAA Class 3A first-round win over District 10 champ Seneca (16-10) at Edinboro. Laurel will play Mohawk in the second round.

Mohawk 63, Tyrone 46 — Caitlin Carnuche scored 21 points to lead Mohawk (20-5) over Tyrone (17-10) in a PIAA Class 3A first-round game at Peters Township.

Karly McCutcheon added 16 points and Nadia Lape 11 for Mohawk, which lost to three-time WPIAL champion Bishop Canevin in its previous game in the WPIAL semifinals.

Tyrone, which entered as the District 6 playoffs consolation winner, was led by Sydney Shaw's 17 points.

Penns Valley 54, Seton LaSalle 47 — Layni Ziegler had 17 points, but WPIAL sixth-place finisher Seton LaSalle (10-15) lost a PIAA Class 3A first-round game to District 6 champion Penns Valley (21-5) at Bald Eagle Area.

Class 2A

Bishop McCort 54, Greensburg Central Catholic 38 — Greensburg Central Catholic, the WPIAL's seventh-place team, had its season come to an end after a PIAA Class 2A first-round loss to District 6 champion Bishop McCort (21-6) at Forest Hills.

The Centurions finished the season 12-12.

Brentwood 59, Windber 52 — Anna Betz had 18 points and Natalie Murrio added 15 as WPIAL fourth-place finisher Brentwood (18-7) won a PIAA Class 2A first-round game at Pitt-Johnstown.

Chartiers-Houston 75, Cambridge Springs 43 — Alexa Williamson scored a career-high 51 points as WPIAL runner-up Chartiers-Houston (20-6) rolled to a PIAA Class 2A first-round win at Canon-McMillan. The Bucs will play Bishop McCort in the second round.

Coudersport 50, California 23 — Love Porter had nine points for WPIAL fifth-place finisher California (15-9) in a PIAA Class 2A first-round loss at St. Marys. Shaelyn Black had 19 points for District 9 champion Coudersport (21-3).

Reynolds 36, Serra Catholic 19 — Rachel Cowan's 13 points lifted District 10 runner-up Reynolds (15-10) past Serra Catholic (16-9) in the PIAA Class 2A first round at Sharon.

Vincentian Academy 46, Keystone 27 — Katie Bartlett had 15 points and Caroline Elliott added 12 as WPIAL champion Vincentian Academy (24-1) won a PIAA Class 2A first-round game at Northgate.

West Middlesex 56, Leechburg 40 — Sophomore center Makennah White scored 20 points and collected 16 rebounds as the District 10 champion Big Reds (22-4) prevailed in a PIAA Class 2A first-round game at Slippery Rock University. Mackenzie MacKay had 4 points and nine rebounds.

Leechburg (19-6) saw a four-year run totaling 58 victories come to an end. IUP recruit Mikayla Lovelace had 19 points and finished her Blue Devils career with 2,047 points, 38th on the all-time WPIAL girls scoring list.

Tags: Roundup