High school roundup for March 9, 2024: South Fayette cruises in 1st round to set up meeting with Oakland Catholic

By: Triblive
Saturday, March 9, 2024 | 10:48 PM

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Erica Hall had 14 points to lead three players in double figures as WPIAL champion South Fayette defeated Red Land, 48-20, in the first round of the PIAA Class 5A girls basketball playoffs Saturday.

Juliette Leroux scored 12 and Lainey Yater had 10 for the Lions (19-8), who had a 19-0 scoring advantage over Red Land (12-15) in the second quarter. The Lions will face Oakland Catholic in the second round Wednesday.

Armstrong 44, Palmyra 33 – Emma Paul scored 19 points to lead WPIAL runner-up Armstrong (22-5) past Palmyra (18-9) in a Class 5A first-round game. The River Hawks will meet District 6 champion Hollidaysburg in the second round Wednesday.

Blackhawk 54, Harbor Creek 38 – Alena Fusetti scored 19 points and Aubree Hupp added 18 to lead Blackhawk (23-3) to a Class 4A first-round win. The Cougars will face St. Marys in the second round Wednesday. Brooke Przbylski scored 15 for Harbor Creek (14-11).

Bishop Guilfoyle 58, Riverview 33 – Morgan Ruggery scored 15 points, Alana Lightner added 14, and Maurie Querry had 10 for Bishop Guilfoyle (25-3) in a Class A first-round win. Katerina Tsambis scored 17, Lola Abraham added nine and Isabel Chaparro had seven for Riverview (16-9). Bishop Guilfoyle will meet DuBois Central Catholic in the second round Wednesday.

Cathedral Prep 53, Trinity 29 – Jayden McBride netted 18 points, Addie Biel scored 17 and Lena Walz added 12 for District 10 champ Cathedral Prep (20-3) in a Class 5A first-round win over Trinity (20-7). The Ramblers outscored Trinity 33-11 in the second half and advanced to play Northern York in Wednesday’s second round. Sutton Williamson scored 10 for the Hillers.

Fairview 33, Knoch 26 – In the first round of the Class 4A playoffs, Ella Garritty, Gabriella Pizzo and Riley Sholes scored eight points each as Fairview (21-5) beat Knoch (15-12). Neah Ewing led Knoch with 11 points. Fairview trailed by seven heading into the fourth quarter. Fairview faces Laurel Highlands in the second round Wednesday.

Indiana 33, York Suburban 32 – Addy Hutton and Bella Antonacci sank cruicial free throws in the final moments and Indiana (20-7) upset District 3 champion York Suburban (23-2) in the Class 5A first round. It was Indiana’s first state playoff win since 2010. Antonacci had a game-high 16 points. Indiana plays McKeesport in Wednesday’s second round.

Laurel Highlands 51, Johnstown 48 – Led by 15 points from Miya Harris, 13 from Taylor Schwertlfeger and 11 from Ayrianna Sumpter, Laurel Highlands (21-4) picked up the first state playoff win in program history in Class 4A. The Mustangs will meet Fairview in the second round Wednesday. Zayona Thomas led Johnstown (12-13) with 23 points, including five 3-pointers.

McKeesport 61, West York 32 – Rachael Manfredo scored 19 points to lead McKeesport (22-4) to a Class 5A first-round win. Maddie Hertzler added 14 and Brooke Evans finished with 10 for the Tigers, who will meet Indiana in the second round. Faith Walker led West York (18-9) with 21.

North Catholic 47, Conneaut 29 – Brady Wehner scored 13 points and Alayna Rocco added 12 as North Catholic (18-7) defeated Conneaut (16-10) in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs. Conneaut’s Lainie Harrington led all scorers with 16 points. North Catholic plays Warren in Wednesday’s second-round game.

Northern York 53, Lincoln Park 49 – District 3 runner-up Northern York (25-2) defeated Lincoln Park (22-5) in the Class 5A first round to set up a second-round matchup with District 10 champ Cathedral Prep on Wednesday.

Oakland Catholic 50, Susquehanna Township 34 – Mia LeDonne scored 15 points and Kaylee DeAngelo added 13 to lead Oakland Catholic (2-52) to a Class 5A first-round win. Alayla Bivins had 12 points, including a basket just before the buzzer to give Oakland Catholic a four-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. Josie Fontana finished with 10 for the Eagles, who will meet WPIAL champ South Fayette in the second round Wednesday. Schuyler Coles scored 13 points and Ava Landon had 11 for Susquehanna Township (23-3).

St. Marys 40, Highlands 39 – Molly Hanslovan hit the go-ahead basket with 15 seconds to go to lead District 9 champion St. Marys in a Class 4A first-round win. Jayssa Snelick scored 16 points for St. Marys (22-5), which will meet Blackhawk in the second round Wednesday. Shelby Wojcik scored 17 points and Kalleigh Nerone added 10 for the Golden Rams (18-8).

Union 59, Port Allegheny 18 – Kylie Fruehstorfer scored 21 points and hit four 3-pointers to lead Union (20-5) to the Class A first-round playoff win against Port Allegheny (19-8). Kelly Cleaver added 16 points and six rebounds for Union, which led 40-12 at halftime. Union will play Northern Bedford in Wednesday’s second round.

Warren 71, Elizabeth Forward 64 (OT) – Sammie Ruhlman and Alana Stewart each scored 17 points and Halle Kuzminski added 15 as Warren (21-5) won in overtime in the Class 4A first round. Alyssa Terza scored 15 points, Chloe Zombek added 14 and Michelle Jellison finished with 13 for Elizabeth Forward (22-4). Warren will meet WPIAL champion North Catholic in the second round Wednesday.

Williamsburg 60, Aquinas Academy 44 – Ayla Hileman scored 18 points and Leanna Royer added 14 as Williamsburg (25-3) won a Class A first-round game. Levada Gorsuch and Laney Prough had 12 each for Williamsburg, which faces Elk County Catholic in the second round Wednesday. Emily Fisher led Aquinas Academy (17-8) with 15 points.

Boys basketball

Aliquippa 56, Otto-Eldred 27 – Cameron Lindsey had 13 points as WPIAL champion Aliquippa (22-5) beat Otto-Eldred (25-3) in the Class 2A first round. Qua’lil Goode added 12 points and teammate Brandon Banks chipped in 10 for the Quips, who will face Eisenhower in Wednesday’s second round. Ray-Shene Thomas led Otto-Eldred with 11 points.

Chestnut Ridge 70, Shady Side Academy 53 – Isaiah Crocker scored 18 points and Nate Whysong had a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds for District 5 champ Chestnut Ridge (23-4) in a 3A first-round win. Eli Teslovich led Shady Side Academy (18-9) with 20 points and Seamus Riordan scored 18. The Lions meet Franklin in Wednesday’s second round.

Conemaugh Township 55, Bishop Canevin 47 – District 5 champion Conemaugh Township (21-6) rallied from a 17-4 deficit after one quarter to beat Bishop Canevin (15-12) in the Class 2A first round. Conemaugh Township will meet District 3 champ Lancaster Mennonite in the second round Wednesday.

Cross Lanes Christian 57, Cheswick Christian Academy 52 – Sam Mulanax scored 21 poinst to lead Cross Lanes Christian in the championship game of the National Christian School Athletic Association tournament. Sean Louis scored 19 points, Brady Rochkind added 17, and Grant Rochkind finished with 13 for Cheswick Christian. Louis and Grant Rochkind made the all-tournament team.

Ellwood City 62, Westmont Hilltop 44 – Joe Roth poured in 31 points and grabbed 17 rebounds and Ellwood City (18-9) outscored District 6 champion Westmont Hilltop 33-12 in the second half on its way to a Class 3A first-round victory. Aaron Lake added 11 points for the Wolverines, who will face Mohawk in the second round Wednesday. Jack Wesner led the Hilltoppers (20-6) with 16 points.

Fort Cherry 61, Karns City 52 – Derek Errett scored 26 points to lead Fort Cherry (21-6) to a Class 2A first-round win against Karns City (20-8). Blake Sweder added 14 points for Fort Cherry while Shane Peters and Jacob Callihan scored 14 and 11 points, respectively, for Karns City. Fort Cherry will play Serra Catholic in the second round Wednesday.

Girard 74, Derry 65 – Kenny Godoy scored 24 points and Nate Edwards added 22 as District 10 champion Girard (24-2) won in a Class 3A first-round game. Girard will meet Bishop Guilfoyle in the second round Wednesday. Nate Papuga scored 27 points, Stanley Rajkovich added 17, and John Wasnick had 16 for Derry (15-8), which trailed by 15 at the half but cut the deficit to four in the fourth quarter.

Franklin 69, Neshannock 55 – Cole Buckley scored 18 points and Damon Curry added 14 as Franklin (21-5) won a Class 3A first-round game. David Kwiat scored 12 points and Matthew Sopko added 11 for Neshannock (20-6). Franklin will face Chestnut Ridge in the second round Wednesday.

Jeannette 58, Iroquois 32 – Isaiah Mallich had 14 points as Jeannette (17-8) beat Iroquois (14-12) in the Class 2A first round to set up a second-round matchup with rival Greensburg Central Catholic on Wednesday. Kymone Brown and Markus McGowan added 11 points each for Jeannette. Kellen Burroughs led Iroquois with 15 points.

Mohawk 56, Moniteau 42 – Jay Wrona scored 21 points to lead Mohawk (18-8) past District 9 champ Moniteau (13-12) in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs. Bobby Fadden added 13 points for Mohawk. Chason Rugg had 13 for Moniteau. Mohawk will face Ellwood City in the second round Wednesday.

Serra Catholic 75, West Branch 67 – Pete Burke had 29 points and Isiah Petty scored 24 to help Serra Catholic (18-9) dispatch District 6 champ West Branch (23-4) in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs. Brayden Graham added 11 for the Eagles. Owen Koleno led West Branch with 20. The Eagles play Fort Cherry in Wednesday’s second round.

State College 65, Mt. Lebanon 58 (3OT) – Reed Melvin scored 18 points as State College (13-12) outlasted Mt. Lebanon (20-6) in three overtimes in the Class 6A first round. Ty Salazar added 13, Nate Price 12 and Xion Nichols 11 for the Little Lions, who will take on WPIAL champion Upper St. Clair in the second round Wednesday. Nate Girod hit six 3-pointers and scored 22 points and Riley Farabaugh added 16 points for the Blue Devils.

Redbank Valley 66, Northgate 62 (OT) – District 9 champion Redbank Valley (23-3) knocked off Northgate (18-8) in the Class 2A first round to set up a second-round matchup with West Shamokin.