High school roundup for Feb. 22, 2025: Karis Thomas hits for 46 points as Shady Side Academy girls reach finals

By: Triblive
Saturday, February 22, 2025 | 8:40 PM

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Karis Thomas went off for 46 points, hiting nine 3-pointers, to lead top-seeded Shady Side Academy to a 69-33 win over No. 12 Ellwood City in the WPIAL Class 3A girls basketball semifinals Saturday at North Allegheny.

Leah Buford added 10 points for Shady Side Academy (24-0), which will play No. 2 Greensburg Central Catholic in the championship game at 7 p.m. Thursday at Petersen Events Center. Caitlin Kreitzer and Kayla Jones scored 10 points each for Ellwood City (15-9).

Peters Township 46, Thomas Jefferson 43 – Natalie Wetzel scored 15 points and Daniela Radulovich added 13 points as No. 2 Peters Township (22-3) overcame a slow start to defeat No. 6 Thomas Jefferson (20-5) in the Class 5A semifinals at Mt. Lebanon. Peters Township will face No. 1 South Fayette in Friday’s championship game. Taylor McCullough added 12 points for Peters Township, which trailed 17-8 after the first quarter. Maggie Spell scored 12 points to lead Thomas Jefferson.

South Fayette 67, Mars 32 – In the Class 5A semifinals at Mt. Lebanon, Lailah Wright scored 17 points and Ryan Oldaker added 14 points as top-seeded South Fayette (24-1) advanced to Friday’s championship game by defeating No. 13 Mars (15-10). Juliette Leroux chipped in 10 points for South Fayette, which led 36-7 at halftime.

Consolation

Laurel Highlands 51, Beaver 49 – Aierra Jenkins scored 13 points and Miya Harris and Taylor Schwertfeger each added 11 as No. 8 Laurel Highlands (18-6) defeated No. 5 Beaver (17-7) in a Class 4A consolation game to clinch a state title berth. Laurel Highlands will face No. 6 South Park in the fifth-place game.

South Park 59, Central Valley 42 – Bella Stromberg and Nika Contakos scored 13 points apiece and Hayley Bennett added 10 to lead No. 6 South Park (17-6) to a Class 4A consolation victory. The Eagles clinched a PIAA playoff berth and will meet No. 8 Laurel Highlands in the fifth-place game. Nyah Hayes scored 20 points and Izzy Miller added 15 for No. 7 Central Valley (15-9).

Boys basketball

Neighborhood Academy 69, Aquinas Academy 35 – Courtney Wallace had 20 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists to lead top-seeded Neighborhood Academy (23-1) past No. 4 Aquinas Academy (18-6) in the Class A semifinals at North Allegheny. Syncer Nicholson had 17 points and hit four 3-pointers for Neighborhood Academy while teammate Shamar Simpson added 16 points and three 3-pointers. Jake Guillen paced Aquinas Academy with 16 points while Sam Duer added 14 points. Neighborhood Academy will play No. 2 Serra Catholic in Thursday’s championship game.

Serra Catholic 57, Nazareth Prep 45 – Owen Dumbroski scored 26 points to lead No. 2 Serra Catholic (21-3) to a Class A semifinal win over No.3 Nazareth Prep (18-5) at Peters Township. Mark Johnson added 10 points for the Eagles. Leon Harrison led Nazareth Prep with 12 points and Michael Keyes contributed 10 points.

Consolation

Greensburg Central Catholic 76, Northgate 47 – Brady O’Rourke sank five 3-pointers on his way to 24 points as No. 1 Greensburg Central Catholic (22-3) beat No. 5 Northgate (14-11) in a Class 2A consolation matchup. Liam Gallagher also hit five 3-pointers while scoring 19 points. A.J. Tarpley added 13 points for the Centurions. Northgate was paced by Anthony Barron’s 15 points. Greensburg Central Catholic will play No. 6 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in the fifth-place game. Northgate will play No. 7 Chartiers-Houston for seventh.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 54, Chartiers-Houston 45 – Tiernan McCullough scored 17 points, Jake Johnson added 16 and Vann Kavals finished with 13 to power No. 6 OLSH (19-6) to a Class 2A consolation victory. Nate Gregory led No. 7 Chartiers-Houston (20-5) with 23 points.