High school roundup for Feb. 26, 2025: Knoch beats Deer Lakes to make states for 1st time since 2006

By: Triblive
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 | 10:21 PM

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Jackson Bauman scored 21 points and No. 5 Knoch defeated No. 7 Deer Lakes, 56-42, in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game Wednesday night, claiming the district’s final spot in the PIAA field.

Vinny DeFelice added 10 points for the Knights (19-7), who are making their first trip to the state playoffs since 2006. Evan Moore scored 12 points and JT McCue added 11 for the Lancers (18-7).

Avonworth 83, Beaver 57 – Rowan Carmichael went off for 35 points to lead No. 4 Avonworth (19-6) in the Class 4A third-place game. Noah Goetz added 19 and Tom Werner 12 for the Antelopes. Brady Mayo scored 25 points and Nick Krzeczowski chipped in 13 for No. 3 Beaver (19-6). Both teams advance to the PIAA tournament.

Central Catholic 68, Mt. Lebanon 60 – Led by 18 points from Calvin Vento, 17 from Christian Williams and 12 from Jaydan Brown, No. 5 Central Catholic (15-10) won the Class 6A third-place game. Sam Deibert scored 17 points and Liam Sheely and Jacob Zaber each added 13 for No. 6 Mt. Lebanon (17-9). Both teams advance to states.

Greensburg Central Catholic 57, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 40 – Liam Gallagher scored 20 points to lead No. 1 Greensburg Central Catholic (23-3) in the WPIAL Class 2A fifth-place game. AJ Tarpley added 15 and Samir Crosby finished with 11 for the Centurions. Tiernan McCullough scored 12 and Austin Avsec added 10 for No. 6 OLSH (19-7). Both teams advance to states.

Keystone Oaks 57, Southmoreland 45 – Erond Jakupi scored 13 points as No. 5 Keystone Oaks (18-8) won the Class 3A seventh-place game, claiming the district’s seventh and final spot in the PIAA playoffs. Joey Colton added 12 and Ethan Spivak 10 for the Golden Eagles. Luke Stinnett scored 16 points and Noah Felentzer added 15 for No. 4 Southmoreland (18-8).

Moon 75, Penn-Trafford 59 – Carter Tumulty scored 20 points and Michael Santicola added 18 to power No. 5 Moon (19-7) in the Class 5A seventh-place game. Amir Turner and Braeden Stuart each added 12 for the Tigers. Zach Feldman and Brayden Stone scored 14 and Tyler Anthony added 12 for No. 15 Penn-Trafford (14-12). Both teams advance to states.

Northgate 48, Chartiers-Houston 47 – No. 5 Northgate (15-11) defeated No. 7 Chartiers-Houston (20-6) in the CLass 2A seventh-place game. Both teams advance to states.

Sewickley Academy 51, Neshannock 37 – Mamadou Kane scored 13 points and Lucas Grimsley added 11, including an 8 for 8 effort from the free throw line in the fourth quarter, to lead No. 2 Sewickley Academy (20-5) in the Class 2A third-place game. David Kwiat scored 14 points to lead No. 4 Neshannock (21-4). Both teams advance to states.

Shady Side Academy 67, Ellwood City 46 – Seamus Riordan scored 21 points to lead four players in double figures for No. 9 Shady Side Academy (13-13) in the Class 3A fifth-place game. Ryan Frolich had 16, Ben Michaels 13 and Paul Benec 12 for the Bulldogs. Aaron Lake led No. 10 Ellwood City (15-11) with 17 points. Both teams qualified for states.

Uniontown 69, Latrobe 38 – Notorious Grooms scored 25 points to lead No. 3 Uniontown (22-4) in the Class 5A fifth-place game. Isaac Ellsworth added 13, Calvin Winfrey 12 and Kelan Milsom 10 for the Red Raiders. Max Butler scored 11 points to lead No. 9 Latrobe (20-6). Both teams made the state tournament.

Girls basketball

Aquinas Academy 65, Geibel Catholic 56 – Tess Duer scored 23 points to lead four players in double figures for No. 5 Aquinas Academy (16-8) in the Class A third-place game. Rebecca Guillen added 12, Carly Bezila 11 and Katie Tarquinio 10. Emma Larkin scored 33 and Mallory Clemmer finished with 11 for No. 2 Geibel Catholic (22-3). Both teams made states.

Chartiers-Houston 60, Laurel 27 – Ava Kolovich scored a career-high 24 points, including 20 in the first half, and Allison Wingard added 14 as No. 6 Chartiers-Houston (20-6) won the Class 2A seventh-place game to claim the WPIAL’s final spot in the PIAA playoffs. Maelee Hill led No. 8 Laurel (10-16) with 17 points.

Laurel Highlands 55, South Park 38 – Aierra Jenkins scored 19 points and Taylor Schwertfeger added 13 to send No. 8 Laurel Highlands (19-6) to victory in the Class 4A fifth-place game. Hayley Bennett led No. 6 South Park (17-7) with 12 points. Both teams advanced to states.

North Catholic 53, Elizabeth Forward 48 – Lauren Reitz had 17 points and 10 rebounds and Sarah Loughry added 15 points and 10 assists to help No. 3 North Catholic (22-4) to a win in the Class 4A third-place game. Mia Sostaric scored 15 and Kaelynn Settles added 14 for No. 4 Elizabeth Forward (19-7). Both teams advance to states.

Rochester 59, Fort Cherry 45 – Tia Yellock hit for 22 points and Kamryn Newman followed with 15 as No. 10 Rochester (12-13) won the Class 2A fifth-place game. Gianna Bianchini scored 10 points to lead No. 5 Fort Cherry (20-5). Both teams made states.

St. Joseph 56, Bishop Canevin 45 – Gia Richter scored 18 points to power No. 6 St. Joseph (18-8) in the WPIAL Class A fifth-place game. Jocelyn Spinelli added 13, Bella Bartolovic 12 and Kasey Cienik 10 for the Spartans. Kya Cooley scored 17 and Isabella Sysak added 12 for No. 9 Bishop Canevin (13-11). Both teams made the state tournament.