High school roundup for Jan. 13, 2024: Penn Hills surges past Central Catholic

By: Tribune-Review
Saturday, January 13, 2024 | 10:35 PM

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Robert Thomas scored 18 points to lead Penn Hills to a 61-49 victory over Central Catholic in nonsection boys basketball Saturday.

Amon Hawthorne added 12 and Kahlil Wall had 11 for Penn Hills (8-4), which broke the game open with a 17-8 scoring advantage in the third quarter. Enzo Khalil scored 13 and Xxavier Thomas and Bradley Gompers each added 10 for Central Catholic (7-5).

Aliquippa 55, Franklin 38 – Joshua Pratt scored 18 points to lead Aliquippa (8-3) to a win at the Ron Galbreath Classic at Westminster. Jalen Wood scored 14 for Franklin.

Beaver 65, Mohawk 56 – Bobby Fadden and Keigan Hopper scored 17 points apiece and Jay Wrona added 16 for Mohawk (8-6) at the Ron Galbreath Classic at Westminster. Philip Marino and Nick Krzeczowski scored 19 apiece for Beaver (7-7).

Cheswick Christian 72, Pittsburgh Christian Academy 39 – Grant Rochkind poured in a career-high 38 points, sank five 3-pointers and pulled down 10 rebounds to help Cheswick Christian defeat Pittsburgh Christian Academy in a battle of previously unbeaten teams in Southwest Christian Athletic Conference play. Brady Rochkind added 10 points for the Chargers. Timmy Nicklas scored 10 for Pittsburgh Christian Academy.

Serra Catholic 90, Aquinas Academy 82 – Brayden Graham scored 27 points to lead Serra Catholic (8-5) to a nonsection win against Aquinas Academy (8-4). Owen Dumbrosky added 18 points for Serra Catholic while teammates Isiah Petty and Mekhi Underwood contributed 15 and 13 points respectively. Jacob Guillen led Aquinas Academy with 28 points while Sam Duer scored 26 points and Joshua Schlemmer chipped in 13.

South Park 52, Carrick 46 – Luke Scarff had 25 points to pace South Park (8-6) in a nonsection win. Brayden Fisher (15), Ray Saunders (14) and Kelenn Ward (13) scored in double figures for Carrick (4-8).

West Allegheny 58, Ambridge 50 – Brandon Bell had 27 points and Justin Manns had 15 as West Allegheny (10-5) beat Ambridge (6-9) in nonsection play. Julien Hubbard led Ambridge with 17 points while Damon Astorino added 11 points.

Girls

Belle Vernon 56, South Allegheny 33 – Kenzi Seliga filled the stat sheet with 16 points, six assists and four steals, leading Belle Vernon (7-7) to a win at the MVI Shootout at California. Amina Shea and Emily Beaumont scored six apiece for South Allegheny (4-10).

Charleroi 62, California 47 – Bella Carroto scored 27 points to lead Charleroi (6-7) to the win over California (6-6) at the MVI Shootout at California. Ella Sypolt and Riley Jones added 13 and 10 points respectively for Charleroi while Haley Gibson’s 22 points led California.

Clairton 63, Frazier 27 – Iyanna Wade scored 43 points to lead Clairton (10-2) past Frazier (5-8) at the MVI Shootout at California. Clairton led at halftime, 40-12.

Eden Christian 50, West Greene 27 – In nonsection play, Hope Haring scored 21 points and hit four 3-pointers to lead Eden Christian (8-6) to victory over West Greene (3-8). Emmie Smith added 12 points in the win while Kasie Meek paced West Greene with 13 points.

Ellwood City 67, Sewickley Academy 34 – Kayla Jones’ 15 points led five Wolverines in double figures as Ellwood City (10-5) beat Sewickley Academy (4-7) in a nonsection contest. Claire Noble and Delaney Sturgeon each added 11 points for Ellwood City while Caitlin Kreitzer and Maddy Long contributed 10 points each. Libby Eannarino scored 11 points for Sewickley Academy.

Mt. Lebanon 53, Pine-Richland 38 – Payton Collins had 15 points while Anessa Donoghue added 13 points as Mt. Lebanon (7-6) defeated Pine-Richland (2-10) in nonsection play. Madison Zavasky scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Pine-Richland.

North Allegheny 57, William Penn 46 – Kellie McConnell hit three 3-pointers and scored 15 points to lead North Allegheny (10-1) at Hoops for Harmony in York. Grace Heliger added 11 and Lydia Betz had 10 for the Tigers. Ciara Gibbs scored 21 and Jayda Price added 11 for William Penn.

Oakland Catholic 60, Highlands 32 – Raygen Hintemeyer scored 14 points and London Creach added 12 as Class 5A No. 1 Oakland Catholic (14-0) picked up a nonsection win. Katelyn Myers led Highlands (9-4) with 12 points.

Serra Catholic 56, Thomas Jefferson 54 – Abby Genes scored 18 points and hit five 3-pointers, including the go-ahead shot with 15 seconds left, to lead Serra Catholic (10-2) at the MVI Classic at California. Cate Clarke added 11 points and Brianna Battles had 10. Laekyn Flinn led Thomas Jefferson (5-9) with 17 points. Riley McCabe and Allie Wilson each added 10.

South Park 61, Brentwood 23 – Hayley Bennett scored 14 points while Andrea Kuczma contributed 11 in South Park’s nonsection win against Brentwood (5-8). Nika Contakos and Addy Kerr added 10 points each for South Park (8-4). Ay’maree Henry scored a game-high 15 for Brentwood.

Woodland Hills 62, Obama Academy 36 – Jhalynn Wilson scored 24 points and Hope Hawkins had a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds to lead Woodland Hills (3-8) at Hoops for Harmony in York. Mylee Young had 12 points for the Wolverines. GiOnna Simmons scored 18 and Taylor Phillips added 16 for Obama Academy (3-6).

Wrestling

Burgettstown Tournament – Bentworth had three champions to lead the way. Chris Vargo (127), Owen Ivcic (145) and Vitali Daniels (189) won for the Bearcats.

Vargo pinned Central Valley’s Don Lindsey, Ivcic won a 10-4 decision over Ellwood City’s Gabe Lilly, and Daniels won by fall over North Hills’ Evan Letky.

Central Valley had two champions in Antonio Boni (121) and Brenan Morgan (285).

Mt. Lebanon’s Jonathan Emma (107), Chartiers-Houston’s Jorden Williams (114), Burgettstown’s Gaven Suica (139) and Carlynton’s Braiden Sudor (215) also won titles.

Mid-Winter Mayhem – Butler’s Santiono Sloboda (114), Thomas Jefferson’s Maddox Shaw (145) and Franklin Regional’s Juliano Marion (215) were the WPIAL wrestlers that won boys titles at IUP.

Sloboda won a 2-1 decision over Brock Rothermel of Line Mountain. Shaw also won by decision, defeating Central Mountain’s Griffin Walizer, 7-1. Marion defeated Tucker Paynter of Trinity (Camp Hill) by fall in his final.

In the girls tournament, Norwin had a pair of winners in Josephine Dollman (148) and Abigail Hewitt (190).

Dollman had a third-period pin over Bald Eagle Area’s Angelina Grieb in her final. Hewitt pinned Curwensville’s Emily Neeper 41 seconds into the championship match.

Plum’s Saphia Davis secured a 3-0 decision over Saegertown’s Elora Dillinger to win the 124-pound girls title.