Sports

High school roundup for Dec. 26, 2019: Southmoreland tops Clairton

December 26, 2019

Brandon Peterson scored 27 points, and Riley Comforti added 21 as Southmoreland defeated Clairton, 67-50, at the Charleroi boys basketball holiday tournament Thursday night.

Derry’s Justin Huss attempts to put the ball in the hoop while Freeport’s Jalen Brown (3) defends during WPIAL boys’ basketball on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019 at Derry Area High School.

Injury to teammate gives Derry boys basketball added incentive

Derry started the season with one win in its first five games, so the Trojans needed a victory a week ago in their Section 1-4A opener.

Norwin’s Nick Fleming searches for an opening against Hempfield on Friday, Dec. 20, 2019, at Norwin High School.

Westmoreland boys basketball notebook: Top matchups on tap at holiday tournaments

Christmas time means holiday basketball tournaments, and there are a few notable ones in the area Friday and Saturday.

Knoch sophomore guard Ryan Lang is averaging 15.6 points.

A-K Valley boys basketball notebook: Knoch and Leechburg riding balance

Balanced attacks can lead to high-scoring offenses, and this season, that formula is working for several area boys basketball teams.

Springdale’s Logan Dexter goes up for a layup during a practice on Dec. 26, 2019.

Undefeated Springdale boys basketball team surprise of WPIAL Class 2A

Heading into this season, it might have been easy to overlook the Springdale boys basketball team.

North Allegheny junior Nico Butera has committed to Wisconsin men’s swimming.

North Allegheny’s Nico Butera to swim at Wisconsin

Nico Butera, a North Allegheny junior who competes for a USA Swimming club, committed to the Wisconsin men’s team for the 2021-22 season.

Hampton’s Quinn Morrow competes during practice for the 2019-2020 season Nov. 22, 2019.

Home cooking helps Talbots boys basketball to strong start

Hampton basketball is off to a hot start — at least in the games that matter. And that can be attributed, in part, to a little bit of home cooking.

Shaler’s Dom Cerra (76) takes a shot against Plum October 1, 2019 at Alpha Ice Center.

Shaler hockey trying to find right formula for stretch run

Playoff prospects for the Shaler Area hockey team are bleak but still a possibility. Finding a way to join the PIHL Class AA postseason will rely on figuring out a difficult problem.

Shaler Area’s Darrin Mizgorski (center) missed practice time earlier this season. Despite various ailments, the Titans started 3-0 in Section 3-5A.

Despite short bench, Shaler boys off to strong start to season

Playing eight or nine deep is the goal for Shaler Area boys basketball coach Rob Niederberger. For much of this season, the Titans’ health woes made that seem like an off-in-the-distance dream.

Carlynton junior swimmer Natali Lutsiv was part of two relay teams that earned medals at the WPIAL championships last season.

Carlynton multi-sport athlete Natali Lutsiv brings versatility to swimming pool

During her years as an athlete at Carlynton, junior Natali Lutsiv has proven to be a versatile performer.

Penn Hills runners (from left) Kiera Ward, Drew Hines, Eliza Brennan and Miniya Pinnix competed in the 1,600-meter run at the Tri-State Indoor Track Championships on Feb. 16, 2019. Ward, Brennan and Pinnix are back competing for the 2019-20 team.

Penn Hills athletes look to get jump start with indoor track season

The journey for the Penn Hills track program starts now as the group will utilize the indoor season to prepare for outdoor season in the spring.

North Allegheny’s returning boys swimmers include, from left, Alex Grahor, Josh Galecki, Rick Mihm, Ethan Song and Branko Kosanovich.

North Allegheny swimming, diving teams off to fast start as they look to defend titles

The North Allegheny swimming and diving teams are favored to repeat as WPIAL Class AAA champions and, for the first time, could earn PIAA titles in the same season.

Top 19 of ’19: Trib HSSN breaks down the top stories of the year — No. 6

The 2019 high school sports season is nearly in the books.

Greensburg Salem’s Abigail Mankins scores past Freeport’s Grace Soilis during their game Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, at Freeport Area High School.

Sophomore guard Mankins soaring for Greensburg Salem girls basketball

December 25, 2019

Greensburg Salem’s Abby Mankins has developed into a star for the Golden Lions.

Marty Matvey is in his first season as the Fox Chapel girls basketball coach.

Fox Chapel girls showing glimpses of potential

In the latter stages of the third quarter of Friday’s game at WPIAL power North Allegheny, the Fox Chapel girls basketball team led the Class 6A No. 2 Tigers, 31-25, and had designs on finishing off a key early-season Section 1 victory.

Latrobe’s Anna Rafferty battles Penn-Trafford’s Maura Suman for a rebound during a game last season.

Westmoreland County girls basketball notebook: Latrobe eagerly awaiting return of Anna Rafferty

Latrobe is hoping to get sophomore Anna Rafferty back after the holiday break. The 6-foot-1 forward makes a difference.

A-K Valley girls basketball notebook: Springdale sheds long losing streak

Two years ago Friday, the Springdale girls basketball team defeated Yough, 47-28, in the consolation game of the Valley Tournament. The team then experienced a losing streak that extended through the first six games of this season.