Avonworth scores upset
Stew Allen (19 points) was one of five New Castle players scoring in double figures as the Class AAAA No. 1 Red Hurricanes (9-0, 4-0) coasted to a 90-57 win against visiting Seneca Valley (6-4, 2-2) in Section 3.
Shomari Thomas scored a game-high 16 points in helping Class AAAA No. 5 Gateway (83, 4-0) defeat visiting Franklin Regional (6-4, 2-2), 58-54, in Section 2.
Austin Dedert and James Edwards scored 17 points apiece to lead Plum (9-1, 3-1) to a 71-64 win at Central Catholic (6-5, 3-1) in Class AAAA Section 2.
Other top boys games
Avonworth had gone nearly 10 years without beating Quaker Valley in boys basketball.
That streak came to a surprising end Friday.
Eric Gallupe scored 13 points and visiting Avonworth pulled off a 56-54 upset of previously undefeated Quaker Valley in a Class AA Section 6 game.
Avonworth (7-3, 4-0) moved into sole possession of first place in the section after beating Quaker Valley (9-1, 2-1) for the first time since Jan. 13, 2004.
Jamal Hughley and Josh Drwal added 11 points apiece for Avonworth.
Chris Conlan scored 18 points for third-ranked Quaker Valley, which had won all of its previous games by double digits.
Mike Simmons scored 28 points and Kiski Area (7-3, 4-0) used a 21-9 edge in the third quarter to gain a 66-56 win at Connellsville (5-4, 1-2) in Class AAAA Section 1.
Upper St. Clair (7-3, 3-0) remained the only unbeaten team in Class AAAA Section 4 play by edging host Baldwin (2-9, 1-3), 48-46. Thomas Steve led the Panthers with 17 points.
Ryan Maha’s 24 points helped host West Mifflin (62, 2-1) roll to a 90-55 victory against Belle Vernon (4-4, 1-2) in Class AAA Section 4. It marked West Mifflin’s highest point total since 2005.
Ryan Norkus scored 17 points and Dale Clancy added 16 to lead Class AA No. 1 SetonLaSalle (9-0) to a 62-58 win against Wheeling Park, W.Va., in the Cancer Research Classic at Wheeling Jesuit University.
Charles Humphries scored 16 points to lead host Aliquippa (6-3, 4-0) to a 61-47 upset of Class AA No. 5 Neshannock (82, 3-1) in Section 2.
Ryan Wolf had 23 points and Jay Cortese added 19 in leading Class A No. 2 Vincentian (10-0, 1-0) to a 96-66 win at Eden Christian (3-6, 0-1) in Section 2. The Royals are averaging a WPIAL-best 92.1 points per game.
Stars of the night
Brian Papich had a triple double for Fox Chapel (10-1, 3-1) in a 63-58 win at Penn Hills (26, 0-4) in Class AAAA Section 2. Papich finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 steals.
Maverick Rowan scored 18 of his 31 points in the first half to propel Class A No. 1 Lincoln Park (7-1, 1-0) to an 84-44 win at Cornell (7-3, 0-1) in Section 1.
Boys hot shots
Players who made five or more 3-pointers: Owen Nearhoof, Mars, 6; Matty McConnell, Chartiers Valley, 5; Mike Simmons, Kiski Area, 5; Maverick Rowan, Lincoln Park, 5; Will Sandherr, North Allegheny, 5; Lenny Williams, Sto-Rox, 5; Thomas Steve, Upper St. Clair, 5.
Top girls games
In a matchup of top-ranked teams, Class AA No. 1 SetonLaSalle (7-3) earned a 65-50 home win against Class A No. 1 Vincentian (7-2) in a non-section game. Seton-LaSalle’s Naje Gibson had 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Moon (7-3, 2-1) stormed back from a 13-point first-quarter deficit to upset Class AAA No. 3 South Park (6-4, 3-1), 61-56, in Section 5. Abby Unis scored 19 points for the host Tigers.
Girls hot shots
Players who made four or more 3-pointers: Monique Redman, Jeannette, 4; Eleni Radic, Ringgold, 4.
Coaching news
Greg Perry was hired as football coach at Keystone Oaks. Perry, a Keystone Oaks alumnus, recently resigned from the same position at Seton-LaSalle after nine seasons.