Laurel Highlands pulls off stunner
It was supposed to be a quick stopover for Penn Hills.
Take the turnpike to Norwin, slip past Laurel Highlands and get ready for a third consecutive trip to the WPIAL semifinals.
Laurel Highlands had other ideas.
Senior forward Keandre Cook went inside and hit a layup with 3.5 seconds remaining in regulation to give the eighth-seeded Mustangs (15-8) a stunning, 62-60, upset victory over No. 1 Penn Hills (18-5) to move into the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals Tuesday against Thomas Jefferson.
Laurel Highlands won the only meeting with the No. 4 Jaguars this season, 76-63, Dec. 10.
It is the first time Laurel Highlands has made it into the semifinals in any classification since 1972.
The Mustangs last appearance in the WPIAL finals was in 1972 when they lost to Farrell in Class 3A, and the school won its only title in the same classification when it defeated Donora, 74-53, in 1968.
Laurel Highlands was 4-17 last season, but has shown rapid improvement this year thanks in large part to the addition of freshman Rodney Gallagher, who led all scorers against Penn Hills with 20, including 8 of 11 from the line. Tyvaughn Long chipped in 18 and Cook 11 in the win.
Wes Kropp led four Indians in double figures with 19.
More 5A Mars 57, South Fayette 44:
Michael Carmody had himself a night as the Planets senior and Notre Dame football recruit led the way with a double-double of 23 points and 22 rebounds while sophomore Zach Schlegel came through with 20 points — including 8 of 10 from the line in the fourth quarter — and Chris Dvorak 12 to help No. 3 Mars (17-5) oust the sixthseeded Lions (16-7). With the victory, Mars clinched a spot in the WPIAL semifinals for the fifth consecutive season and a berth in the state tournament for the ninth consecutive time. Brandon Jakiela had 16 to lead South Fayette.
Class 2A Shenango 52, Jeannette 34:
The sixth-seeded Wildcats (19-5) jumped all over the Jayhawks (15-8) in the second quarter, outscoring them 15-4 as they opened up a 14-point lead at the intermission and cruised into the semifinals for the first time since losing to Aliquippa in 2004. Colin McQuiston led Shenango with 18, while Ryan Lenhart added 12 and Jason Kraner 11. Jeannette was led with 11 points from Toby Cline.
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 64, South Side Beaver 40:
The top-seeded Chargers (22-1) rolled into the Class 2A semifinals for the fourth consecutive year as Jake DiMichele led the way with 21 points and Dante Spadafora dropped in 20 in the win over the ninth-seeded Rams (1212). South Side Beaver only trailed by seven at halftime, but OLSH came out of the intermission and outscored the Rams by 10 in the third quarter to open up the double-digit lead and move one step closer to their fourth consecutive final.
Winchester Thurston 57, Springdale 54:
The Dynamos (20-4) got 14 points from both Logan Dexter and Demitri Fritch, but it wasn’t enough as they had their fivegame winning streak snapped in the loss to the Bears. Langston Moses had a doubledouble with 21 points and 12 rebounds and also sealed the deal going 4 of 4 from the line in the final minute.