Planets hand Gladiators first loss
Class 5A Mars tops South Allegheny in non-section showdown, 48-46
South Allegheny expected to get a solid test in a nonsection matchup against a Mars squad that plays two classifications higher.
And the Planets gave the Gladiators all they could handle and more.
Zach Schlegel hit a clutch 3-pointer with 1:11 remaining in regulation as part of his 15 points to put Class 5A No. 5 -ranked Mars (7-1) ahead to stay despite 17 apiece from Antonio and Bryce Epps to help the Planets pull out a 48-46 win against the Class 3A No. 1 Gladiators (5-1) and deal them their first loss.
More top boys games
• Greensburg Salem (0-1) was the last WPIAL team to play its first game this season and the Golden Lions got off to a rocky start as
Jeannette (6-2) opened a 14point lead after the first quarter and never looked back, 60-33. Hunter Schmidt scored 18 points for the Jayhawks in non-section action.
• Class 5A No. 2 Chartiers Valley (11-1) and Class 4A No. 3 Montour (6-3) each might play in WPIAL championship games this season, but when they met in a nonsection game, it was all Colts as Brayden Reynolds scored a game-high 22 points and Carter Mastovich had 12 in a 73-57 triumph over the Spartans.
• Ligonier Valley (1-2, 1-2) picked up its first WPIAL win in decades earlier this week, but the Rams could not build on their success as Eli Teslovich led three Shady Side Academy (6-0, 4-0) players in double figures with 18 in a 62-33 Bulldogs victory.
• Rodney Gallagher scored 19 points and Brandon Davis 12 as Laurel Highlands (5-3, 4-0) rolled to its third consecutive win, a 56-43 Class 5A Section 1 decision over Ringgold (0-4, 0-2).
• North Hills (2-4) struggled out of the gate with four consecutive losses, but the Indians appear to be righting the ship as Royce Parham scored a game-high 21 and Alex Smith chipped in 12 in a 59-44 victory against Norwin (4-5) for their second victory in as many days.
Top girls games
• Thomas Jefferson (6-4) has had a tough couple of days as the Class 5A No. 4 Jaguars got roughed up by No. 1 Trinity Thursday, then, despite seven 3-pointers and 25 from Alexa Dadig, No. 2 Chartiers Valley (9-1) rolled to an 81-53 victory behind five 3-pointers and 30 points from Aislin Malcolm in a non -section matchup.
• Hampton (8-2) had reeled off a seven-game winning streak, but that came to an end as Class 4A No. 4 Quaker Valley (6-3) got 18 points from Bailey Garbee and 17 from Corinne Washington and knocked off the Class 5A Talbots, 58-44, in a non-section matchup.
Star of the night
• Alexis Robison hit five 3pointers for a game-high 31 points to help Class 1A No. 1 Rochester (5-3, 4-0) to a 7835 Section 1 win against No. 3 Bishop Canevin (2-1, 1-1).