Cummins’ clutch points lift Lincoln Park to win

Free throws big in section opener

Brandin Cummins hit four free throws in the last 5.3 seconds to lead Lincoln Park boys basketball to a 78-76 win against Beaver in a Class 4A Section 2 opener Friday at Lincoln Park.

Beaver’s Brady Mayo hit a 3-point shot with 7 seconds left to give the Bobcats a 7674 lead, after trailing by 10 points going into the final quarter, but Cummins was fouled with 5.3 seconds left and drained both free throws.

Mayo was then fouled with 2.5 seconds left and again hit both free throws. Cummings was fouled on the inbounds pass and hit both shots with 1.7 seconds left to give the Leopards the deciding points of the game.

Lincoln Park (4-0, 1-0), ranked No. 1 in Class 4A, remained unbeaten with the narrow victory, while Beaver (5-1, 0-1) suffered its first loss.

Cummings tallied 26 points for the Leopards, and teammate Maleek Thomas led all scorers with 30 points and five 3s. Mayo scored 29 points for Beaver, while Ty Butler added 23.

Other top boys games

• Jake Pollaro banked in a 3-point shot from 23 feet with 4 seconds left to give Class 5A No. 3 North Hills (4-1) a 5553 non-section win against Seneca Valley (1-4). On the ensuing inbounds, Pollaro would jump up to intercept the pass in and chuck the ball in the air as the buzzer sounded. Royce Parham led the Indians with 13 points, despite sitting out most of the first half with foul trouble. Seneca Valley’s Andrew Roy led all scorers with 21 points.

• Neighborhood Academy, ranked No. 5 in Class 1A improved its record to 5-0 with a 59-49 win against visiting Nazareth Prep (2-2) in a nonsection game. The Bulldogs, who led 36-18 at halftime, had three players score in double figures: Courtney Wallace (19), John Wilkins (17), Shamar Simpson (10). Kenny Mickens led Nazareth Prep with 20 points.

• Shady Side Academy (20, 1-0), ranked No. 4 in Class 3A, opened its Section 3 schedule with a 59-50 win against visiting Burrell (2-4, 01). Eli Teslovich led Shady Side with 27 points. Tucker Bitar tallied 22 for the Buccaneers.

• Hampton (4-1), ranked No. 4 in Class 4A, outscored visiting Plum (3-3) 24-5 in the second quarter en route to a 69-45 non-section win. Eric Weeks hit five 3’s and led all scorers with 24 points for the Talbots, while Peter Kramer added 17 points and six rebounds. Adam Kotvas paced the Mustangs with 15 points.

• Nate Sprajcar scored 28 points to lead Riverview (4-1, 1-0) to a 58-54 upset of 2A No. 4 Greensburg C.C. (2-3, 01) in Section 3. Ben Hower added 15 points for the Raiders. Tyree Turner led the Centurions with 15.

• Kam Greil tallied 20 points and Erik Wilson scored a career high 18 points as 5A No. 5 Fox Chapel (5-1) pulled out a narrow 57-54 win against visiting Baldwin (3-4) in a non-section game. Greil also had four assists and two steals. Nate Richards led the Highlanders with 20 points.

• Jacob Patton scored 23 points as Blackhawk (3-2, 1-0) dominated host Hopewell (3-4, 0-1) in a Class 4A Section 2 opener. Grant Wissner had 15 points and three 3s for the Cougars.

• Jayden Davis scored 23 points and Drew Sleva added 13 as Chartiers Valley (5-0) remained unbeaten with a 66-51 win against host Mt. Lebanon (2-2) in a non-section game. Lucas Garofoli had 15 points for the Blue Devils.

• Our Lady of the Sacred Heart increased its winning streak to 74 games with a 6948 win against Brentwood in Class 3A Section 2. The topranked Chargers had four players score in double figures Bryson Kirschner (20), B.J. Vaughn (13), Rocco Spadafora (12), Rocco Coladonato (10). Carter Betz had 21 for the Spartans.

• 2A No. 2 Shea Champine made a driving layup with 2.4 seconds remaining to lift Bishop Canevin (4-0) to a 6260 win against Avonworth (23). Champine led all scorers with 28 points. Rowan Carmichael led Avonworth with 19 points.

Top girls games

• Fox Chapel (6-1, 2-0) outscored North Hills 17-8 in the fourth quarter to break a 3030 tie and record a 47-38 win in Class 5A Section 2. Bella Urso topped the Foxes with 13 points. Jayden Arnett led the Indians (4-3, 0-2) with 14 points.

• Katie Kovalchik tallied 24 points to lead Indiana (3-2, 10) to a 56-40 win against host Penn Hills (2-4, 0-1) in a Class 5A Section 1 opener. Penn Hills had three players score in double figures: Milani Oliver (14), Hannah Pugliese (13), and Egypt Coleman (11).

Stars of the night

• Bryce Epps poured in 35 points, including four 3-pointers, as South Allegheny (5-0) remained unbeaten with a 6950 win against visiting McKeesport in a non-section encounter. Michael Michalski (13) and Cameron Epps (12) also scored in double figures for the Gladiators. Travarese Rowe paced McKeesport with 25 points. The Gladiators began the game with a 4-0 lead as two McKeesport players were called for double technical fouls for grabbing the rim during warmups. Bryce Epps hit all four technical shots.

• Ben Shields scored 31 points to lead Charleroi to a 67-59 road victory against Waynesburg in a Class 3A Section 4 opener. Shields connected on 11 two-point field goals and nine of 12 foul shots. Dane Woods paced Waynesburg with 22 points, while teammate Austin Surber tallied 20 points.

• Jay Wrona connected on eight 3s in a a 28-point performance as 3A No. 5 Mohawk (6-0) posted an 83-62 win against Rochester (2-3) in a non-section game played at Mohawk. Bobby Fadden and Deven Sudziak added 15 points each for the Warriors. Jerome Mullins and Zavier Rigby each had 17 for Rochester.