Franklin Regional wins 5A Section 3 title
Rowell has 14 for Panthers in 49-41 victory
The Franklin Regional boys basketball team clinched the Class 5A Section 3 title and avenged a first-half loss with Tuesday’s 49-41 win at Gateway.
Franklin Regional (18-2) improved its section record to 81, while Gateway (14-6) falls to 6-3. The Gators led 27-26 at halftime, but the Panthers outscored them 23-14 in the second half. Cameron Rowell scored 14 points for the Panthers and was successful on 5-of-5 free throw attempts. Alec Dunsmore and Alex Lowry led the Gators with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Other boys games
• Evan Berger scored 16 points, while Noah Prosser and Kane Eggerton added 14 and 13, as 5A No. 3 Thomas Jefferson (17-3, 9-0) claimed its first section title since 2014 with a convincing 60-36 win against visiting Bethel Park (11-9, 6-3) in Section 1. Nick Brown topped the Black Hawks with 18 points.
• Peter Kramer tallied 16 points and Alex Nyilas added 14 as 4A No. 2 Hampton (17-3, 90) remained unbeaten in Section 1 with a 56-48 win at Knoch (13-7, 6-3). Robert Coll added 12 points and seven rebounds for the Talbots. Knoch was led by Jackson Bauman (18).
• In a battle of Class 6A ranked teams, No. 3 Central Catholic (12-8, 7-2) overcame a 25-24 halftime deficit to defeat No. 4 Butler (15-4, 5-3), 57-48, in a Section 1 showdown. Payton Wehner topped the Vikings with 17 points. Donovan Carney and Ayden Davis had 13 and 11, respectively, for Butler.
• Elijah Guillory scored 30 points and connected on five 3s as 5A No. 1 Moon (17-3, 90) remained unbeaten with a road victory at West Allegheny (10-11, 0-9) in Section 4. Aiden Reesman added 15 for the Tigers. Justin Manns topped the Indians with 13.
• In a battle of Class 1A ranked opponents, No. 5 Rochester (14-5, 8-1) took over first place in Section 1 with a 53-47 win against No. 4 Union (11-10, 7-2). Xavier Rigby topped Rochester with 16 points. Union’s Braylon Thomas topped all scorers with 21.
• Joe Roth scored 18 of his 32 points in the second half as Ellwood City (13-7, 8-3) posted a 65-47 road victory against Beaver Falls (7-12, 66) in Class 3A Section 1. Datalian Beauford topped Beaver Falls with 18 points.
Girls games
• Natalie Wetzel tallied 17 points and Gemma Walker added 16 as 6A No. 1 Peters Township ( 20- 0, 11- 0) remained unbeaten in Section 2 with a 52-33 home victory against 6A No. 4 Chartiers Valley (14-5, 7-4). Ava Shazer topped the Colts with 17 points.
• Erica Gribble and Mya Morgan combined for 49 points and 12 rebounds to lead 2A No. 1 Greensburg Central Catholic (15-5, 11-0) in a domination of 2A No. 4 Clairton (15-4, 7-4) in a Section 3 game played at Clairton. Gribble had 25 points and five rebounds, while Morgan had 24 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 assists. Clairton’s Iyanna Wade scored 22 points and grabbed six rebounds.
Top scorers
• Michael Plasko scored 14 points in the first quarter and went on to finish with 50 points as South Fayette (12-8, 6-3) held off North Hills (10-9, 4-5) to record a 69-64 road victory in Class 5A Section 4. Plasko had only one 3-pointer. Zach Pollaro led North Hills with 17.
• Max Hurray scored 34 of his 39 points in the first half as North Catholic (13-6, 9-2) hit the century mark in a 10362 win against Blackhawk (615, 3-8) in Class 4A Section 2. Hurray connected on six 3s. Justin Shafer topped Blackhawk with 21.