Neshannock pulls off upset
Other top boys games
Malik Hooker scored 20 points and Anthony Richards added 19 to lead Class AAAA No. 1 New Castle (11-0, 6-0) to a 63-41 home triumph against No. 3 North Allegheny (10-2, 4-2) in Section 3. North Allegheny scored six points in the first quarter and five in the third.
Joey Lafko had 23 points as Class AAAA No. 2 Hampton (13-0, 6-0) vaulted to an 85-68 win at Seneca Valley (6-6, 2-4) in Section 3. The Talbots played their second consecutive game without star Ryan Luther, who is out with an ankle injury.
Nick Stotler’s 17 points helped host Plum (11-1, 5-1) win its fifth game in a row, 6057, against Fox Chapel (10-3, 3-3) in Class AAAA Section 2. Matt D’Amico scored 25 points for Fox Chapel.
Freshman Paris Ford scored 19 points as Central Catholic (8-5, 5-1) moved into a first-place tie in Class AAAA Section 2 with an 84-60 home win against No. 5 Gateway (94, 5-1). The Vikings shot 57 percent from the field.
D.J. Porter’s 18 points led a group of five players scoring in double figures for No. 1 Obama Academy (9-0, 1-0), which won its City League opener, 82-55, at Carrick (5-4, 0-1).
Michael Sims had four 3-pointers among his 17 points to lead Class AAA No. 2 Central Valley (10-1, 4-0) to a 67-47 victory against visiting Blackhawk
If there is such thing as a “signature win,” Neshannock’s boys basketball team penned one.
Matt McKinney scored 19 points and Class AA No. 4 Neshannock earned arguably its biggest win this season by defeating visiting No. 2 Beaver Falls, 65-61, Friday night in Section 2.
Ernie Burkes added nine points and 11 assists for Neshannock (10-2, 5-1), which forged a three-way tie atop the section with Beaver Falls (9-3, 5-1) and Aliquippa (7-4, 5-1).
Dan Stratton scored 16 points and Elijah Cottrill chipped in 13 for Beaver Falls, which saw its 24-game section winning streak end.
Neshannock led Beaver Falls, 41-21, at the half. (5-7, 4-1) in Section 2.
Thomas Jefferson (9-2, 3-1) jumped to a 13-point firstquarter lead and never looked back in an 84-57 rout of Steel Valley (7-2, 2-2) in Class AAA Section 4. Charlie Scharbo led the Jaguars with 21 points.
Maverick Rowan’s 28 points propelled Class A No. 1 Lincoln Park (10-1, 3-0) to an 81-44 victory at No. 4 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (8-4, 2-1) in Section 1. Cameron Johnson scored 15 points for OLSH.
Great from long range
Stars of the night
Noah Wertz knocked down a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Laurel (7-5, 3-3) a 66-65 win at Riverside (5-8, 2-4) in Class AA Section 2. Mason Mraz led Laurel with 23 points, while Zach Gould paced Riverside with 31.
Cole Novotney scored 30 points, including 28 in the first half, helping Brownsville (6-4, 5-0) win at Bentworth (1-10, 1-5), 87-65, in Class AA Section 5.
Boys hot shots
Players who made five or more 3-pointers: Cole Novotney, Brownsville, 6; Josh Krafczynski, Bethel Park, 5; R.J. Pfeuffer, Bethel Park, 5; Cory Fuller, Carmichaels, 5; Isaiah Hollis, Clairton, 5; Austin Miller, Knoch, 5; Matt McKinney, Neshannock, 5; Anthony Richards, New Castle, 5; Jake Brucker, Peters Township, 5.
Top girls games
Erin Mathias had 19 points and 18 rebounds to help Fox Chapel (10-3, 6-0) win at Plum (8-3, 4-1), 53-40, in Class AAAA Section 2. Fox Chapel outscored Plum, 23-7, in the fourth quarter.
Natalie Myers scored a game-high 21 points to lead Class AA No. 2 Burrell (11-1, 3-0) to a 59-32 victory at Apollo(9-2, 2-2) in Section 1.
Girls hot shots
Players who made four or more 3-pointers: Rachel Czulewicz, McGuffey, 4; Lexi Dhayer, South Side Beaver, 4.
Bethel Park (9-2, 4-1) made 14 3-pointers in a 79-35 win against visiting Trinity (210, 0-6) in Class AAAA Section 4. Josh Krafczynski (17 points) and R.J. Pfeuffer (16) led the way with five 3-pointers apiece.