Ambridge streaks past Quaker Valley
Bridgers will play for outright section title against New Castle
Ambridge and Quaker Valley were in the running for the Class 4A Section 2 title. Now, Ambridge controls its destiny. The Bridgers used strong second and third quarters to build a lead and secure a 75-65 triumph against the visiting Quakers. The Bridgers held a combined 42-28 advantage in the middle quarters.
Aaron Hilzendeger had a game-high 28 points for Ambridge (14-7, 9-2). Danny Conlan and Ryan Stowers each had 15 points for Quaker Valley (17-3, 9-3).
Ambridge plays host to New Castle Saturday to determine the outright winner of the section.
More top boys games
Sewickley Academy avenged its earlier loss to OLSH and snapped the Chargers’ nine-game winning streak with a 71-66 triumph in Class 2A Section 3 action. Isiah Warfield racked up 30 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals for the Panthers (12-7, 9-3). Austin Wigley poured in a game-high 35 for the visiting Chargers (18-2, 11-1). Dante Spadafora, a key player for OLSH, did not play. Both teams are playoff-bound and met in the 2018 WPIAL championship, as well as the PIAA semifinals.
Winchester Thurston joined the WPIAL in the 2012-13 season. Now, the Bears finally have a section title after they defeated Summit Academy (10-8, 9-5), 57-43, to remain atop Class 2A Section 1. Jake Rabner knocked down six 3-pointers en route to 18 points to lead the Bears (15-5, 10-3).
McKeesport (11-9, 8-4) used a 19-13 third-quarter advantage to pull ahead of Gateway and hold on for a 58-50 Class 5A Section 1 win. Thomas Wyatt had 16 points to lead the Tigers. Nate Roper of Gateway (5-15, 3-9) also had 16 points.
Ethan Morton netted 19 points to help Butler (16-4) score a 77-60 win against the City League’s Obama Academy (8-9) in a non-section matchup. Dashon Cruz had 26 points for the Eagles.
West Greene (7-12, 5-7) clinched a playoff spot out of Class 1A Section 2 with a 67-45 triumph against Jefferson-Morgan (5-17, 3-9). The Pioneers’ Ben Jackson helped the cause with a double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds.
A 22-14 fourth-quarter burst helped Pine-Richland (19-2) pick up a 76-64 nonsection victory against McDowell, extending the Rams’ win streak to 18 in a row. Dan Petcash had 23 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds to lead the Rams.
Mekhi Reynolds’ 20-point effort helped Shaler hold off Plum for a 69-56 win in Class 5A Section 3. Colton Schott added 18 points and made four 3-pointers for the Titans (15-6, 10-4). Lamar Whiting of Plum (5-16, 5-9) netted 20 points.
Fox Chapel (15-6) knocked off Upper St. Clair, 61-57, in a non-section clash. The Foxes had four players in double figures, topped by Ryan Kerr’s 15 points. Tanner Gensler of Upper St. Clair (19-3) had a game-high 20.
Seton LaSalle (16-3, 11-1) earned at least a share of the Class 3A Section 2 title with a 71-51 win against rival Keystone Oaks (11-10, 7-5). A 17-point effort from Dylan Preston led the charge for the Rebels. The Golden Eagles got 14 points each from C.J. Morrow and Ben Kvederis.
Blackhawk (9-12, 5-7) earned a playoff berth by easily rolling past Beaver (6-13, 57), 56-29, in Class 4A Section 2. Ryan Heckathorn of the Cougars led all scorers with 15 points.
In a low-scoring Class 5A Section 2 affair, Chartiers Valley (16-4, 11-3) got past West Allegheny (9-13, 6-8), 50-44. The teams combined for just 11 points in the third quarter and 18 in the second.
Needing a win to get into the playoffs, Thomas Jefferson (11-10, 6-8) hit the mark by the slimmest of margins thanks to a 7068 victory at West Mifflin (3-18, 1-13) in Class 5A Section 2. Isaac McNeil paced the Jaguars with 19 points, including five pivotal 3-pointers.
Uniontown picked up its 13th consecutive win, escaping Greensburg Salem with a 62-59 non-section victory. Isaiah Melvin notched 21 points for the Red Raiders (173) and Ryan Thomas poured in a game-high 27 for the Golden Lions (8-13).
A couple of 20-point scorers pushed Greensburg Central Catholic to a 65-45 triumph at Clairton in Class 1A Section 3. Joe Lonigro had 23 points and Geoff Helm chipped in with 21 for the Centurions (14-6, 9-3). Clairton (9-9, 6-6) and Greensburg Central Catholic already had clinched playoff spots prior to the game.
Bryce Butler’s 32-point effort powered Latrobe (18-2, 10-0) to a Class 6A Section 3-clinching win over Hempfield (10-12, 2-8).
Moon closed out its near-perfect season with a 56-48 victory against Montour (14-8, 10-4) in Class 5A Section 2. Connor Smith’s 18 points led four players in double figures for the Tigers (21-1, 13-1).
Stars of the night
Colin McQuiston set a career high by pouring in 40 points for Shenango (10-11, 7-5) in its 69-54 win against Laurel (6-14, 39) in Class 2A Section 3.
Colin Cote of Peters Township knocked down eight 3-point shots and finished with a game-high 30 points to pace the Indians (13-7, 5-6) in a 76-52 non-section win against Connellsville (7-14, 3-8).