Clairton wins in battle of scorers vs. Aquinas Academy
What happens when two of the best scorers in the WPIAL share a court? Both of them put up huge numbers, of course.
Don Napper and Clairton got the best of Vinnie Cugini and Aquinas Academy, 90-70, in a fast-paced Class 1A Section 3 showdown. Cugini, a freshman who began Friday as the WPIAL’s leading scorer at 31.9 points per game, put up 38 points for the Crusaders (5-10, 2-5). Napper, who averages 19 per game, posted 34 points for the Bears (8-5, 6-2).
More boys games
• Upper St. Clair converted a whopping 15 3-pointers and cruised to a 94-70 triumph against North Hills (5-8) in a non-section game. The Class 6A No. 5 Panthers (13-2) saw 11 players hit a shot from behind the arc. Luke Gensler made two 3s and finished with a team-best 15 points. The Indians’ Alex Smith led all scorers with
21.
• Brandon Peterson scored 16 of his game-high 25 points in the first half to help Southmoreland (5-11) build a lead and then hang on to defeated Elizabeth Forward (310), 53-52, in non-section action.
• New Castle broke open its 4A Section 2 clash against Hopewell with a 24-7 thirdquarter run that propelled the Red Hurricanes to a 56-39 victory. Mike Wells led the victors with 20 points, including four 3-pointers. He scored 6 points in the third-quarter burst.
• After a 10-0 start, Brentwood dropped its fourth in a row, this one a 43-40 setback against Jeannette (9-6) in 2A Section 2. The Jayhawks got 12 points from Jackson Pruitt.
• The 5A Section 2 matchup between Chartiers Valley and Trinity pitted two teams heading in opposite directions. Behind 16 points from Jared Goldstrom, the Colts (104) won their fourth in a row. The Hillers (9-6) lost their fourth in a row.
• For the second consecutive game, Fox Chapel used a strong fourth quarter to secure a victory. On Friday, the 6A No. 1 Foxes (15-0) outscored Baldwin (6-9), 18-11, in the fourth quarter and escaped with a 57-49 win. Arnold Vento led Fox Chapel with 19 points, followed by Eli Yofan with 16.
• A 28-point burst in the fourth quarter helped Ringgold (10-5) collect a 71-68 non -section victory against Connellsville. Chris Peccon had 26 points for the Rams. Ahmad Hooper kept the Falcons (6-8) in the game with a trio of 3-pointers and 29 points.
• Demitri Fritch’s double-double of 23 points and 14 rebounds helped 2A No. 2 Springdale (14-1, 8-0) surge by Northgate (5-10, 3-5), 81-60, in 2A Section 1.
• Moon (3-9, 2-6) held a 26-11 lead against West Allegheny (8-7, 3-5) and continued to a 46-42 triumph in 5A Section 2. The Tigers got 16 points from Logan Young and 10 from Zach Hurley. The Indians’ Joe Pustover and Scott Bilovous each netted 15 points.
• Dylan Rogers’ clutch performance from the free-throw line sealed a 68-61 win, the first 3A Section 2 victory of the season for Forth Cherry (3-10, 1-6) against Keystone Oaks (6-8, 2-5). Rogers went 11 for 16 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter and 12 of 19 for the game. He finished with 19 points. The Golden Eagles’ Frank Stumpo put in five 3-pointers and led all scorers with
27.
• High-scoring Our Lady of Sacred Heart outscored Shenango by at least 10 points in each of the first three quarters and cruised to a 87-52 win in 2A Section 3. The top-ranked Chargers (13-1, 7-0) saw Jake DiMichele sink four 3s on his way to 33 points. Matt Reese added 19 points and Dante Spadafora 19. Colin McQuiston and Ryan Lenhart each had 14 points for the Wildcats (11-4, 4-3).
Girls game
• Class 1A No. 3 West Greene remained unblemished after edging 2A No. 1 Bishop Canevin, 58-54, in a big non-section game. Jersey Wise paced the Pioneers (14-0) with 22 points. The Crusaders (10-5) got 18 points from Alyssa Abbott and 17 from Savannah Pollice.
Stars of the night
• California’s Malik Ramsey had 23 points in the second half and finished with 33 to help his Trojans (8-7, 3-4) outlast Carmichaels (6-8, 1-6), 72-65, in 2A Section
2.
• Cole Brooks converted eight 3-pointers en route to a game-high 28 points for Seneca Valley, but the Raiders (1-12) lost to Canon-McMillan (5-9), 66-57 in a non-section matchup.