McKeesport dominates late
McKeesport and Oakland Catholic were neck-and-neck for three quarters. The fourth turned into a blowout for McKeesport, as the Tigers used a 22-10 spurt to pull away for a 59-43 triumph in a WPIAL Class 5A first-round game.
Avionna Menifee led the charge with a game-high 19 points for the Tigers (16-4). Oakland Catholic (11-10) got 11 points from Alexa Washington.
More Class 5A Hampton 64, Moon 58:
The Talbots (15-5) took control of the game by outscoring Moon (7-12) in the third quarter, 2210. Hampton used a balanced offense to advance, led by Sophie Kelly with 20 points, Kayla Hoehler with 18, and Liv Bianco and Meghan Murray each with 10. Emma Theodorsson posted a game-high 28 points for the Tigers.
Trinity 83, Mars 36:
The Hillers (19-1) registered 33 unanswered points spanning the first and second quarters in a rout of the Planets (10-10). Courtney Dahlquist paced Trinity with 22 points. She scored 12 in the first quarter and 10 in the third while knocking down four 3-pointers in the game. As a team, Trinity connected on 13 shots from behind the arc. Mars’ Alexa McDole netted 13 points.
Fox Chapel 39, Penn Hills 34:
The Foxes (12-8) may have stumbled in their final two regular-season games, but they now have two postseason wins after claiming victories in the preliminary and first rounds. Against the Indians (10-8), the Foxes got 11 points apiece from Domenica Delaney and Elsie Smith.
Thomas Jefferson 47, Albert Gallatin 38:
The Section 3 rivals met for the third time this season, and each time, the Jaguars came out on top. Maddy Trainer pumped in 10 of her game-high 22 points in the decisive fourth quarter when the Jaguars (12-9) outscored the Colonials (14-7), 20-10. The Jaguars were solid from the free-throw line, converting 19 of 25.
Latrobe 52, South Fayette 47:
Anna Rafferty’s 16-point effort helped the Wildcats (13-2) advance.
Class 1A
Bishop Canevin 60, Riverview 17:
Savanah Abbott’s 14 points led the way for the Crusaders (7-6).
Avella 61, St. Joseph 58 (OT):
Guard Katie Dryer racked up 24 points and 18 rebounds to lead Avella (10-9) to victory. Trinity Lockwood-Morris made five 3s and finished with 24 points for St. Joseph (6-14), which had four players foul out.
Union 39, Monessen 24:
Elise Booker’s 14-point effort sparked Union (10-10) as it advanced to the next round.
Aquinas Academy 44, Jefferson-Morgan 15:
The Crusaders (13-5) started the game on a 17-0 run and never looked back. Bella Hite led the way with 13 points.
Clairton 54, Mapletown 22:
The Bears (12-3) picked up a sixth win in their past seven games.