Cumberland Valley ends North Allegheny’s title defense in OT
North Allegheny, the WPIAL’s only defending state champion, saw its reign end Monday in the opening round of the PIAA Class 6A girls basketball playoffs.
Cumberland Valley sophomore Jill Jekot hit a 3-point shot with 2.6 seconds left to give the Eagles a 63-60 double overtime victory over the Tigers in a game played at Cumberland Valley High School. Jekot netted a gamehigh 31 points.
Cumberland Valley (21-5), the District 3 runner-up, led the entire game and held a 10-point lead (32-22) in the third quarter, but North Allegheny (21-4) sent the game into overtime with a layup by Jasmine Timmerson with 19 seconds left in regulation.
The game was a rematch of last year’s PIAA quarterfinals, when North Allegheny posted a 66-40 victory en route to the title.
Timmerson led the Tigers with 18 points, while Lydia Betz and Taylor Rawls contributed 15 and 14, respectively. Dejah Hill added 12 points for the Eagles.
Other Class 6A Central York 46, Upper St. Clair 43:
Bella Chimiuenti scored 14 points to lead Central York (22-6) to a road victory at Upper St. Clair (20-6). Central York, the fifth-place team from District 3, built a 24-15 halftime lead and held on for the victory. Upper St. Clair, the WPIAL runner-up, was led by Rylee Kalokay’s 17 points, and Mia Brown added 14.
Mt. Lebanon 50, Red Lion 19:
The Blue Devils (24-1), the WPIAL champions, outscored visiting Red Lion (197) 28-11, in the first half en route to a dominating victory. Ashleigh Connor led Mt. Lebanon with 18 points and Payton Collins added 11.
Bethel Park 63, Mifflin County 52:
Emma Dziezgowski tallied 19 points and Mary Boff added 16 to lead the Black Hawks (13-10), who placed third in the WPIAL, to a road victory over Mifflin County (18-7), the District 6 champions. Bethel Park led 45-28 after three quarters. Mifflin County’s Marissa Gingrich led all scorers with 26 points.
Class 3A North Catholic 52, Penn Cambria 36:
Trojans coach Molly Rottmann recorded her 500th career victory in this first-round win over visiting Penn Cambria (17-10). Alayna Rocco led North Catholic (205) with 16 points, while Tori Drevna and Dacia Lewandowsk added 15 and 14 respectively. Emily Hite had 10 points for Penn Cambria.
Chestnut Ridge 53, Waynesburg 29:
Madison Hughes scored 20 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, as District 5 champion Chestnut Ridge (14-11) dominated the visiting Raiders (176). Bella Bosch had 15 for the the Lions. Clara PaigeMiller led Waynesburg with 10 points.
Freedom 44, Westmont Hilltop 31:
The Bulldogs (195) outscored visiting Westmont Hilltop (15-10), 11-1, in the third quarter to break open a close game. Freedom’s Renae Mohrbacher led all scorers with 19 points, while Shaye Bailey added 14.
Class 2A Shenango 49, Northern Bedford 45:
The Wildcats (15-9) rallied from a 26-21 halftime deficit by outscoring host Northern Bedford (17-9), the District 5 champions, 2819 in the second half. Emilee Fedrizzi scored 13 of her game-high 18 points in the second half for Shenango, while teammate Janie Natale tallied 13 points.
Serra Catholic 52, ClarionLimestone 37:
Kate Clarke tallied 17 points and Brianna Battles added 16 to lead the Eagles to a convincing win at home. Serra broke open a close game with a 14-4 run in the second quarter.
West Middlesex 68, Apollo- Ridge 44:
Carlie Beatty and Caitlin Stephens combined for 39 points for West Middlesex (21-3), District 10 champs, to almost outscore Apollo-Ridge’s entire team.
Neshannock 46, Penns Manor 23: Neshannock (252), last year’s PIAA runner-up, led by only two points, 19-17 , at halftime, then outscored Penns Manor (21-6), 27-6 in the second half. Megan Pallerino led the Lancers with 21.