Blackhawk cruises past Beaver in win
The past two WPIAL Class 4A girls basketball champions faced off in a Section 2 showdown Monday at Blackhawk High School and the most recent champ recorded a dominating victory.
Blackhawk, the 2022 champion, jumped out to a 12-3 lead after one quarter and rolled to a 46-26 win against Beaver, the 2021 champion.
It was the 34th consecutive win against a WPIAL opponent for top-ranked Blackhawk (12-0, 4-0), which remained unbeaten.
Alena Fusetti led the Cougars with 15 points, while Quinn Borroni tallied 14.
Beaver (10-4, 3-2) was led by Chloe List, who had 14 points and four blocks.
In other girls games
• Quaker Valley, ranked No. 5 in Class 4A, outscored Central Valley, 18-5, in the first quarter en route to a 51-36 win in Section 2. The Quakers ( 10-5, 4-1) were led by Shannon Von Kaenel and Oumou Thiero, who scored 15 and 10 points respectively. Dakota DeAngelo and Nyah Hayes each scored 10 points each for visiting Central Valley (58, 1-4).
• Mya Morgan tallied 19 points and Erica Gribble had 18 as 2A No. 1 Greensburg Central Catholic (13-2, 6-0) remained unbeaten in Section 3 with a 62-41 victory against visiting Winchester Thurston (6-6, 3-2). Sky Still topped Winchester Thurston with 14 points.
• Payton Collins scored 18 points and Jenny Smith added 12 as 6A No. 3 Mt. Lebanon (11-4, 5-1) posted a 43-32 win at Chartiers Valley in Section 2. Lilah Turnbull paced the Colts (7-5, 33) with 11 points.
• Monessen (8-4, 4-1) outscored Avella (7-8, 2-3), 25-16, in the fourth quarter to break open a close game and record a 59-49 road victory in Class 1A Section 3. Madison Johnson led the Greyhounds with 16 points. Avella’s Katie Dryer led all scorers with 21 points.
• Meghan Murray posted a 26-point performance to lead Hampton (10-5, 4-2) to a 63-42 win against visiting North Hills (4-10, 0-6) in Class 5A Section 2. Kat Milon added 21 points, all coming on 3-point shots, for the Talbots. Gia Sturdivant led North Hills with 11 points.
• Avonworth outscored Seton LaSalle, 20-5, in the third quarter to break open a close game as the Antelopes (9-5, 4-1) posted a 54-35 home victory in Section 2. Becca Goetz topped Avonworth with 20 points and Greta O’Brien added 19. Mallory Daly topped the Rebels (8-6, 2-3) with 13 points.
• Kaelynn Settles (15), Alyssa Terza ( 11), and Chloe Zombek ( 10) all scored in double figures as 4A No. 3 Elizabeth Forward (11-4, 6-0) remained unbeaten in Section 3 with a 67-45 win against visiting West Mifflin (6-7, 4-2). West Mifflin’s Savaughn Wimbs topped all scorers with 18 points.
• Latrobe’s Camille Dominick scored 25 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Wildcats ( 10- 5, 4- 2) dropped a 56-45 decision to 5A No. 5 Penn-Trafford (103, 4-2) in Section 3. Olivia Pepple led the Warriors with 17 points and Torrie Destefano added 14.
• Anna Kreinbrook scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as 1A No. 2 St. Joseph (10-2, 3-0) handed host Riverview (7-7, 3-1) its first loss in Section 3, 54-15. Gia Richter and Julie Spinelli each tallied 11 points for the Spartans.
Stars of the Night
• Amelia McMichael scored 33 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and connected on three 3s, while teammate Justine Forbes added 18 and four 3s, to lead host Butler (8-7, 3-2) to a 65-61 upset of 6A No. 5 Pine-Richland (6-7, 2-3) in Section 1. Pine- Richland was led by Sarah Pifer (21 points) and Madison Zavasky ( 19 points, 10 rebounds).
Milestone
• Alayna Rocco, a Harvard recruit, became the second member of her family to reach the 1,000-point plateau as 4A No. 2 North Catholic (11-3, 6-0) posted a 56-38 road victory against No. 4 Knoch (8-5, 4-2) in Section 1 in the only game of the evening that featured two ranked teams.
Anna Waskiewicz led the Trojans with 19 points and Rocco tallied 17. Rocco’s brother reached the 1,000point mark while playing at Penn-Trafford.