OLSH gains semifinals
Our Lady Sacred Heart had to scramble to qualify for the PIAA Class 3A girls’ basketball playoffs, needing two district consolation-round wins to finish fifth in the WPIAL playoffs.
The Chargers (22-7) have made the most of their second opportunity by reaching the state semifinals for the first time in program history. Our Lady Sacred Heart defeated District 6 runner-up WestmontHilltop, 47-32, at Armstrong High School. It was the fourth trip by OLSH to the PIAA quarterfinals, but the first in which it was successful in the final round of eight. Westmont-Hilltop finished the season with a 27-3 record.
Senior guard Mia Grisafi led the Chargers with 18 points. Senior guard Kyleigh Nagy added nine points for OLSH. Senior guard Alyssa Minton hit a corner 3-point basket with a few seconds remaining in the third quarter to give the Chargers a 33-17 lead going to the final period.
Other Class 3A game River Valley 54, Shady Side Academy 21:
Shady Side Academy (25-4) was no match for the District 6 champion Panthers (28-2) at Armstrong High School. Shady Side Academy trailed 37-12 at halftime after River Valley’s 31-5 run. Freshman guard Karis Thomas led Shady Side Academy with 11 points. Senior point guard Ava Persichetti led River Valley with 17 points.
Class 6A Cedar Cliff 39, Upper St. Clair 22:
For the second year in a row, the Panthers (23-4) were eliminated in the state playoffs by a team from District 3. Upper St. Clair was led by sophomore guard Meredith Huzjak with five points. Alexis Buie and Olivia Jones led District 3 champion Cedar Cliff (29-0) with 10 points each. This marked the deepest run in the PIAA playoffs for Upper St. Clair since 2008.
Class 2A Greensburg Central Catholic 53, Shenango 35:
The Centurions wasted little time in eliminating WPIAL Class 2A champion Shenango at Fox Chapel. Shenango (24-5) committed five turnovers and missed its first five shots as Greensburg Central Catholic (24-5) opened the game with a 13-0 run. Erica Gribble scored 14 of her game-high 19 points in the first half for Greensburg Central Catholic. The Wildcats opened the second half with an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to 33-21, but Avery Davis hit a couple of clutch 3-pointers in the second half to keep the Wildcats at bay as part.