Norwin, Peters Township cruise in openers

North Allegheny, Chartiers Valley also post victories in the Class 6A games

Norwin has never played in a state championship game, but the team took a huge first step toward that goal.

Senior forward Lauren Palangio scored a game-high 14 points and Ava Kobus added 13 as the reigning WPIAL champion Knights ( 22- 3) rolled past District 3 seventhplace finisher William Penn (16-11), 54-29, in a PIAA Class 6A first round playoff game Friday at Norwin.

A year ago, the Knights made it all the way to the state semifinals before losing to Cedar Cliff.

Other Class 6A games

Peters Township 69, Lebanon 49: The Indians (24-2) had not been in the state playoffs since the team went 30-0 and won it all in 2019, but this new group knows how to play on the big stage. Gemma Walker went for a game-high 30 and Natalie Wetzel scored 21 in the win for Peters Township. North Allegheny 57, Erie 23: Anyone who thought the Tigers wouldn’t be ready for the state playoffs after losing to Norwin in the WPIAL final got a quick reminder of what this program is made of. North Allegheny led 34-9 at halftime and finished off a running-clock win. Caroline Henderson finished with five 3-pointers as part of her 19 points. Chartiers Valley 44, Altoona 43: The Colts led by 13 at halftime, but held off a furious Lions comeback in the second half to pull out a firstround victory. Lilah Turnbull finished with 18 for Chartiers Valley (17-8).

Class 3A

Avonworth 54, Wilmington 40: The WPIAL runner-up Antelopes (22-2) rebounded from their District 7 championship game loss to Shady Side Academy with a big win against the District 3 thirdplace finishers. Junior guard Greta O’Brien scored a gamehigh 25 to lead the way for Avonworth. Seton LaSalle 66, Karns City 46: Mallory Daly scored a game-high 25 points and Tiara Curry added 21 as the Rebels (16-10), the No. 6 finisher out of the WPIAL, rolled the District 9 champion Gremlins ( 18-9) out of the tournament. Savanna Prescott scored 13 in the loss for Karns City. Shady Side Academy 55, River Valley 50: The District 6 third-place Panthers ( 20-8) rolled past the Bulldogs (25-2) in the 2023 state quarterfinals, but the WPIAL champions got their revenge. Sophomore guard Karis Thomas led Shady Side Academy with 27 points and Maggie Spell chipped in 15 to help the team move on in a game played at Avonworth. Mercyhurst Prep 40, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 37: The Chargers (17-10) had a seven-point lead at the end of the third quarter, but the District 10 champion Lakers (223) came back and won it in the final frame. Neshannock 72, Chestnut Ridge 62: The Lancers (19-8) shrugged off a slow start and pulled away in the second half to move on. Payton Newman had a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds, while Jaidon Nogay dropped in 20 and had seven steals. Northwestern 67, Keystone Oaks 47: Bailey Rieg hit six 3pointers and Laney Wagner chipped in 12, but it wasn’t enough to help the Golden Eagles (19-7) advance. Westmont Hilltop 57, Beaver Falls 36: Avina Norman did most of the damage for the Tigers (16-9) as she scored 24, but it wasn’t enough as Beaver Falls fell to the Hilltoppers (20-4).

Class 2A

Clairton 55, Redbank Valley

51: Iyanna Wade was once again the difference-maker for the Bears. The junior guard scored a game-high 39 points to lead Clairton (19-6) into the second round with a comefrom-behind win against the District 9 champion Bulldogs (20-6). South Side 34, Maplewood 33: The Rams (16-11) moved on to the second round.

Everett 36, Rochester 35: Tia Yellock scored a gamehigh 17 points for the Rams, but it wasn’t enough as the District 5 champion Warriors, who trailed by one entering the fourth quarter, came back to win. Kennedy Catholic 68, Fort Cherry 24: With wins against Blackhawk, Norwin and North Catholic this season, the Gaels were ready to take on all comers in their state tournament opener. Bishop McCort 61, Serra Catholic 55: The Eagles had a three-point lead at halftime, but the Crimson Crushers went on a 19-8 run in the third quarter to take the lead for good. Bri Battles led Serra Catholic (21-6) with 14, while Gianna Gallucci paced Bishop McCort (25-2) with 25. Greensburg Central Catholic 59, Bellwood Antis 27: The Centurions got a good start on their state finals run with a mercy- rule win behind 20 points from Erica Gribble and 16 by Mya Morgan. Portage 53, Aliquippa 41: Aunesty Johnson scored 18 for the Quips (22-5) but their season came to an abrupt end against the second-place team out of District 6. Marion Center 54, Winchester Thurston 33: The Bears (11-16) stayed in it for a little while, but the District 6 champions were too much for them in the end.

Class 1A

Elk County Catholic 45, Monessen 16: The Greyhounds and Crusaders (26-2) played a day ahead of the rest of Class 1A, but that only meant a one-day-earlier exit for Monessen (19-7).