Local roundup
Lady Maples recover from slow start, overtake Carmichaels After a slow start, the Mapletown girls basketball team roared back for a 45-34 win over Carmichaels in Section 2-A action on Thursday.
Carmichaels held Mapletown to just two first-quarter points, but the Lady Maples came back and outscored Carmichaels 16-6 in the second quarter, 16-9 in the third quarter and 11-8 in the final period.
Leading the way for Mapletown was Mary Kocerca who fired in a game-high 20 points, including the game’s only 3-pointer.
“After we settled down, we were OK,” said Mapletown coach Dwight DeCarlo.
The Lady Maples struggled at the foul line, converting only 8-of-30 shots.
“I’m real disappointed with the foul shooting,” DeCarlo said.
Holly Homistek had the hot hand for Carmichaels with 11 points, while teammate Markee Batis added 10.
“It was a great team effort,” DeCarlo said.
Mapletown (2-1, 2-0) visits Avella on Monday, while Carmichaels travels to California. Both varsity games start at 7:30 p.m.
Connellsville 47, Canon-McMillan 38 – Junior Ashley Benzio led with 10 points as visiting Connellsville downed Canon-McMillan in Section 2-AAAA action.
Connellsville took the early lead and never looked back, despite being outscored 11-9 in the final quarter.
Jessica Schrettle led all scorers with 15 points, including 5-of-6 from the charity stripe.
The Lady Falcons (2-4, 1-1) host Penn-Trafford on Saturday and Laurel Highlands on Monday.
South Side Beaver 46, Beth-Center 36 – Allison Clark lit up the scoreboard with 23 points, including a 5-of-8 performance from the foul line as South Side Beaver defeated host Beth-Center (2-2, 1-1) in a Section 5-AA contest.
Jessica Dockendoft also scored in double figures for the Lady Rams.
South Side Beaver took the early 13-10 first quarter lead. Beth-Center edged its way back into the game as they outscored the Lady Rams 15-9 in the second quarter and 15-14 in the third quarter.
The fourth period was all South Side Beaver as they held Beth-Center to just four points.
Tammy Pendland was the only Lady Bulldog to land double-digits with 14 points, including four 3-pointers.
Beth-Center travels to Washington on Monday.
California 35, Jefferson-Morgan 30 – Cara Wetzel led all scorers with 11 points, as California slid past Jefferson-Morgan in Section 2-A action.
Wetzel also pulled down seven rebounds and had four steals.
Jefferson-Morgan jumped out to the early lead and held off California in the third and fourth quarters to hang on for the victory.
Charity McCann led J-M with seven points, including 2-of-2 from the foul line.
The Lady Rockets host Mapletown on Monday, while California (1-2) hosts Carmichaels. Tip-off time is 7:30 p.m.
Other scores – In other action, Washington beat Brownsville, 68-27, Southmoreland rolled past McGuffey, 55-25, Yough toppled Belle Vernon, 46-30, and Ferndale defeated Turkeyfoot Valley, 72-58.
Boys’ basketball
Waynesburg Central 77, Derry Area 75 – Billy Becker and Nate Stoner each fired in 19 points as Waynesburg Central defeated Derry Area in a Section 3-AAA match-up.
Robert Rohanna also added to the double-figure scoring with 15 points and a game-high four 3-pointers.
Derry led 21-18 at the end of the first quarter, Waynesburg rallied back in the second and third quarters and held on in the final period for the win on the road.
Ryan Demarv pumped in a game-high 26 points, including four 3-pointers, while Dewey Schmitt scored 20 and Steve Wyszomierski added 10.
The Raiders visit Derry today at 7:30 p.m.
Charleroi 53, Carmichaels 48 – Greg Trilli led with 15 points, including 4-of-4 from the foul line and three 3-pointers as Charleroi edged past Carmichaels in a non-section match-up on Wednesday.
Teammates Alex Kirtley and Justin Piot also scored in double-figures with 13 and 10 points.
Carmichaels took the early 15-8 first quarter lead, but Charleroi bounced back in the second quarter outscoring the Mikes 16-9.
The Cougars then took the third and fourth quarters for the narrow victory.
Jared Lapkowicz led all scorers with 16 points in six field goals and four 3-point goals.
Jamie Kowalczyk added 14 points for the Mikes (2-3).
Carmichaels visits Mapletown today at 7:30 p.m. in a Section 2-A clash. The Maples (3-2) are coming off a 69-63 loss to Beth-Center on Tuesday.
Boys’ swimming
Woodland Hills 94, Laurel Highlands 92 – Dustin Stalnaker picked up a WPIAL qualifying time of 23.52 in the 50 freestyle, but it was host Woodland Hills who came away with the non-section victory.
“They are a good team,” said LH coach Ed Yauger. “They improved a lot.”
Stalnaker also won the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 59.29 and was part of the team along with Eric Wang, Adam Collins and Jimmy Tesauro that claimed top spot in the 400 freestyle relay (3:37.93).
Individually, Collins won the 200 IM with a time of (2:12.71) and the 100-yard backstroke (57.47).
“Good competition is what we needed,” said Yauger. “You have to swim against teams that are as good as or better than you if you’re going to get better.”
Girls’ swimming
Woodland Hills 114, Laurel Highlands 69 – Keri Smiell picked up victories in the 50 freestyle (2:27.17) and the 100 freestyle (1:01.70), but it was host Woodland Hills that cruised to the easy victory over Laurel Highlands (1-2).
“Woodland Hills came on extra strong and jumped on us very early,” said LH coach Ed Yauger.
Erin Perry claimed the top spot in the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:12.31, while Kady Brewer won in diving (145.85).
“We found out what kind of times we can do,” said Yauger. “Hopefully we’ll be able to turn it around in the next couple meets.”