Local roundup
Ashton scores 36, Fillies clinch playoff berth Kayla Ashton lit up the scoreboard with a game-high 36 points, including five 3-pointers and a 3-of-4 outing from the foul line as Laurel Highlands downed host Belle Vernon 78-61 in Section 3-AAA and secured a playoff spot.
The Fillies started out playing catch-up as they were down by five at the end of the first quarter and then they peeled off 23 second-quarter points compared to Belle Vernon’s nine and then rolled in the second half for the convincing victory.
Teammates Taylor Johns and Amber Sanner also contributed offensively with 14 and 11 points.
Eva Nickens had the hot hand for B-V with 25 points on 11 field goals and Ashton Neil added 18.
Laurel Highlands finishes the regular season at 10-14 overall and 8-6 in the section, while the Lady Leopards finish 8-14 overall and 4-8 in the section.
Beth-Center 33, Bentworth 24 – The Beth-Center girls’ basketball team only scored two first-half points, but rallied back in the second for a Section 5-AA victory over visiting Bentworth.
The Lady Bulldogs were plagued by turnovers in the first half, but Courtney Kurowski answered in the third scoring eight of her 10 total points.
Where Kurowski left off, Tonya Carroll took over in the fourth quarter as she scored eight of her game-high 13 points.
Cassie Yannacci led Bentworth with nine points, one of which came behind the three-point arc and Jessica Cramer added seven.
Both the Bentworth (4-10, 9-14) and Beth-Center (9-14, 4-11) regular seasons draw to a close.
Geibel Catholic 63, California 22 – Playoff-bound Geibel jumped out to an early 17-9 first-quarter lead and never looked back as they rolled to an easy Section 2-A win over visiting California.
Danielle Cochrane led the way with 14 points and a perfect 4-of-4 outing from the charity stripe and Nataliz Hozak added 12.
Julie Evans scored 11 to lead the Lady Trojans (0-12, 0-21).
The Lady Gators await the pairings meeting to determine whom they’ll face in the first round.
Greensburg Salem 66, Albert Gallatin 44 – Four Greensburg Salem girls basketball players scored in double digits as they handed host Albert Gallatin a loss in a Section 1-AAAA contest.
Rachel Roddy led all scorers with 19 points, Mary Cook and Ann Marie Olesky scored 17 each and Ashley Tomer added 12 for the Lady Golden Lions.
Albert Gallatin hung tough with Greensburg in the first two periods and were down by eight at the half.
Greensburg poured it on in the second half outscoring the Lady Colonials 16-8 in the third and 20-13 in the fourth for the 20-point win.
Heather Patterson led AG with 12 points, including three 3-pointers and Lydia Davis added 10 and was perfect at the line at 4-of-4.
Hempfield 56, Connellsville 30 – Brittany Bell scored a game-high 13 points, including 6-of-8 from the foul line as Hempfield defeated visiting Connellsville in a Section 1-AAAA match-up.
Teammate Samantha Wanichko added 12.
Hempfield coach Gene Brisbane picked up his 250th career win at home.
The Lady Spartans went on a 13-2 run in the second quarter and continued to roll for the win.
Jenny Kooser led the Lady Falcons with six points.
Connellsville finishes the regular season on Monday on the road against Baldwin.
Boys’ basketball
California 63, Frazier 46 – The playoff-bound California boys’ basketball team wrapped up the regular season with a road victory against host Frazier.
Chris McVicker drained a game-high 22 points, two treys and 4-of-4 from the foul line.
Andy Gallis scored 15, Mike Hrivnak scored 13 and Woody Stewart added 11 for the Trojans (9-13, 10-13).
Steven Erdely had the hot hand for Frazier with 13 points.
Frazier’s season also comes to a close. They finish 11-13 overall and 5-6 in the section.
California looks forward to playoff action.
Boys’ swimming
Laurel Highlands 102, Canon-McMillan 82 – Chris Hunchuck won the 100 butterfly (57.91) and the 500 freestyle (5:28.23) en route to a victory over the Big Macs and remain unbeaten at 18-0 overall.
Hunchuck was also part of the 200 medley team of Adam Collins, Steve Hunchuck and Tony Marghella that finished first in 1:47.80.
Individually, Collins won the 100 freestyle in 51.29 and Steve Hunchuck won the 200 IM in 2:16.40 and Marghella finished first in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:00.71.
Laurel Highlands hosts Uniontown next Thursday at 6 p.m.
Girls’ swimming
Laurel Highlands 95, Canon-McMillan 91 – Theresa Reilly picked up victories in two individual events as the Fillies edged past the Lady Big Macs.
Reilly won the 50-freestyle with a time of 25.84 and the 100-freestyle with a time of 57.58. She was also part of the winning 200 medley relay team of Casey Martin, Erin Perry and Denise Martin that finished first with a time of 2:08.68.
Individually, Perry won the 200 IM in 2:26.41 and Casey Martin won the 100 backstroke in 1:16.27.
The Fillies (11-7, 4-0) recorded a WPIAL qualifying time in the 200 backstroke (1:49.34) as the team of Kelly Huston, Perry, Casey Martin and Reilly finished first.
Laurel Highlands hosts Uniontown next Thursday at 6 p.m.
College wrestling
Thiel 49, Waynesburg 0 – The Waynesburg College wrestling team suffered a difficult 49-0 defeat to Thiel College on Thursday. The Yellow Jackets are coming off a 36-0 shutout of Gallaudet on Saturday at the Ursinus Duals prior to being shutout by the Tomcats.
Thiel stalked a 6-0 lead with a forfeit at 125-pounds before Justin Croney defeated James Weishaar with a 8-6 decision at 133-pounds.
Thiel finished its Presidents’ Athletic Conference opener with two pinfalls, two forfeits, a major decision at 184-pounds and a decision at 165-pounds.
Waynesburg (4-13-1, 0-0-1) returns to the mats on Saturday when it travels to Berea, Ohio to wrestle in the 19th annual John Summa Invitational.