Feb 6, 2005 By The 6 min read

The playoff-bound Laurel Highlands boys’ basketball team wrapped up its regular season on Saturday with a 58-41 non-section victory over host Kiski Area. The game was tight through the first three quarters before Mustangs turned it in on in the final eight minutes as Kaleb Ramsey, Danny Stefancin and Danny Hudock scored 18 of Laurel Highlands’ 20 points.

Ramsey led all scorers with 22 points and Stefancin added 11.

Mychol Skinner and Adam Yingling each scored in double figures for the Cavaliers with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

The Mustangs await word from the WPIAL pairings meeting that will determine who they’ll face in the Class AAA playoffs.

Elizabeth-Forward 65, Uniontown 57 – Elizabeth-Forward erupted for 26 fourth-quarter points en route to a non-section victory over the visiting Red Raiders.

The Red Raiders held a one-point lead at the half.

Steve Sweich led the way for the Warriors with 18 points. Todd Hanuf and Jason Springer each scored 13 and Matt Jesionowski added 10 for the home squad.

A trio of Uniontown players scored in double digits as senior guard Eric Johnson led with 18 points, including a perfect 4-of-4 outing from the free throw line.

Marc Umbel drained four treys as he scored 14 points. Kishaun Cook added 10 and was also perfect at the free throw line with 4-of-4 attempts.

The Red Raiders close the regular season at home on Monday against Yough.

Carmichaels 72, West Greene 32 – For the first time since 1996, Carmichaels sits atop Section 2-A with co-champions Geibel Catholic as the regular season came to a close.

On Friday night, the Mikes (17-4, 11-1) made quick work of visiting West Greene (1-20, 1-11) behind a 3-point clinic by Jared Lapkowicz. He poured in eight treys en route to a game-high 26 points with teammate Jeff Lapkowicz adding 10 points, including two 3-pointers.

Tyrone Pinson also scored in double figures with 11.

The Mikes’ defense held West Greene to just single digits in three of the four quarters.

Jake Kerch led West Greene with 15 points, including 4-of-6 from the foul line.

The pairings meeting on Tuesday will determine Carmichaels’ first round foe will face in the WPIAL Class A playoffs.

High school wrestling

Montour Tournament – Cameron Muma and Greg Hogan came away from the Montour Tournament with first place finishes as Laurel Highlands finished seventh out of 17 teams in the tournament.

Muma won by major decision over Butler’s Decker Hubbs, 11-3, in the 112-pound bout and Hogan won by decision, 10-4, over Oak Glen’s Dirk Baker in the 130-pound class.

The Mustangs’ Nick Brown finished in second in the 135-pound contest as he lost a 2-0 overtime decision to Seneca Valley’s Lee Layton.

“They did very good,” said LH coach Irwin Brambley. “They had to work through a lot of tough bouts in their weight classes. It’s a good end-of-year tournament and these guys are coming along.”

Laurel Highlands finishes its season on Feb. 16 at Fort Cherry.

Women’s basketball

California (Pa.) 68, Lock Haven 57 – California senior All-American guard Sara McKinney poured in 24 of her game-high 26 points in the second half as the 11th-ranked Vulcans held off Lock Haven in PSAC West women’s basketball action.

Freshman forward Kim Nowakowski added 18 points, including 14 in the first half, for the Vulcans (17-4, 5-1 PSAC West), who finish the first half of the PSAC West season in second place behind Clarion.

McKinney and Nowakowski each posted double-doubles as they pulled down 11 and 10 rebounds, respectively. It’s the first time this season two Cal players have recorded double-doubles in the same game.

McKinney, who registered her team-leading eighth double-double of the season, moved within 13 points of California’s career scoring record of 1,892 points, set in 1994 by Lara Thornton. McKinney enters Monday’s PSAC West game at Slippery Rock with 1,879 points. She already owns the career records for rebounds (1,076) and steals (286).

The Vulcans’ defense held Lock Haven to a 19-for-54 shooting performance from the floor, and the Vulcans out-rebounded the hosts by a 43-40 margin.

The Vulcans also remained undefeated against the Bald Eagles in five seasons under head coach Darcy Vincent, extending their winning streak in the series to 10 games.

Men’s basketball

California (Pa.) 67, Lock Haven 57 – In a foul-fest at Lock Haven, California sophomore Sharif Bray hit 11-of-15 free throws on his way to a team-high 16 points to lead the Vulcans to a PSAC West victory over the Bald Eagles. California improves to 3-3 in the conference and 13-7 overall.

Sammy Rahman registered his first career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while junior Boris Mesnager struggled through foul trouble to add 11 points for the Vulcans.

The second half was a Vulcan free throw shooting display. The Vulcans missed nine of their first 18 free throw attempts in the second half, but then hit 13 of their final 17 to hold off the Bald Eagles. California scored only six field goals in the second half, none in the final eight minutes.

The Vulcans also finished with a 38-32 rebounding advantage.

California returns to action Monday with a PSAC West road game at Slippery Rock with tip-off at 8 p.m.

College swimming

Youngstown State 110, California (Pa.) 80 – After going 12-0 in only his third season at the helm of the lady swimmers, head coach Ed Denny suffered his first loss of the season to a Division I opponent.

In the women’s 100-yard backstroke, freshman Brittany Bureau and sophomore Rachel Brock placed first and second, respectively, with times of 1:12.45 and 1:14.97.

The 200 freestyle team of Petra Zavadilova, Melanie Ruch, Miranda King and Belle Vernon graduate Rachel Driver placed first with a time of 1:40.59.

Zavadilova and Ruch also finished first and second in the 100 yard butterfly event posting times of 56.1 seconds and 1:01.63.

Driver finished first in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 55.42 seconds.

This ends regular season meets for the Vulcans. The PSAC Championship is next on the schedule on Feb. 16.

College wrestling

Baldwin-Wallace Invitational – The Waynesburg wrestling team finished seventh in the 19th annual John Summa Invitational Tournament at the B-W Recreation Center in Berea, Ohio over the weekend.

James Weishaar lost his third place bout in the 133-pound class and Bentworth graduate Ken Laird placed third in the 149-pound weight class.

Brockport State College won its ninth straight Summa title.