Jan 30, 2007 By The 6 min read

Abel scores 28 in Lady Scots’ win Vanessa Abel poured in a game-high 28 points, including three from beyond the 3-point arc as Southmoreland downed visiting Laurel Highlands, 57-45, in a Section 3-AAA girls basketball contest Monday.

Teammate Ann Coffman also eclipsed the double-digit plateau with 22 points, including four 3-pointers.

The Lady Scots led by two at the half and then went on a 16-6 burst in the third quarter and continued on for the win.

Ashley Haragos led Laurel Highlands with 18 points.

Southmoreland scored on 20 field goals and shot 11-of-19 from the foul line, while the Fillies scored on 19 field goals and shot 5-of-10 from the charity stripe.

Laurel Highlands (2-11, 5-16) hosts Derry on Thursday, while Southmoreland (12-1, 18-2) hosts Ringgold.

Hempfield 53, Albert Gallatin 23 – Eara Catone tossed in a game-high 15 points, including three 3-pointers as the Lady Spartans rolled past Albert Gallatin in a Section 1-AAAA game.

Teammate Maria Montini also scored in double figures with 13 points.

Hempfield (8-3, 12-8) scored on 19 field goals and shot 9-of-14 from the foul line, and the Lady Colonials scored on 8 field goals and shot 6-of-7 from the line.

Devon Angelo was the lone AG player over the double-digit plateau with 10 points.

Albert Gallatin (1-10, 2-18) looks to bounce back on the road against Kiski on Thursday.

Steel Valley 75, Waynesburg Central 39 – Miatta Toothman poured in a game-high 23 points, but it wasn’t enough as Steel Valley upended the Lady Raiders in a Section 5-AA game.

The Lady Ironmen jumped out to an early lead behind junior guard Erin Feltz’s 20 points.

Sophomore Brittany Dunmire was next in the scoring column with 19 points, including six 3-pointers.

The Lady Raiders (1-21) are back in action Thursday at home against Thomas Jefferson.

Carmichaels 66, California 28 – Megan Stuvek posted a double-double with 30 points and 12 rebounds as Lady Mikes cruised to an easy Section 2-A win over California. Jordan Duke tossed in 18 points and added four steals.

It was all Carmichaels from the start as they jumped out to an 11-2 lead in the first quarter.

As a team, the Lady Mikes scored on 26 field goals compared to 11 from the California.

Carmichaels (10-10, 4-3) squares off against Jefferson-Morgan Thursday at home in a crucial section game.

Jefferson-Morgan 64, West Greene 19 – Four Jefferson-Morgan players scored in double figures with Rachel Weaver leading the way with 21 points as the Lady Rockets cruised to an easy Section 2-A win over West Greene.

Maddie Snyder was next with 17 points, followed by Ashley Phillips’ 12 and Lindsay Olson’s 10.

The Lady Rockets (5-2, 11-8) travel to Carmichaels Thursday.

Beth-Center 67, Chartiers-Houston 39 – Megan Sowers scored a game-high 25 points to keep the Lady Bulldogs on track for a Section 5-AA playoff berth.

Beth-Center improves to 6-4 in the section and 12-8 overall while the Lady Bucs fall to 0-9 in the section and 3-18 overall.

Sowers made nine field goals, including a pair of 3-pointers, as Beth-Center had nine players in the scoring column.

Chelsea Morton and Katie Rosemeier shared scoring honors for Chartiers-Houston with 17 points apiece.

Boys swimming

Laurel Highlands 74, Charleroi 42 – Dave Johnson claimed the 50 freestyle (23.62) and the diving (159.60 points), and was also on two winning relay teams as Laurel Highlands cruised to an easy non-section win over visiting Charleroi.

Teammate Chris Hunchuck was also a multiple winner in the 100 butterfly (56.21) and the 100 breaststroke (1:09.56).

The team of Johnson, Hunchuck, Zack Collins and Joey Saylor kicked things off in the 200 medley relay with a winning time of 1:59.40. The same team also won the 400 medley relay in 3:55.70.

Individually, Collins won the 100 freestyle in 1:00.27 and Travis Kimmel won gold in the 200 IM in 2:50.84.

The Mustangs (5-6, 3-0) travel to Canon-McMillan Thursday.

Girls swimming

Laurel Highlands 83, Charleroi 53 – Denise Martin picked up victories in the 100 butterfly (1:12.23) and the 200 freestyle (2:25.97) as Laurel Highlands made it a clean sweep in a non-section meet over visiting Charleroi.

In the 200 medley relay, the team of Casey Martin, Kendall George, Marissa Allison and Kelly Huston won gold with a time of 2:06.33.

Martin, Huston, Allison and Chance Leighgaber claimed the 200 free relay in 1:53.88, while Martin, Allison, Huston and Jeanette Mayfield won the 400 free relay in 4:20.22.

Individually, George won the 200 IM in 2:42.03, Martin the 50 freestyle in 27.64 and Mayfield claimed the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:16.67.

Jessica Gallo took home the 500 freestyle in 6:48.88 and Heather Hunchuck the 100 breaststroke in 1:20.16.

High school wrestling

West Greene 44, Elderton 30 – The West Greene wrestling team advanced to the quarterfinals of the WPIAL Team Championships with a win over visiting Elderton.

West Greene peeled off the first three wins starting at 112 as Colton Blumer pinned Mary Gross in 16 seconds.

Dakotah Riffle (119) won by decision over Domingo Smith, 8-2, and Kevin Courtwright pinned Sean Stewart in 48 seconds at 125 pounds.

After consecutive losses at 130 and 135, West Greene’s Kory Bissett won by forfeit.

Tucker Conklin claimed a tech fall victory by a 17-2 score over Shawn Boyer at 152 pounds.

The Pioneers rattled off three straight wins beginning at 171 as Patrick Morris pinned Ryan Lasher in 2:56. At 189, Chris Horr pinned Anthony Morales in 4:24 and Danny Herrington won with a pin over Travis Bell in 2:49.

The Pioneers (10-6, 7-3) are back in action Wednesday against top-seed Burrell starting at 6 p.m.

In the other match of the night, Keystone Oaks defeated Highlands 41-28.

Women’s basketball

California (Pa.) 60, Slippery Rock 58 – California junior Lindsay Johnson scored a game-high 16 points and freshman Brooque Williams added her first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds as the Vulcans gained a PSAC West women’s basketball victory over Slippery Rock.

The victory was No. 100 at Hamer Hall for seventh-year Vulcan head coach Darcie Vincent, who improved her overall record at Cal to 177-36. Cal also extended its winning streak against The Rock to 10 straight games.

Johnson hit three of Cal’s five 3-point goals on the way to her highest point total in the last 12 games.

Men’s basketball

California (Pa.) 79, Slippery Rock 56 – Guards James Petty and Theron Colao scored 14 and 13 points, respectively, to lead a balanced California attack as the Vulcans ran away in the second half for a PSAC West basketball victory over visiting Slippery Rock.

The Vulcans (16-3, 5-0), ranked second in the NCAA East Region, are off to their best start since 1998 and extended their win steak to 10 games.

Junior forward Ron Banks added 12 points while senior forward Osborne Gardner clipped in nine. Junior guard and Connellsville graduate James Hairston and senior forward Kevin Green both tallied eight points.

The victory, combined with Edinboro’s 75-67 loss to Clairton, gave the Vulcans a two-game lead in the PSAC West. Cal reaches the halfway mark of the PSAC West schedule Wednesday with a trip to Edinboro (3-2), which is tied for second in the loss column in the PSAC West with Shippensburg (4-2).