Local roundup
Trojans rally twice before disposing of Bearcats California rallied twice in Saturday’s non-section game with Bentworth, and the second rally in the fourth quarter provided the difference for the Trojans for a 50-45 win over the Bearcats.
California trailed by seven after the first quarter, but rallied for a 23-20 halftime lead. The Bearcats outscored the Trojans in the third quarter, 12-7, to regain the lead, only to have California win the final eight minutes, 20-13.
Ben Carson and Travis VanOlst share scoring honors for California (14-4) with 14 points apiece. Donte Valentino was also in double figures with 10 points.
Jon Kennedy scored a game-high 23 points for Bentworth (13-6).
Mapletown 53, Geibel Catholic 42 – The Maples clinched the fourth and final playoff berth out of Section 2-A with a home victory over the Gators. Both teams are tied for third place at 4-4 with Mapletown improving to 10-10 overall and Geibel Catholic slipping to 5-12.
Ryan Wilson had a double-double for the Maples with 16 points and 11 rebounds. He also bloced four shots. Jake Shiflett scored a game-high 18 points for Mapletown.
Ryan Craft and Tyler Erdely both finished with 10 points for the Gators.
Women’s basketball
California (Pa.) 77, Lock Haven 46 – The Vulcans’ Amber Dubyak finished with her second straight double-double with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds to lead the visitors to a PSAC-West victory.
The Vulcans are now 3-0 in the conference and 16-2 overall.
Four other California players reached double figures, including Lindsay Johnson’s 19, Kayla Smith and Brooque Williams with 16 apiece, and Shaquetta Mance’s 12.
Lock Haven’s Kristin Kudrick shared game-scoring honors with 19 points.
Thiel 55, Waynesburg 50 – The visitors made it a sweep of the night’s doubleheader, rallying from a 6-point deficit at the half for a PAC road victory. Thiel outscored the Yellow Jackets in the second half, 35-24.
Elisha Jones led Waynesburg (0-8, 1-16) with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Waynesburg Central’s Jeanette Wonsettler scored 12 and Michaelene Jones added 12.
Amber Bodrick scored a game-high 26 points and grabbed a game-high 12 points to lead Thiel (4-4, 7-9).
Saint Vincent 91, Westminster 64 – Connellsville grad Ashley Benzio had an offensive rebound and two assists as the Lady Bearcats romped past the visiting Lady Titans. Janelle Reed scored a game-high 31 points for Saint Vincent.
Men’s basketball
California (Pa.) 72, Lock Haven 64 – Ali Mbaye scored 16 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead the Vulcans to a victory on the road in PSAC-West action. California improves to 3-0 in the conference and 12-4 overall.
Theron Colao was also in double figures for California with 12 points.
Billy Arre led Lock Haven with 14 points and seven rebounds.
The Vulcans remain in PSAC-West action with a road trip Wednesday to Slippery Rock.
Thiel 80, Waynesburg 75 – The Yellow Jackets trailed by five at the half, and couldn’t crack the deficit in the final 20 minutes for a Presidents’ Athletic Conference home loss.
Waynesburg’s Tim Drakeley continued his offensive assault on the conference with a game-high 35 points, including 10-of-15 from the field and 8-of-11 from 3-point range. Josh Parisi added 18.
Thiel’s Joe Herrmann was tough to stop as well, pouring in 31 points on 12-of-19 field goals and 7-of-7 from the foul line. Tommy Hall scored 19 and Nick Sefcsik added 10.
Waynesburg falls to 1-6 in the PAC and 7-10 overall, while the Tomcats improve to 3-4 in the conference and 7-9 overall.
High school wrestling
Seneca Valley Tournament – Laurel Highlands had a pair of wrestlers finish first with undefeated records. Angelo Brink won the 130-pound bracket with a 3-0 record while Eric Minerd finished 2-0 in the heavyweight division.
The Mustangs host McKeesport on Wednesday.