Jan 7, 2016 By The 4 min read

Laurel Highlands rode a 26-8 scoring edge in the third quarter to a 69-63 win at Southmoreland in a non-section boys basketball game Wednesday night.

The Scotties had opened a 37-19 lead midway through the second quarter, but the Mustangs stormed back in the third. Bryce Laskey hit a three-pointer with 2:45 remaining in the third quarter to tie the score 43-43 and Jake Swartz scored with 1:38 left in the third to put LH ahead for good, 47-45. The Mustangs stretched it to a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter before settling on the six-point win.

Laskey paced LH (8-5) with 18 points after being held to three in the first half. Likewise, Swartz scored 12 of his 16 in the second half. Hudson Novak also scored 16 and Chayton Burchick netted 10.

Brandon Stone paced Southmoreland (7-5) with 33 points and 11 rebounds. The Scotties won the rebounding battle 30-25 and Swartz led LH with 8.

Laurel Highlands returns to Section 4-AAA action when it hosts Belle Vernon Friday night. The Scotties, meanwhile, return to section 3-AAA action Friday, hosting West Shamokin.

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Monessen 104, Clairton 64 — Monessen scored 40 points in the third quarter of a 104-64 win over Clairton in non-section boys basketball action Wednesday night.

It was the first loss of the season for the Bears (6-1), while Monessen improved to 9-3.

Justice Rice turned in a triple-double for the Greyhounds with 33 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. He missed a quadruple-double by two steals. Dwight Moore had a double-double with 28 points and 10 rebounds and Jaden Altomore scored 25.

Yuri Myers paced Clairton with 22 points and Aaron Mathews added 14.

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Ringgold 55, South Park 52 – George Martin scored 18 and Dakota Browning added 10 as Ringgold earned a 55-52 boys basketball win at South Park in a non-section game Wednesday night.

Howie Bell led all scorers with 19 points for South Park (3-8), while Joey Torris added 16 and Steve Ennis 10.

Ringgold (6-5) returns to Section 4-AAA action Friday, traveling to West Mifflin. South Park hosts Keystone Oaks in Section 5-AAA action also on Friday.

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Carmichaels 80, Mapletown 26 – Alex Hoy scored a game-high 28 points and Chris McAfee added 12 as Carmichaels beat Mapletown, 80-26, in non-section boys basketball action Wednesday night.

The Mikes improved to 7-4 by outscoring Mapletown 48-15 in the first half. Carmichaels outscored the Maples 32-11 in the second half.

Alex Gennette paced Mapletown (0-11) with 11 points.

Mapletown hosts Monessen in Section 3-A Friday, while Carmichaels visits Frazier in Section 4-AA.

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California 67, Frazier 45 – California tuned up for a Section 3-A showdown against Monessen Friday with a 67-45 non-section win at home over Frazier Wednesday night.

The winners got 18 points from Ben Wilson, 15 from Kass Taylor and 11 from Johnny DeFranco to improve to 8-3.

Frazier (6-6) got 10 points from Damon Lovis. The Commodores host Carmichaels Friday.

Girls basketball

Belle Vernon 56, LH 51 – Kelsey Green led all scorers with 16 points and Caitlyn Trombley added 14 as Belle Vernon topped Laurel Highlands, 56-51, in non-section girls basketball action Wednesday night.

Ashley Galderisi led LH with 15 and Sarah Proud added 11.

Belle Vernon improved to 4-7 overall, while LH fell to 7-6.

An 18-6 scoring edge in the third quarter carried the host Lady Leps to victory. LH made it close with a 20-17 edge in the fourth quarter.

Belle Vernon is away Thursday with a Section 4-AAA game at West Mifflin. LH is at Mount Pleasant in a Section 3-AAA matchup.

Wrestling

Mapletown 42, West Greene 15 – Only four weight classes were contested, but Mapletown benefited from six forfeit wins in a 42-15 win over West Greene in Section 2-AA wrestling action Wednesday at Mapletown.

Ironically, West Greene won three of the four contested matches. Colton Hamilton pinned Mapletown’s Lane Powell in 1:30 in the 170-pound match and Connor Main pinned Tanner Weston in 2:40 at 195, while Joey Chapman earned a 7-5 decision over Brian Brady at 126.

Mapletown’s Seth Shubert pinned Isaac Courtright in 1:41 to win the 138-pound match.

Forfeit winners for the Maples were Noah Hixon at 113, Kevin Hayes at 145, Brandon Smotzer at 152, Corey Dewitt at 160, Shawn Hennessey at 182 and Harley Gee at 285.