Lady Trojans still tied atop Section 3-AA
The California girls retained a share of the top spot in Section 2-AA Monday night with a 64-43 victory at Bentworth.
California (13-5), Greensburg C.C. (11-8), and Serra Catholic (13-6) are all tied in first place with 10-3 records. The Lady Trojans host Frazier Thursday. The Lady Centurions are at Jeannette, while Serra Catholic entertains Carmichaels.
California pulled away in the second quarter, extending an 18-12 lead to 35-16 at halftime. The Lady Trojans held a slight edge in the second half, 29-27.
Bailey Vig led California with a game-high 21 points. Grace Roberts finished with 18 and Love’ Porter added 12.
Jenna Vito led the Lady Bearcats (0-13, 3-17) with 19 points.
———
Greensburg C.C. 55, Beth-Center 30 – The Beth-Center girls needed a victory Monday night to enhance their chances at a Section 3-AA playoff berth, but Greensburg Central Catholic put a dent in those plans with a 55-30 victory.
The Lady Bulldogs (7-6, 12-8) are in fifth place, one game behind Frazier (8-5, 12-8) for the final playoff berth. Despite losing to Serra Catholic, the Lady Commodores secured a playoff spot with Beth-Center’s loss.
Beth-Center needs to defeat Bentworth Thursday in the section finale, while Frazier must lose to California. The teams split in the regular season so both would go to the playoffs in the event of a tie.
The Lady Centurions (11-8) remained in the hunt for the section title, moving into a first-place tie with California and Serra Catholic at 10-3.
Greensburg C.C. led 18-7 after the first quarter and 25-9 at halftime. The home team outscored the Lady Bulldogs in the second half, 30-21.
Kinlee Whited led Beth-Center with 10 points. Olivia Greco added eight.
Melina Maietta and Belle Skatell both scored 14 for the Lady Centurions. Anna Eisaman and Heavan Hester finished with 10 apiece.
———
Connellsville 46, Laurel Highlands 39 – Laurel Highlands led at halftime, but Connellsville turned the game around in the third quarter as the Lady Falcons rallied for a 46-39 road victory in Section 3-AAAAA action.
The Fillies (1-10, 2-19) led 16-7 after the first quarter and 27-15 at halftime.
The Lady Falcons (7-4, 10-10) roared back in the third quarter, outscoring Laurel Highlands, 22-4, for a 37-31 lead.
Connellsville secured the win with a 9-8 advantage in the fourth quarter.
Zoe Youdell scored a game-high 16 points for the Lady Falcons. Megan Haggerty added 12.
Taylor Smith was the top scorer for Laurel Highlands with 15. Allison Lowery finished with 11.
———
Keystone Oaks 72, Belle Vernon 49 – Keystone Oaks clinched the Section 3-AAAA title Monday night with a 72-49 victory over visiting Belle Vernon.
The Lady Golden Eagles improve to 13-0 in the section and 17-3 overall. The Lady Leopards go to 11-2 in the section and 16-5 overall, and close the section schedule Thursday with a home game against Elizabeth Forward.
Keystone Oaks led 25-17 after the first quarter, and then outscored Belle Vernon 30-15 over the next 16 minutes.
Kelsey Green led the Lady Leopards with 14 points. Lindsay Steeber added 12.
Gillian Piccolino scored a game-high 17 points for Keystone Oakes. Jaylen Hoffman added 16.
———
Mapletown 55, Jefferson-Morgan 47 – The Mapletown girls closed the regular season Monday night with a 55-47 Section 2-A victory over visiting Jefferson-Morgan.
The Lady Maples finish the regular season with a 5-5 section record and 9-13 overall mark. They await word next week of their playoff foe.
The Lady Rockets go to 1-9 in the section and 2-17 overall.
Mapletown led 8-6 after the first quarter and 22-16 at halftime. The Lady Rockets made a run in the third quarter, 18-15, but the Lady Maples closed out the game with an 18-13 fourth quarter.
Taylor Vanata had a double-double for Mapletown with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Abby Antill scored a game-high 20 points and Kelsi Smith added 16.
Bryn Boyd led Jefferson-Morgan with 19 points.
———
South Allegheny 29, Waynesburg Central 26 – The South Allegheny girls rallied in the fourth quarter Monday night for a 29-26 victory over visiting Waynesburg Central in Section 2-AAA action.
The Lady Gladiators (6-5, 12-7) led 11-7 after the first quarter, but Waynesburg rallied for a 14-13 halftime lead.
The Lady Raiders (2-9, 5-15) added a point to the advantage, leading 22-20 heading into the fourth quarter.
South Allegheny outscored Waynesburg in the fourth quarter, 9-4.
Madison Kirwood scored a game-high 11 points for the Lady Gladiators. Sydney Kirkwood added eight points.
Shay Echegaray led the Lady Raiders with eight points.
South Allegheny 29, Waynesburg Central 26. Records: South Allegheny (6-5, 12-7), Waynesburg Central (2-9, 5-15).
Hockey
Elizabeth Forward 4, Central Valley 3 – Michael Vasko had a hand in all the Warriors’ goals Monday night, leading Elizabeth Forward to a 4-3 victory over visiting Central Valley in PIHL Division 2 League action.
The victory gives the Warriors 19 points (8-4-1-2) to remain in the hunt for a playoff berth.
Vasko scored the Warriors’ lone goals of the first and second periods.
He assisted on Elizabeth Forward’s third goal scored by Joseph Goldstein at 1:27 of the third period. Vasko then scored the eventual game-winner at 5:46. Matthew Hickey and Matthew Ulishney assisted on Vasko’s first and third goal.
Elizabeth Forward’s Tyrik Barkley faced 45 shots, turning aside 42 for the win.
Central Valley’s Roberto Wilhelm made 29 saves.