Dec 30, 2023 By the Herald-Standard 4 min read

The Uniontown boys held a two-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, but rallied in the final eight minutes for a 53-42 victory over Aliquippa Friday in the Central Valley Roundball Classic.

The Red Raiders remain unbeaten, improving to 9-0 overall.

The Quips led 9-7 after the first quarter, but Uniontown surged into the lead at the half, 28-21.

Aliquippa rallied in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 36-34. Uniontown closed out the game with a 17-8 advantage in the fourth quarter.

Notorious Grooms led the way for the Red Raiders with a game-high 16 points. Jamire Braxton finished with 14 points and Calvin Winfrey added 13.

Demarkus Walker scored 10 points for Aliquippa.

Belle Vernon 74, Charleroi 42 – The Leopards scored 49 points in the first half for a victory over the host Cougars in the Charleroi Holiday Tournament.

Belle Vernon (5-1) led 29-9 after the first quarter and 49-18 at halftime.

The Leopards’ Zion Moore earned all-tournament honors, scoring a game-high 21 points and grabbing six rebounds. Curtis Wade finished with 20 points, six rebounds and six assists. Alonzo Wade scored 13 points, dished out six assists and pulled down eight rebounds. Trevor Kovatch had six assists.

Jackson Kuranko, who was named to the all-tournament team, scored 12 points for Charleroi (4-6).

Frazier 81, California 72 – Four Commodores finished in double figures in a victory over the Trojans in the Charleroi Holiday Tournament.

Dalian McManus led the way for Frazier (6-4) with 22 points. Brennen Stewart scored 17, Trey Whitehead finished with 16 points, and Aidan Hardy added 12.

Vinny Manzella, who made the all-tournament team, paced the Trojans (0-9) with a game-high 26 points. Jacob Ziolecki had 20 points and Jaquese Derns added 12.

Southmoreland 67, Ringgold 38 – The Scotties remained undefeated with a victory in the Charleroi Holiday Tournament over the Rams.

Southmoreland (10-0) led 21-4 after the first quarter and 40-16 at halftime.

Wyatt Richter paced the Scotties with a game-high 17 points. Noah Felentzer scored 12 and Ty Keffer added eight.

Chris Tolliver scored 12 and Daryl Tolliver finished with 11 points for Ringgold (3-7).

Elizabeth Forward 55, Clairton 39 – The Warriors pulled away in the second half for a win in the South Allegheny Holiday Tournament.

Elizabeth Forward (8-1) led 23-21 at halftime. The lead grew to 40-27 after three quarters.

Tyler Basic scored a game-high 14 points. Cy Herchelroath (13) and Charlie Meehlieb (12) also finished in double figures.

DaShawn Hines led the Bears (5-6) with 10 points.

Keystone Oaks 67, Geibel Catholic 34 – The Gators’ Gary Tarbuk scored a game-high 25 points in a loss to the Golden Eagles.

Keystone Oaks (3-6) led 18-6 after the first quarter and pulled away for a 42-11 halftime lead.

Erond Jakupi (17), Muhammed Umar (12), Bruno Onate (10), and Jude Clarke (10) all scored in double digits for Keystone Oaks.

Wheeling Central 75, Waynesburg Central 32 – The Raiders were unable to overcome a 21-point deficit in the first quarter in a loss to Wheeling Central.

Cole Headlee scored six points for Waynesburg. Wheeling Central’s Eli Dean finished with a game-high 21 points.

Girls basketball

Yough 40, Southmoreland 31 – The Lady Cougars had a 22-7 lead at halftime and held the advantage for a non-section home win.

Southmoreland (0-8) carried the play in the second half with a 24-18 advantage.

Autumn Matthews led Yough (5-4) with a game-high 24 points. Beatrice Pawlikowsky scored eight points and Gianna Perbonish finished with seven for the Lady Scots.

Jeannette 40, Mapletown 33 – The Lady Jayhawks scored 22 points in the fourth quarter to rally past the host team of the Mapletown Christmas Classic.

The Lady Maples (3-6) led 8-7 after the first quarter and 21-10 at halftime. Jeannette trailed 26-18 heading into the fourth quarter.

Mapletown’s Isabella Garnek finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and two steals. Makenna Lotspeich had five rebounds and four steals.

Adriana Allison and Venicia Vignoli both scored 13 points for Jeannette.