Jan 21, 2025 By the Herald-Standard 4 min read

Elizabeth Forward took a huge step towards winning Section 3-AAAA title by holding off visiting Laurel Highlands, 37-32, in girls basketball action Monday night.

Michelle Jellison scored nine points for the first-place Lady Warriors (8-0, 11-5) who hold a three-game lead in the section with six games to play.

The game was tied 22-22 at halftime but EF out-scored LH 8-5 in the third quarter and 7-5 in the fourth to pull out the victory.

Chloe Zombek and Kaelynn Settles had eight points apiece for the Lady Warriors, who have won 10 in a row.

Aierra Jenkins led the second-place Lady Mustangs (6-3, 11-5) with a game-high 14 points and Aryianna Sumpter added nine points.

Belle Vernon 46, Yough 26 – Aubrey Brown recorded a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds and added four steals and a blocked shot in the Lady Leopards’ Section 3-AAAA win over the host Lady Cougars.

Yough (3-5, 8-7) held an 8-4 lead after the first quarter before Belle Vernon rallied to take a 20-19 halftime lead then pulled away with an 18-4 advantage in the third quarter to go up 38-23.

Abby Russell contributed four assists and four steals for the Lady Leopards (5-3, 7-8) who also got four steals from Saylor Lee.

Evelyn Gates led the Lady Cougars with 10 points.

Fort Cherry 51, Waynesburg 31 – Olivia Kemp scored 11 points and the Lady Rangers overcame a slow start to defeat the visiting Lady Raiders in a non-section game.

Waynesburg (8-6) led 10-5 after the first quarter but Fort Cherry (13-2) surged to a 27-19 halftime advantage and pulled away from there.

Gianna Bianchini chipped in with 10 points for the Lady Rangers.

Mya Smith and Peyton Cowell each tallied eight points for Waynesburg.

California 50, Bentworth 41 – Hayley Gibson tossed in a game-high 19 points as the Lady Trojans rode a big fourth quarter to a Section 3-AA win over the visiting Lady Bearcats.

California (3-2, 6-4) led 10-8, 25-20 and 36-35 after the quarter breaks, then out-scored Bentworth 14-6 in the final frame to pull away.

Addison Gregory added 13 points for the Lady Trojans who also got 10 points from Olivia Gibson.

Aubrie Logan paced the Lady Bearcats (2-3, 6-9) with 10 points and Kayla O’Dell added nine.

Washington 41, Brownsville 39 – The Lady Prexies overcame a seven-point deficit by out-scoring the visiting Lady Falcons 16-7 in the fourth quarter to earn a Section 3-AAA victory.

Xavier King paced Washington (2-5, 5-10) with 15 points.

Brownsville (2-4, 8-6) led 14-11, 22-15 and 32-25 at the quarter breaks before the Lady Prexies rallied.

Zhariah Reed topped the Lady Falcons’ scoring column with 14 points.

Boys basketball

McGuffey 63, Carmichaels 34 – Ayden Cunningham had 21 points in the Highlanders non-section win over the visiting Mikes.

Wyatt Frazee (13) and Mason Nemeth (10) also hit double figures in scoring for McGuffey (12-4).

Robbie Wilson-Jones scored eight points for Carmichaels (3-11).

Avella 79, Mapletown 37 – Bryce Wright poured in a game-high 25 points, including seven 3-pointers, as the host Eagles toppled the Maples in a non-section game.

Avella (7-7) led 54-17 at halftime.

Lucas Stevenson rang up 22 points for Mapletown (0-14).

Hockey

Connellsville 8, Sewickley Academy 0 – Will Whittaker scored two goals, Alex Boone totaled a goal and two assists and Tony Fleck, Landon Garlick and TJ Snyder each had a goal and an assist as the Falcons blanked Sewickley in a PIHL Division 2 game.

Nick Daniels-Nimmick stopped eight shots in recording the shutout for Connellsville (9-4-1-1). The Falcons also got a goal apiece from Evan Sokol and Sam Denny.

Connellsville also recently revealed it had three players plus coach Brett Smith selected to take part in the 2025 PIHL All-Star Games which will be played on Sunday at RMU Island Sports Center.

Fleck, Daniels-Nimmick and Matty Smith Jr. were all chosen to play for the Division 2 Gold team which will go up against the Division 2 Blue team at 12 noon. Brett Smith will coach the Division 2 Gold team.

Smith Jr., the coach’s son, has seven goals and seven assists as a defenseman so far this season. Fleck, a forward, has contributed four goals and six assists. Daniels-Nimmick has a .904 save percentage, a 1.85 goals against average and all nine of the Falcons’ wins.