Local roundup: Pioneers knocked out by Bentworth
The rematch was closer but still went Bentworth’s way.
The Bearcats defeated West Greene 62-27 on their home floor during the regular season and the WPIAL decided to match those two teams up again in a Class 2A boys basketball preliminary round playoff game on Thursday night, again at Bentworth.
The 19th-seeded Pioneers hung tough but the 14th-seeded Bearcats, thanks to a game-high 31 points from Ben Hays, wore down the visitors to claim a 61-44 victory.
West Greene (7-14) ended the first quarter tied at 13-13 but Bentworth (15-6) gradually pulled away from there.
The Bearcats edged out to a 25-21 halftime lead and increased their advantage to 39-29 after three quarters before putting the game away by out-scoring West Greene 22-15 in the fourth.
Bentworth advances to Monday’s first round where it will play at No. 3 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at 7 p.m.
Ryan Moessner added 15 points for the Bearcats.
Matthew Wassil led the way for the Pioneers with 15 points. Landen Hill followed with 12 points and Will Shipman contributed 10 points.
BRENTWOOD 58, BETH-CENTER 41 — Deng Mu scored 23 points in the 16th-seeded Spartans’ WPIAL Class 2A preliminary round playoff win over the visiting Bulldogs.
Brentwood (13-10) jumped out to a 17-11 lead in the first quarter and built a 31-16 halftime advantage. No. 17 Beth-Center (12-11) held an 18-16 edge in the third quarter but still trailed 47-34 heading into the fourth.
The Spartans kept B-C at bay with an 11-7 advantage in the final frame.
X’havier Nunez followed Mu with 18 points.
Brayden Ozohonish paced the Bulldogs with 14 points and Parker Amos added 10.
BOYS SWIMMING
TRINITY 53, BELLE VERNON 51 — The Leopards’ Brady Malekovich and Derek Milkovich each claimed a pair of individual victories but Belle Vernon was nipped by Trinity in a Section 5-2A meet.
Malekovich was first in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke while Milkovich won the 200 freestyle and the 500 freestyle.
Gaige Watson took first in the 100 breakstroke for the Leopards (0-5, 2-12).
Watson, Milkovich and Malekovich teamed up with Leonidas Soto to win the 400 freestyle relay.
GIRLS SWIMMING
TRINITY 59, BELLE VERNON 44 — The Lady Leopards fell to Trinity in a Section 5-2A meet.
Belle Vernon (0-5, 5-9) got individual victories from Josie Nikolic in the 200 IM and Megan Shusteric in the 100 freestyle.
The Lady Leopards earned a pair of relay victories with Nikolic, Shusteric, Ali Watson and Isabella O’Dade teaming up for victory in the 200 and 400 freestyle.