Jan 18, 2025 6 min read

Laurel Highlands’ defense limited South Park to less than eight points per quarter in a 48-31 victory on Friday night in Class 4A Section 3 girls basketball play at Harold “Horse” Taylor Memorial Gymnasium in the first game of a doubleheader that was held due to inclement weather postponing the action on Thursday.

The Lady Mustangs had a 15-6 lead after the first quarter, and although the Lady Eagles had a 12-10 edge in the second period, Laurel Highlands had a 25-18 advantage at halftime.

Coach Stewart Davis’ team outscored the visitors, 16-5, in the third quarter for a commanding 41-23 lead heading into the final frame. South Park had an 8-7 edge in the fourth.

Miya Harris led LH and the game in scoring with 15 points. She also had six steals. Teammate Taylor Schwertfeger added 12 points and seven rebounds. Aierra Jenkins put in 11 points.

The Lady Mustangs improved to 6-2 in section play and 11-4 overall. The Lady Eagles fell to 5-2 in the section and 8-4 overall.

South Park defeated Laurel Highlands, 48-46, on Dec. 12, and despite losing to section-leading Elizabeth Forward four days later and having to play several weeks without starter Aryianna Sumpter for several weeks due to injury, the Lady Mustangs have won five in a row and seven of eight since a 60-56 setback to the Lady Warriors.

LH returns to action Monday at Elizabeth Forward. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The Lady Mustangs need a victory over the Lady Warriors and hope another team can knock off EF down the stretch for a chance to at least share the section title.

Elizabeth Forward 66, Southmoreland 17 — The Lady Warriors had a 28-point lead after the first quarter and cruised to a Class 4A Section 3 win at Southmoreland.

Elizabeth Forward’s Michelle Jellison had a game-high 23 points. Teammate Kaelynn Settles put in 12 and McKenna Bittner added 11.

Olivia Aumer scored six points for the Lady Scotties (1-7, 3-12).

EF improved to 7-0 in section play and 10-3 overall.

Mount Pleasant 40, Yough 23 — The Lady Vikings took control in the third quarter to earn a Class 4A Section 3 home victory over the Lady Cougars.

Mount Pleasant’s Ryleigh Drzal had a game-high 15 points. Morgan Geinski added 12 for the Lady Vikings (3-5, 3-11).

Yough’s Evelyn Gates had 11 points.

West Greene 84, Hundred, W.Va., 26 — The Lady Pioneers jumped out early and never looked back in a non-section victory at Hundred, W.Va.

West Greene’s Kendra Tharp scored a game-high 19 points. The Lady Pioneers’ Jilissa Yeater had 17. Teammate Samantha Zimmerman put in 10, as West Greene improved to 9-3 overall. The Lady Pioneers are 3-3 in section play.

McGuffey 58, Carmichaels 19 — The Lady Highlanders had three players in double figures en route to a non-section victory over the Lady Mikes at McGuffey.

The Lady Highlanders’ Lexi Ewig led the game in scoring with 15 points. Taylor Schumacher (12) and MyKenna Meighen (11) were also in double figures for the home team.

Carmichaels’ Ke’Lani Chun and Duski Staggers scored six points apiece.

Carlynton 58, Jefferson-Morgan 35 — An early deficit put the Lady Rockets behind the eight-ball and they couldn’t recover in a non-section home loss to the Lady Golden Cougars.

Jefferson-Morgan’s Leighana Gooden scored 11 points. The Lady Rockets’ Ava Wood added 10.

Carlynton’s Lucy Vetter had a game-high 14. Teammate Jocelyn Griffin was in double digits with 11 points.

Boys basketball

McKeesport 70, Laurel Highlands 62 — The Mustangs turned Friday’s Class 5A Section 1 matchup against the Tigers around in the fourth quarter, but their rally fell short at Harold “Horse” Taylor Memorial Gymnasium.

McKeesport (3-5, 5-10) had a 57-38 lead after three quarters, but Laurel Highlands (1-7, 4-11) outscored the Tigers, 24-13, in the final frame to cut the deficit to under 10.

The game was tied at 14-14 after the first quarter before the visitors used a 19-8 edge in the second for a 33-22 halftime advantage. McKeesport outscored the Mustangs by eight in the third.

Laurel Highlands junior Luke Martin scored a game-high 28 points. The Mustangs’ Kayden Smith put in 12.

The Tigers’ Brian Jones and Lamont Perkins scored 15 points apiece. Teammate Aaron Reeder put in 13.

Jefferson-Morgan 52, Burgettstown 41 — The Rockets rallied from a seven-point first quarter and six-point halftime deficit with a strong second half to defeat the Blue Devils in Class 2A Section 3 play at Burgettstown.

Jefferson-Morgan, who improved to 6-2 in section play and 10-4 overall, outscored Burgettstown by 10 in the third quarter and seven in the fourth.

The Rockets’ Dayten Marion had a game-high 18 points. J-M’s John Woodward added 11.

The Blue Devils’ Parker Rommes (12), Sam Elich (11) and Colton County (11) were all in double figures.

West Greene 74, Carmichaels 45 — The Pioneers had four players in double figures in a Class 2A Section 3 home victory over the Mikes.

Lane Allison led his team and the game in scoring with 21 points. West Greene’s Parker Durbin had 15, and teammate Parker Burns put in 13. Darren Knight dropped 10 for the home team.

Carmichaels was led in scoring by Scott Maskil’s 12 points.

The Pioneers improved to 6-2 in section play and 8-6 overall.

Beth-Center 65, Mapletown 29 — The Bulldogs jumped out early and never looked back in a Class 2A Section 3 home victory over the Maples.

Parker Amos had 19 points and Jason Zellie 17 for Beth-Center (5-3, 8-7).

Mapletown was led in scoring by Lucas Stevenson, who scored 12 points.

Geibel Catholic 83, Propel Montour 46 — Evan Strimel exploded for 32 points in the Gators’ non-section victory over Propel Montour at Geibel Catholic Junior/Senior High School.

Geibel Catholic (2-3, 8-6) led from the start, and Strimel was joined by teammates Eahn Stevenson (11), Mike Miller (10) and Gary Tarbuk (10) in double figures.

Marjai Porch led Propel Montour (3-5) in scoring with 27 points.

Norwin 63, Connellsville 39 — The Falcons cut the deficit to 10 entering the fourth quarter, but the Knights put their foot down in the final frame for a Class 6A Section 2 victory.

Norwin’s Mario Csukas was the game’s leading scorer with 22 points. The Knights’ Nathan Kuch added 12.

Connellsville had two players in double figures, led by Rocco Farrell, who had 11. Christian Thomas added 10.

Greensburg Central Catholic 56, Frazier 37 — The Centurions remain perfect in Class 2A Section 1 play after a resounding victory over the Commodores at Frazier.

Greensburg Central Catholic’s Brady O’Rouke had a game-high 15 points.

The Commodores were led in scoring by Brant Alekson, who put in 14.

Jeannette 84, California 54 — The Jayhawks left no doubt early in their Class 2A Section 1 title at California, as they had a 22-point lead after the first quarter that led to a running clock in the second half.

Jeannette, who improved to 6-1 in section play and 12-1 overall, was led in scoring by Marcus McGowan, who had a game-high 28 points. The Jayhawks’ Noah Sunder, Xavier Odorisio-Farrow and Jayce Powell each put in 12 points.

The Trojans were led in scoring by Jacob Ziolecki’s 18 points.