Local roundup: Leopards’ season ends with 71-62 loss at South Allegheny
Michael Michalski led a balanced attack with 22 points as South Allegheny put an end to Belle Vernon’s season with a 71-62 victory over the visiting Leopards in a WPIAL Class AAAA boys basketball first-round playoff game Friday night.
The seventh-seeded Gladiators led 16-12, 28-26 and 44-36 at the quarter breaks.
Cam Epps added 15 points for South Allegheny (17-6) which also got 13 points from Jeston Beatty and 12 from Drew Cook.
Zion Moore, the WPIAL regular-season scoring champion, paced No. 10 Belle Vernon (12-9) with 22 points to tie for game-high honors. Alonzo Wade and Tommy Davis followed with 16 and 15 points, respectively, and both players grabbed eight rebounds. Davis also blocked five shots.
Aquinas Academy 84, California 50 – Jacob Guillen racked up 37 points as the seventh-seeded Crusaders defeated the visiting Trojans in a WPIAL Class A first-round playoff game.
Sam Duer tossed in 22 points for Aquinas Academy (15-8).
Noah Neil scored 18 points to lead No. 10 California (7-16), which trailed 49-29 at halftime but reeled off the first 10 points of the third quarter to get within 10 before the Crusaders regrouped and pulled away again.
Vinny Manzella dropped in 16 points for the Trojans.
Carlynton 55, Jefferson-Morgan 41 – The sixth-seeded Cougars broke open a tie game with a 17-7 advantage in the second quarter and pulled away from there for a WPIAL Class A first-round playoff win over the visiting Rockets.
Jake Moldovan led Carlynton (8-14) with 19 points. Jaydin McKnight and Lekhi Turner chipped in with 12 points apiece.
Jase Bediliion topped No. 11 Jefferson-Morgan (13-10) in scoring with 17 points.
Montour 71, Southmoreland 44 – The third-seeded Spartans turned a 33-25 halftime lead into a comfortable 58-31 advantage in the third quarter on their way to a WPIAL Class AAAA first-round playoff win over the visiting Scotties.
Ama Sow led Montour (20-3) with 18 points, Kaleb Platz added 17 and Jake Wolfe contributed 16.
Wyatt Richter paced No. 14 Southmoreland (16-7) with 18 points and Ty Keffer chipped in with 11.
North Catholic 73, Elizabeth Forward 53 – Max Hurray scored a game-high 24 points and the fifth-seeded Trojans jumped out to a 24-9 lead in the opening quarter on their way to a WPIAL Class AAAA first-round victory over the visiting Warriors.
Jude Rottmann added 15 points for North Catholic (14-8) which advanced to the quarterfinals where it will play No. 4 Uniontown at a site and time to be determined.
The Trojans led 43-21 at halftime. EF fought back to within 56-42 after three quarter but the hosts put the game away with a 17-11 edge in the final frame.
Isaiah Turner tossed in 20 points for the 12th-seeded Warriors and was followed by Cy Herchelroath and Charlie Meehleib with 11 apiece.
Girls basketball
Fort Cherry 66, Beth-Center 16 – Raney Staub tallied 30 points as the fourth-seeded Lady Rangers clamped down on the visiting Lady Bulldogs in a WPIAL Class AA first-round playoff game.
Olivia Kemp added 11 points for Fort Cherry (18-5).
Lauren Brown scored six points for No. 13 Beth-Center (11-11).
Aliquippa 53, California 18 – The second-seeded Lady Quips rolled to a 21-3 advantage in the opening frame on their way to a WPIAL Class AA first-round playoff victory over the visiting Lady Trojans.
Aunesty Johnson paced Aliquippa (20-3) with 16 points and Carla Brown had 14.
Madyson Morton led the way for No. 15 California (10-13) with seven points.