Jan 3, 2024 By the Herald-Standard 7 min read

Uniontown blew open a close game by outsourcing visiting Albert Gallatin 27-0 in the second quarter on its way to a 70-52 boys basketball victory in the Section 3-AAAA opener for both teams Tuesday night.

Jamire Braxton scored a game-high 22 points for the unbeaten Red Raiders (1-0, 10-0), who also got 15 points from Calvin Winfrey III and 10 points from Notorious Grooms, who moved to within 24 of 1,000 for his career.

The Colonials (0-1, 3-5), who trailed just 15-12 after the opening quarter and put up 48 points in the second half, were led by Mykel Belt and Blake White with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Elizabeth Forward 87, Laurel Highlands 75 – Isaiah Turner racked up 30 points to help the Warriors fight off the visiting Mustangs in the Section 3-AAAA opener for both teams.

Elizabeth Forward (1-0, 9-1) led 20-13 after one quarter, 41-29 at halftime and surged to a 70-52 advantage in the fourth quarter.

Laurel Highlands (0-1, 2-9) fought back and sliced the gap to 72-63 but could get no closer.

Aiden Black led the way with 23 points for the Mustangs, who also got 13 points from Antwan Black and 10 apiece from Jaden Ringer and Ethan Koffler.

The Warriors also had four double-digit scorers with Tyler Basic (16), Charlie Meehleib (14) and Cy Herchelroath (11) following Turner.

Trinity 64, Connellsville 47 – The Hillers gradually pulled away for a Section 1-AAAAA victory at Connellsville.

Trinity led 14-8, 30-20 and 49-31 at the quarter breaks.

Jacob Dunkle (19), Jonah Williamson (14), Kaden Hathaway (13) and Donte Derubbio (11) all hit double digits in scoring for the Hillers (1-0, 6-4).

Anthony Piasecki paced the Falcons (0-1, 1-10) with 17 points.

Bethel Park 70, Ringgold 52 – Nick Brown scored 20 points as the Black Hawks downed the visiting Rams in a Section 1-AAAAA game.

Bethel Park sprinted out to a 25-6 lead in the opening quarter but Ringgold held a 46-45 advantage the rest of the way.

Shawn Davis and Jack Bruckner each added 11 points for Bethel Park (1-0, 6-3).

Daryl Tolliver, Kaden Grayber, Chris Wilson and Demitri Lowe scored eight points apiece for Ringgold (0-1, 3-8).

Yough 73, Waynesburg Central 34 – Terek Crosby tallied a game-high 24 points as the Cougars cruised past the visiting Raiders in a Section 4-AAA game.

Zander Aird followed with 18 points for Yough (2-0, 7-3) and Charlie Quinn chipped in with 16.

Cole Headlee scored 10 points for Waynesburg (0-3, 2-8).

Mount Pleasant 40, Charleroi 32 – The Vikings fended off the host Cougars in a Section 4-AAA defensive battle.

Mount Pleasant led 11-6 after the first quarter. Charleroi rallied to take an 18-15 halftime advantage but the Vikings retook the lead, 26-22, by the end of the third quarter and hung on for the win.

Connor Pavlocak led Mount Pleasant (2-0, 3-7) with 13 points and Dante Giallonardo followed with 10.

Bryce Large scored 10 points for the Cougars (1-2, 4-7).

Fort Cherry 69, Frazier 41 – The Rangers jumped out to a 25-10 lead in the first quarter and went on to defeat the host Commodores in a Section 4-AA game.

Derek Errett led Fort Cherry (2-0, 6-3) with 14 points, Jack Kitzmiller had 12 and Matt Sieg contributed 11.

Dailan McManus scored 10 points for Frazier (1-1, 6-5).

Chartiers-Houston 61, Bentworth 46 – Avery Molek had 18 points as the Buccaneers held off the host Bearcats in a Section 4-AA game.

Chartiers-Houston (2-1, 9-2) led 19-13, 31-26 and 47-35 at the breaks.

Nate Gregory (15) and Justus Buckingham (12) also hit double figures for the Bucs.

Ben Hays paced Bentworth (0-3, 1-8) with 13 points and Ross Skerbetz scored 11. The Bearcats also got an 11-rebound effort from Lucas Burt.

Girls basketball

McKeesport 62, Connellsville 28 – The Lady Tigers roared to a 31-5 advantage in the first quarter and never looked back in defeating the host Lady Falcons in a Section 3-AAAAA game.

Rachel Manfredo and Maddy Hertzler scored 17 and 14 points, respectively for McKeesport (2-0, 7-1).

Elizabeth Painter led Connellsville (0-3, 3-7) with nine points.

Oakland Catholic 81, Albert Gallatin 19 – The Lady Eagles soared to a Section 3-AAAAA win at Albert Gallatin.

Kaylee DeAngelo led all scorers with 21 points for Oakland Catholic (3-0, 9-0) which also got 14 points from Mia LeDonne (14) and 12 from London Creach (12).

Mya Glisan and Mikayla Shea each scored five points for the Lady Colonials (0-3, 3-7).

Belle Vernon 40, Uniontown 26 – Saylor Lee turned in a double-double with 14 points and a career-high 16 points to help the Lady Leopards fight off the visiting Lady Raiders in a Section 3-AAAA clash.

Belle Vernon led 10-8, 25-12 and 37-19 at the breaks.

Caroline Lee also helped on the boards with 14 rebounds for the Lady Leopards (2-1, 5-5).

A’Kira Dade tied for game-high honors with 14 points for Uniontown (0-2, 2-6).

Elizabeth Forward 64, Southmoreland 28 – The Lady Warriors took a 31-5 lead in the first quarter and never looked back in a Section 3-AAAA win at Southmoreland.

Alyssa Terza led EF (2-0, 7-2) with 17 points and Kaelynn Settles had 10.

Olivia Auger scored eight points for the Lady Scotties (0-2, 0-9).

Waynesburg Central 56, Charleroi 29 – Kaley Rohanna rang up a game-high 24 points as the host Lady Raiders beat the Lady Cougars in a Section 4-AAA game.

Avery Davis had 16 points for Waynesburg (1-0, 10-1) which also got 10 rebounds apiece from Addison Blair and Josie Horne.

Riley Jones tossed in 12 points for Charleroi (0-1, 4-4) which also got eight points from Bella Carroto.

West Mifflin 61, Ringgold 28 – Kendall Lee had 10 points as the Lady Titans topped the visiting Lady Rams in a Section 3-AAAA game.

Savaughn Wimbs and Neraul Parms added 17 and 15 points for West Mifflin (2-0, 4-4).

Kailyn Webb led Ringgole (0-3, 3-7) with nine points.

Washington 48, Frazier 16 – The Lady Prexies rolled to a 31-4 halftime lead on their way to a Section 4-AA win over the visiting Lady Commodores.

Olivia Woods scored 15 points for Washington (2-0, 3-5).

Melana Burton and Allie Yauch each tallied five points for Frazier (1-2, 4-6).

Chartiers-Houston 47, Bentworth 11 – Ava Capozzoli scored a game-high 16 points as the Lady Bucs cruised to a Section 4-AA victory at Bentworth.

Amelia Brose had 10 points for C-H (3-0, 6-3).

Amber Sallee again led the way for the Lady Bearcats (0-3, 3-8) with 10 points.

West Greene 47, Avella 41 – Haleigh Rush scored a game-high 16 points for Avella but it wasn’t enough as the Lady Pioneers rode a balanced attack to a Section 4-A win over the host Lady Eagles (0-1, 2-7).

Kendra Tharp and Brooke Miller each tossed in nine points for West Greene (1-0, 2-6), which trailed 13-8 after the opening quarter. The Lady Pioneers surged in front in the second quarter to take a 29-26 halftime lead and held on from there.

Beth-Center 52, Carmichaels 34 – Lauren Brown had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds to help the host Lady Bulldogs knock off the Lady Mikes in a Section 4-AA game.

Carmichaels led 14-10 after one quarter before B-C moved in front 26-23 at halftime, then outscored the Lady Mikes 23-2 in the third quarter to take control of the game.

Violet Trump also had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds for Beth-Center (2-1, 5-5), which also got 10 points from Kyleigh McDaniel.

Alyana Simon led Carmichaels (0-2, 1-9) with 12 points.

Hockey

Bishop Canevin 7, Connellsville 0 – The Falcons were unable to convert on five power play opportunities in a PIHL PIHL D2 Division home loss to the visiting Crusaders.

Bishop Canevin remains undefeated, improving to 11-0-0-0-0. Connellsville slips to 4-8-0-0-0.

Aiden Malay scored the first two goals of the game and Jack Misterka made it 3-0 with just over six minutes to go in the first period.

Eion Tiernan, Ben Ondrejko, Ryan Saginaw and Misterka scored in the second period.

The Crusaders’ Ayden Worstell stopped all 24 shots he faced to preserve the shutout. Connellsville’s Nick Daniels-Nimick had 33 saves.