Falcons clinch 39th section championship
Connellsville not only clinched the Section 8-3A championship on Wednesday night at Greater Latrobe High School, but the Falcons qualified for the WPIAL Dual Meet Tournament for the 47th time.
Connellsville, who also clinched its 39th section title, won eight out of 13 bouts to down the Wildcats, 43-27.
The WPIAL team tournament began in 1979, and the Falcons have qualified every year since its inception. Connellsville will be seeking its ninth district championship.
The Falcons’ Tommy Gretz (121), Landon Lynn (133), Kai Vielma (145), Jake Lilley (160) and Cooper Lembo (172) won by fall for all the points Connellsville would need.
Zachary Franks won by technical fall, 16-0, in 4:26 in the 114-pound weight class for the Falcons (3-0, 12-2). Teammates Jeremy Gray (107) and Luke Lilley (152) earned victories via major decision.
Latrobe’s Hunter Snyder (189), Nico Dominick (215) and Gamin Owens (285) won by fall, and Brody Bronson picked up a 5-4 decision in a tiebreaker at 127.
Connellsville will host a preliminary, first round and quarterfinal dual meet in the team tournament on Jan. 28.
Baldwin and Penn-Trafford will battle in the preliminary round at 4:30. The winner faces the Falcons at 6 p.m., and the winner of that contest qualifies for the quarterfinal bout at 7:15 p.m. against the winner of Kiski Area and North Hills.
The semifinals, finals and consolation finals for Class 2A and 3A will be contested on Jan. 31 at the AHN Arena on the campus of Peters Township High School. The top three teams in Class 3A will qualify for the state dual meet tournament, while Class 2A takes the top four squads.
Belle Vernon 44, Ringgold 24 — The Leopards assured themselves a second-place finish in Section 7-3A with a victory over the Rams at Ringgold High School.
Belle Vernon’s Gracin Guglielmo (107), Brayden Broadwater (114), and Enzo Ortolona (121) won by fall.
The Leopards’ Vander Raczkowski (152) and Skylar Gush (189) each won by technical fall.
Belle Vernon’s Rylee Doppelheuer earned an 8-6 decision over Andrew Barkey at 127, and teammate Jackson Shawley edged Chaney Shawl, 6-5, at 133.
The Leopards’ Elijah Brown won by forfeit at 215. Brown, who won a state championship last season, picked up career victory No. 151.
Belle Vernon has qualified for the WPIAL Class 3A dual meet tournament, but the Leopards have a tough road ahead, as they are in the preliminary round against Mars at Canon-McMillan High School on Jan. 28 at 4:30 p.m. The winner will meet the Big Macs in the first round at 6 p.m. The quarterfinals are scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m.
Jefferson-Morgan won Section 3-2A and will enter the Class 2A tournament with an undefeated record. The Rockets face Avella at 6 p.m. in the first round on Jan. 28 at Laurel High School.
Beth-Center will battle Quaker Valley at 6 p.m. in the first round at Burrell High School on Jan. 28.
Southmoreland will also be at Burrell High School on Jan. 28 when it faces Knoch in the preliminary round at 4:30 p.m.
Men’s basketball
Bethany 85, Waynesburg 77 — Co Rose hit seven 3-pointers and scored 29 points as the Bison defeated the host Yellow Jackets in a PAC game at Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse.
Bethany built a 38-34 halftime advantage and led by as much as 21 in the second half.
Jayden Jackson had 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Bison (3-4, 7-9), who also got 14 points from Ryan Reasbeck and 11 from Troy Hixson.
Aiden Blake led Waynesburg (2-5, 6-12) with 23 points and was followed by Jackson Rhodes with19 and Casey Keesee with 15.
Women’s basketball
Bethany 82, Waynesburg 71 — The Bison never trailed in recording a PAC win at Waynesburg.
Bethany (5-2, 10-6) built a 48-34 halftime lead and the Yellow Jackets never got closer than eight points the rest of the way.
Ella Simpson led a group of five Bison in double figures with 18 points. She was followed by Lindsey Garrison (14), Kaedlee Potter (13), Addy Blazer (13) and Lindsey Best (11). Kate Botti added nine points, 15 rebounds and six blocked shots.
Kalista Friday tallied a game-high 22 points with four 3-pointers for the Yellow Jackets (2-5, 6-10), who also got 16 points from Mia Henkins.