Jan 23, 2024 By the Herald-Standard 7 min read

Uniontown used a balanced attack to fend off an upset bid by host Southmoreland and earn a 66-54 victory in Section 3-AAAA boys basketball action on Monday night.

Jamire Braxton led a group of four Red Raiders in double figures with 14 points. He was followed by Notorious Grooms (13), K’Adrian McLee (12) and Kelan Milsom (11). Calvin Winfrey III and Jeremiah Hager both added eight points to round out the scoring for Uniontown.

The unbeaten Red Raiders (5-0, 14-0) led 15-8 after the first quarter but the Scotties (3-2, 13-3) pulled to within 29-26 at halftime and went ahead 36-35 on Wyatt Richter’s 3-pointer with 5:13 left in the third quarter.

Uniontown responded after coach Rob Kezmarsky called a timeout with a 13-2 run that included a pair of 3-pointers by Hager, five points by Braxton and two blocked shots and a layup by McLee for a 48-38 advantage.

The Red Raiders took a 49-42 lead into the fourth quarter. Southmoreland whittled the gap to five twice, on a basket by Elliot Premus with 4:19 remaining and on two free throws by Ty Keffer with 3:14 left.

The Scotties had a chance to draw even closer after Keffer’s foul shots but a steal and layup by Grooms put Uniontown ahead 58-51 and the hosts would get no closer.

Keffer scored a game-high 22 points for Southmoreland and Richter followed with 11.

Frazier 63, Bentworth 46 – Dalian McManus hit three 3-pointers on his way to a 25-point night as the Commodores knocked off the visiting Bearcats in a Section 4-AA game.

The win keeps Frazier (4-3, 9-7) in a tie with Chartiers-Houston for third place in the standings.

The Commodores led 21-9, 30-15 and 50-29 at the quarter breaks.

Brock Alekson totaled 13 points and 12 rebounds and Brennen Stewart contributed 12 points and 15 boards for Frazier.

Ben Hays scored 11 points for Bentworth (2-5, 3-11).

Monessen 57, Brownsville 53 – The Greyhounds rallied from a 25-19 halftime deficit to beat the host Falcons in a non-section battle.

Tyvaughn Kershaw led Monessen with 14 points and was followed by Devontae Robinson (13), Darryl Ray (11) and Timothy Kershaw (11).

The Greyhounds (12-1) outscored Brownsville (6-11) 19-11 in the third quarter to take a 38-36 lead and held a 19-17 edge in the final frame.

Trent Wible led all scorers with 16 points for the Falcons, who also got 11 points from Rylan Johnson.

Fort Cherry 85, Beth-Center 41 – Derek Errett scored 28 points and the first-place Rangers erupted for 35 points in the second quarter on their way to a Section 4-AA win over the visiting Bulldogs.

Fort Cherry led 18-15 after the first quarter then outscored B-C 61-20 in the middle two frames.

Shane Cornali and Blake Sweder chipped in with 14 and 12 points for the Rangers (6-0, 11-4) who also got 11 points from Jack Kitzmiller.

Santino Revi led Beth-Center (2-4, 4-11) with 11 points and Parker Amos had nine.

Yough 69, Greensburg Salem 58 – Terek Crosby and Austin Matthews combined for 47 points as the Cougars (12-4) defeated the host Centurions in a non-section game.

Crosby led all scorers with 24 points and Matthews was right behind with 23.

Ryan Burkart led Greensburg Salem (2-14) with 19 points.

Girls basketball

Laurel Highlands 84, Southmoreland 18 – The Fillies raced out to a 34-0 lead in the opening quarter in breezing to a Section 3-AAAA victory over the visiting Lady Scotties.

Miya Harris totaled 24 points and 11 assists for Laurel Highlands (7-1, 14-1) which also got 16 points and eight rebounds from Ayrianna Sumpter, 15 points and eight boards from Aierra Jenkins and 12 points from Taylor Schwertfeger.

Southmoreland falls to 1-6 in the section and 1-14 overall.

Bentworth 54, Frazier 47 – Aubrie Logan had 22 points and 10 rebounds to help the Lady Bearcats knock off the visiting Lady Commodores to earn their first Section 4-AA win of the season.

Amber Sallee contributed 14 points and eight assists for Bentworth (1-7, 4-12) which also got 11 points and 12 rebounds from Kayla O’Dell.

Frazier led 12-10 after the first quarter and 27-23 at halftime but the Lady Bearcats surged in front 36-32 in the third quarter and held an 18-15 advantage over the final eight minutes.

Allie Yauch tossed in 20 points and Malana Burton totaled 17 points and 18 rebounds for the Lady Commodores (2-6, 5-11).

California 45, Carmichaels 38 – Rakiyah Porter scored a game-high 21 points to help the Lady Trojans rally past the visiting Lady Mikes for a Section 4-AA victory.

Carmichaels led 13-9 after the first quarter, 20-18 at halftime and 28-27 after three quarters but California pulled out the win with an 18-10 advantage in the final frame.

Hayley Gibson tallied 13 points for the Lady Trojans (5-3, 8-8).

Megan Voithofer paced the Lady Mikes (1-5, 2-13) with eight points.

Penn-Trafford 57, Albert Gallatin 28 – The Lady Warriors methodically pulled away for a Section 3-AAAAA victory at Albert Gallatin.

Penn-Trafford led 13-7, 31-16 and 50-23 at the breaks.

Kamryn Pieper had 15 points and Lauren Marton added 14 for the Lady Warriors (5-3, 11-5).

Mya Glisan paced the Lady Colonials (1-7, 4-10) with 10 points.

Oakland Catholic 83, Connellsville 25 – The undefeated Lady Eagles soared to a 34-10 lead in the first quarter and cruised from there for a Section 3-AAAAA win at Connellsville.

London Creach scored 21 points for Oakland Catholic (8-0, 17-0) and was followed by Kaylee DeAngelo (19), Alayla Bivins (15) and Josei Fontana (11).

Bailey Liska tallied eight points for the Lady Falcons (0-8, 3-12).

Belle Vernon 50, Ringgold 20 – The Lady Leopards pounced early, building a 23-5 advantage in the first quarter on their way to a Section 3-AAAA win over the visiting Lady Rams.

Caroline Lee had 10 points, eight rebounds and five steals for Belle Vernon (4-4, 8-9) which also got four steals and four assists from Nina Francia.

Jada Gernot scored nine points for Ringgold (0-8, 3-12).

Elizabeth Forward 68, Uniontown 18 – Alyssa Terza scored 18 points as the first-place Lady Warriors rolled past the visiting Lady Raiders in a Section 3-AAAA game.

Michelle Jellison added 16 points for Elizabeth Forward (7-0, 14-2).

A’Kira Dade was the top scorer for Uniontown (2-5, 5-10) with 10 points.

Chartiers-Houston 51, Beth-Center 36 – The first-place Lady Bucs gradually pulled away for a Section 4-AA win over the host Lady Bulldogs.

Ava Capozzoli had 21 points and Amelia Brose tacked on 11 points for Chartiers-Houston (8-0, 12-4) which led 16-6, 24-14 and 34-20 at the breaks.

Lauren Brown turned in a double-double for Beth-Center (4-4, 7-9) with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

McGuffey 60, Jefferson-Morgan 19 – Taylor Schumacher scored 19 points in the Lady Highlanders’ non-section win over the visiting Lady Rockets.

Faith Ealy and Madison Gaso added 14 and 13 points for McGuffey (13-3).

Haleigh Gooden led Jefferson-Morgan (2-14) with 15 points and Kayla Larkin had 14.

Fort Cherry 48, West Greene 32 – Raney Staug’s 20-point effort helped propel the Lady Rangers past the host Lady Pioneers in a non-section clash.

Bella Bianehini added 11 points for Fort Cherry (11-4).

Kendra Tharp and Brooke Miller tossed in 13 and 10 points, respectively, for West Greene (5-9) which also got nine points from Kasie Meek.

South Park 53, Mount Pleasant 39 – The Lady Eagles fought off the host Lady Vikings in a non-section game.

Nika Contakos led South Park (10-5) with 11 points and Addy Kerr had 10.

Grace Arrigo topped Mount Pleasant (10-5) in the scoring column with 14 points and Morgan Gesinski chipped in with 10.

Yough 64, Ligonier Valley 46 – Autumn Matthews poured in 32 points as the Lady Cougars downed Ligonier Valley in a non-section game.

Carly Fitzgibbons added 16 points for Yough (8-7).

Marlee Miller tallied 12 points for Ligonier (4-11) and Abby Springer had 10 points.