Connellsville nips Kiski for first win
Brock Bonadio’s basket with less than a minute to play put Connellsville ahead and the Falcons hung on for a 49-48 Section 1-AAAA boys basketball victory over host Kiski Area on Friday night.
It was Connellsville’s first win of the season.
The Falcons led 14-12, 23-19 and 34-30 at the breaks, but the Cougars surged to a 43-42 lead with 50 seconds left.
Bonadio put Connellsville up 44-43 and the Falcons’ foul shooting put the game way. Avery White made three of four free throws and Griffin Thompson hit two of two as the visitors went up 49-45 before the Cougars hit a meaningless 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Thompson led the Falcons with a game-high 17 points and White had 10.
Mike Simmons and Justice Evans led Kiski (2-4, 1-2) with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
The Falcons made it two in a row with a non-section win over Trinity, 65-51, Saturday. Connellsville is 2-4 overall, 1-2 in section games.
Uniontown 87, Tecumseh 56 — Uniontown exploded for 37 points in the first period on its way to an easy win over Tecumseh (Oklahoma) at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Tournament in Orlando, Fla., on Friday.
Coach Rob Kezmarsky’s Red Raiders put five players in double figures, led by Deaundre Winfrey’s 18, in staying perfect on the season at 7-0.
Uniontown led 37-13, 48-26 and 73-42 at the breaks.
Lyric Ellis followed Winfrey in the scoring column with 16 points. Winfrey and Ellis each sank four 3-pointers.
Rodney Harris tallied 14 points for the Red Raiders, Jeremy Perkins chipped in with 13 points and Joe Campbell added 11.
Bolles 69, Uniontown 48 — All good things come to an end, like Uniontown’s undefeated basketball season. The Red Raiders lost to Bolles (Fla.), 69-48, Saturday in the ESPN Wide World of Sports Tournament in Orlando, Fla.
Lorenzo Lawrence led the winners with 25 points, while Austin Williams added 22 and Jonathan Dewane scored 12.
Uniontown got 19 from Lyric Ellis and 12 more from Joe Campbell, with each player making three three-pointers.
Bolles opened an 18-9 lead in the first quarter and stretched it to 39-24 at halftime. The winners led 57-39 through three quarters.
The Red Raiders (7-1 overall, 2-0 in section) return to Section 4-AAA action Tuesday, when they host Ringgold (3-2, 1-1).
Cheyenne 56, Laurel Highlands 47 — Cheyenne rode a strong first period to a nine-point victory over Laurel Highlands at the Tarkanian Classic boys basketball tournament in Las Vegas on Friday.
The Desert Shields, from North Las Vegas, outscored the Mustangs 19-12 in the first period and led 30-23 at halftime and 46-36 after three frames.
David Rusko led Laurel Highlands (4-4) with 16 points and four rebounds. Patrick Mahoney hit a trio of 3-pointers in scoring 11 points and Jake Swartz contributed 10 points off the bench.
Ulises Santillan scored 13 of his game-high 19 points in the first half to pace Cheyenne (4-6). The Desert Shields out-rebounded LH 31-20.
The Mustangs (4-4, 1-1) are back at home on Tuesday when they host West Mifflin (5-0, 2-0) in a Section 4-AAA game.
Charleroi 57, Waynesburg Central 40 — Charleroi took control in the second period and pulled away from visiting Waynesburg Central for a Section 4-AA victory on Friday night.
The Raiders’ Dom Sarra and the Cougars’ Sam Miceli tied for game-high honors with 16 points apiece.
Charleroi (3-3, 3-0) led 12-10 after the first period before pulling away to a 29-22 halftime lead. The Cougars led 39-30 after three.
Matt Carr scored 14 points for Charleroi and John Arnold had 13.
Jason Zeleny followed Sarra in the Waynesburg (4-2, 1-1) scoring column with 10 points.
Bentworth 62, Carmichaels 35 — Carmichaels battled host Bentworth even for one period before the Bearcats took control and pulled away for a Section 4-AA win on Friday night.
The teams were tied 9-0 after the first period before Bentworth (3-3, 1-2) pushed out to a 26-15 halftime lead. The Bearcats outscored the Mikes 36-20 in the second half to put the game away.
Damon Petrola-Bakos scored a game-high 18 points for Bentworth.
Carmichaels (90-5, 0-2) was led by Jacob Kinsell and Cody Brown who each scored 11 points.
Southmoreland 56, Greensburg Salem 51 — Unbeaten Southmoreland overcame a 38-36 deficit after three periods to defeat host Greensburg Salem in a Section 3-AAA battle on Friday night.
The first-place Scotties (6-0, 3-0) outscored the Lions 20-13 in the final frame to pull out the victory.
Ben Niemiec led Southmoreland with 17 points and Tommy Pisula added 11.
Antonia Ferrari and Delaine Hughes paced GS (1-5, 1-2) with 14 and 11 points, respectively.
The Scotties stayed perfect with a 55-48 win over Elizabeth-Forward in a non-section game Saturday.
South Park 92, Brownsville 54 — The Falcons dropped to 5-2 overall, but are still 2-0 in section play after this lopsided non-section loss at South Park. No further details were available. Brownsville hosts Bentworth in Section 4-AA action Tuesday.
Girls Basketball
California 49, Serra Catholic 41 — The Lady Trojans built a 23-15 halftime lead and played even in the second half for this npn-section win over Serra Catholic.
The Lady Trojans got 15 points from Lindsey Huhn, while Serra Catholic got 14 from Katie Sieg and 10 from Erin Altmeter.
California is 6-1 overall, while Serra Catholic fell to 3-4. California returns to Section 3-A action Monday when it hosts West Greene at 6:15 p.m. in the opener of a girl-boy doubleheader.
Pine-Richland 71, Connellsville 23 — Pine-Richland beat Connellsville in girls basketball action, 71-23, Saturday. No further details were available. Connellsville (3-5) is off until Dec. 27, when the Lady Falcons play Hollidaysburg at California University.
HS Wrestling
Albert Gallatin went 4-1 to take second place and Timmy Miller was named Outstanding Wrestler at the Moon Duals Saturday.
The Colonials lost to West Allegheny in the finals, with Wallace (145) and Corey Dodson (285) going 5-0 each.
David Wallace (113), Zack Hughes (132), Mike Standish (138) and Zack Friend (195) each went 4-1, while Codie Lavery (126) was 3-1 and Adam Simon (120) finished 3-2.