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Section play gets underway

By Rob Burchianti rburchianti@heraldstandard.Com 2 min read
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After a handful of non-section games most area high school basketball teams will jump into section play today and Friday.

Two of those clashes will be featured as Herald-Standard Games of the Week.

Today, Laurel Highlands travels to Southmoreland in the Section 3-AAA opener for both teams in the Girls Game of the Week.

Friday’s Boys Game of the Week will have Jefferson-Morgan at California in the Section 3-A opener.

Both games are schedule to tip off at 7:30 p.m.

Coach Brian Pritts’ Lady Scotties and coach Kenny Riddell’s Fillies both won on the other team’s home court last season and finished with similar records.

Southmoreland was 8-13 overall and 4-10 in the section in 2014-15, and won at Laurel Highlands, 52-49.

Laurel Highlands was 8-14 and 5-9, and won at Southmoreland, 49-48.

The two teams feature two of the hottest scorers in the early stages of the season.

The Fillies’ Ashley Galderisi poured in 25 points in a win at West Mifflin on Tuesday and is averaging 20.3 points per game.

The Lady Scotties’ Olivia Porter rang up 35 points in a win over Frazier last Friday and is averaging 24 points per game.

California and Jefferson-Morgan (0-3) both reached the postseason last year with the former winning a first-round game.

Coach Bruno Pappasergi’s Trojans were the clear-cut second-best team in Section 3-A last year, losing only twice to first-place powerhouse Monessen, which went on to win the WPIAL Class A title.

California reached the postseason and won one playoff game in going 17-7 overall and 10-2 in the section. The Trojans opened this season 2-0 with wins over Beth-Center and Geibel Catholic, befor falling at Brownsville on Wednesday night.

Kass Taylor led the Trojans with 16 points in the win over the Bulldogs, while JayCee Conaway tallied 16 and Taylor 13 in the victory over the Gators.

Coach Dennis Garrett’s Rockets finished just behind California in third place at 12-10 and 7-5. J-M lost twice to the Trojans last season by similar scores, 54-38 at California and 51-34 at home.

The Rockets have opened with losses to Carmichaels, Bentworth and Burgettstown. D.L. Garrett is the Rockets leading scorer with 14.7 points per game.

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