Local roundup: Moore tallies 2,000th point in Leopards’ win

Zion Moore dropped in a layup with 1:28 remaining to cap a 37-point night and push his career total to 2,001 points in Belle Vernon’s 76-49 win over visiting East Allegheny in a Section 3-4A boys basketball game Friday night.
Moore became the 39th WPIAL player to reach the 2,000 milestone and second Leopard, joining Vinch Graham.
Belle Vernon (10-1, 17-4) led 20-6 after the first quarter but the Wildcats pulled within 33-22 by halftime. The Leopards took control with a 22-10 advantage in the third quarter to go up 57-32 and cruised home from there.
Trevor Kovatch followed with 11 points for the first-place Leopards who clinched at least a share of the section crown and extended their winning streak to 11.
Jayden Patterson racked up 25 points for East Allegheny (2-8, 5-14).
Frazier 66, California 58 – The Commodores made 10 of 12 free throws in overtime to pull away from the visiting Trojans for a Section 1-2A victory.
Kolby Stewart led Frazier (2-10, 4-15) with 25 points and was followed by Conlan Higbee with 17 and Dailan McManus with 15. Brant Alekson pulled down 13 rebounds for the Commodores.
Frazier built a 32-22 halftime lead but California (0-11, 2-15) outscored the hosts 19-5 in the third quarter to go up 41-37. The Commodores fought back and held a one-point lead after a basket by Higbee but the Trojans’ Vionny Monticelli was fouled with one second left and he made one of two to knot the score at 49-49 and force the extra frame.
Frazier held a 17-9 edge in OT.
Jacob Ziolecki led California (0-11, 3-15) with a game-high 28 points.
Jefferson-Morgan 45, Fort Cherry 44 – Houston Guesman’s three-point play with 30 seconds left put the host Rockets ahead and they hung on to edge the visiting Rangers in a Section 3-2A battle.
Jefferson-Morgan out-scored Fort Cherry 12-5 in the fourth quarter.
Jeremiah Roberston scored 12 points to lead J-M (9-3, 13-6) which remained in second place while Fort Cherry (7-4, 9-8) fell into fourth. Jase Bedilion (11) and Dayten Marion (10) also reached double figures for the Rockets who trailed 16-5 after the first quarter.
Shane Conali had a game-high 24 points for the Rangers who led 26-22 at halftime and 39-33 after three quarters.
Southmoreland 58, Waynesburg Central 51 – Noah Felentzer poured in 28 points and the Scotties out-scored the visiting Raiders 12-5 in overtime to earn the Section 4-3A victory and clinch at least a share of first place in the process.
Cole Headlee totaled 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists for Waynesburg, which led 11-4 after the first quarter, 23-12 at halftime and 35-29 after three before Southmoreland (8-0, 15-4) forced OT with a 17-11 advantage in the fourth.
Neighborhood Academy 80, Geibel Catholic 37 – Courtney Wallace recorded a triple-double with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the first-place Bulldogs’ Section 2-1A win at Geibel.
Kedron Gilmore and Shamar Simpson added 22 and 15 points, respectively, for Neighborhood Academy (8-0, 19-1).
Evan Strimel topped the Gators (3-5, 11-8) with 14 points and Gary Tarbuk followed with 11.
Carmichaels 64, Mapletown 40 – Robbie Wilson-Jones rang up a game-high 21 points as the visiting Mikes defeated the Maples in a Section 3-2A game.
Carmichaels led 17-7 after the first quarter but Mapletown (0-11, 0-17) fought back to within 27-22 by halftime only to have the Mikes pull away with a 21-5 edge in the third for a 48-27 advantage.
Colin Andrews tallied 12 points for Carmichaels (4-8, 5-13) which is one game behind Beth-Center for the fifth and final playoff spot out of the section.
Lucas Stevenson paced the Maples (0-11, 0-17) with 15 points and Tyler Howard had 12.
Chartiers-Houston 57, Beth-Center 20 – Justus Buckingham scored 15 points in the first-place Bucs’ Section 3-2A win at Beth-Center.
Aaron Walsh added 13 points and Jake Perchinsky chipped in with 10 for Chatiers-Houston (11-1, 17-2).
Acie Lawrence led Beth-Center (5-7, 8-12) with five points.
Mt. Lebanon 74, Connellsville 27 – Liam Sheely racked up 33 points and Mt. Pleasant (8-4, 13-6) also got 12 points apiece from Dane Barber and Sam Deibert in a Section 2-6A win at Connellsville.
Jayden Mickens and Rocco Farrell each scored eight points for the Falcons (0-12, 3-16).
Charleroi 68, Mount Pleasant 51 – Braeden Todaro’s 16 points led the way for the Cougars in a Section 4-3A win over the visiting Vikings.
Charleroi held a 22-20 lead after the first quarter then slowly pulled away to advantages of 42-27 at halftime and 59-41 after three.
Noah Pletcher contributed 12 points for the Cougars (3-5, 9-10) who also got 11 points each from Jackson Keranko and Amaru Staub.
Jonah Townsend and Isiah Taylor scored 11 points apiece to lead Mount Pleasant (0-8, 0-20).
Ligonier Valley 75, Brownsville 65 – Parker Hollick scored 22 points as the Rams had to rally to beat the Falcons for the second day in a row in Section 4-3A play, this time in Brownsville.
Michael Wisniewski (18), Brian Wisniewski (12) and Michael Vargulish-Graver (10) also hit double digits in scoring for Ligonier Valley (5-3, 11-8).
The Falcons (2-6, 4-14) led 11-10 after the first quarter and 36-28 at halftime before the Rams surged to a 48-46 advantage after three and pulled away with a 27-19 edge in the final frame.
Kaden Wimmer tallied 15 points for Brownsville and was followed by Max Dieodonne (12), Jaiden Praster (11) and Preston Rosado (10).