High school roundup for Feb. 23, 2024: Aliquippa flexes muscles in 2A quarterfinal win over Serra Catholic

By: Triblive
Friday, February 23, 2024 | 11:18 PM

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Josh Pratt scored 24 points and Cameron Lindsey added 17 as top-seeded Aliquippa flexed its muscles in a 76-50 victory over No. 8 Serra Catholic in the WPIAL Class 2A boys basketball quarterfinals Friday night.

Quentin Goode added 10 for the Quips (19-5), who will meet No. 4 Fort Cherry in Tuesday’s semifinals. Owen Dumbroski scored 20 and Pete Burke finished with 12 for the Eagles (16-8).

Fort Cherry 59, Bishop Canevin 44 – AJ Tarolli scored 16 points and Jack Kitzmiller added 13 as No. 4 Fort Cherry (19-5) secured a Class 2A quarterfinal victory. The Rangers, who jumped out to a 24-14 lead at halftime, will meet No. 1 Aliquippa in Tuesday’s semifinals. Jackson Maddix scored 17 points and Drew Allen added 11 for No. 5 Bishop Canevin (13-11).

Central Catholic 53, Canon-McMillan 27 – Payton Wehner and Vernon Settles each had nine points to lead a balanced scoring effort for No. 2 Central Catholic (15-8) in a Class 6A quarterfinal win. The Vikings, who took control with a 13-2 scoring advantage in the second quarter, will meet No. 3 Upper St. Clair in Tuesday’s semifinals. Roman Koenemund scored eight points to lead No. 7 Canon-McMillan (10-13).

Girls basketball

Armstrong 59, Lincoln Park 31 – Emma Paul scored 25 points and Sarai Weaver added 10 as No. 5 Armstong picked up a dominant win in the Class 5A quarterfinals. The River Hawks (20-4), who led 22-10 at halftime, will meet top-seeded Oakland Catholic in the semifinals Tuesday. Abby Januzzi scored 10 points to lead No. 4 Lincoln Park (21-3).

South Fayette 53, Trinity 39 – Haylie Lamonde scored 19 points as two-time defending WPIAL champ South Fayette (16-8) won in the Class 5A quarterfinals. Erica Hall added 12 points and Lainey Yater had 10 for the No. 6 Lions, who will meet No. 2 McKeesport in the semifinals Tuesday. Ruby Morgan scored 11 points to lead No. 3 Trinity (18-6).

McKeesport 51, Indiana 41 – Led by 16 points from Rachael Manfredo, 14 from Brooke Evans and 11 from Madeline Cherepko, No. 2 McKeesport (20-3) claimed a Class 5A quarterfinal win. The Tigers, who will meet No. 6 South Fayette in the semifinals Tuesday, jumped out to an 18-7 lead after one quarter. Bella Antonacci led all scorers with 22 points for No. 7 Indiana (18-6).

Oakland Catholic 47, North Hills 28 – Top-seeded Oakland Catholic (24-0) took care of No. 8 North Hills (14-9) in a Class 5A quarterfinal at Fox Chapel. Josie Fontana had 12 points and Mia LeDonne added 10 for the Eagles, who took a 24-14 lead into halftime. Olivia Waters scored 11 and Gianna Sturdivant had 10 for North Hills. London Creach was injured in the first quarter and did not return for the Eagles.

North Catholic 65, Central Valley 32 – Alayna Rocco hit five 3-pointers and scored 21 points and Brady Wehner connected on six 3s for 18 points as No. 2 North Catholic (15-7) rolled to a Class 4A quarterfinal win. Lauren Reitz added 12 points for North Catholic, which will take on No. 3 Elizabeth Forward in Tuesday’s semifinals. Nyah Hayes scored 15 points to lead No. 7 Central Valley (13-11).

Consolations

Boys

Carlynton 67, Aquinas Academy 54 – Jake Moldovan scored a career-high 31 points to lead No. 6 Carlynton (9-15) to a Class A consolation win over No. 7 Aquinas Academy (14-10). Mark Jameson added 12 points and Devonte Dean had 10 for the Cougars, who will meet No. 4 Monessen for fifth place and a PIAA playoff berth on Tuesday.

Monessen 64, West Greene 44 – Lorenzo Gardner scored 23 points and Devontae Robinson added 15 to lead No. 4 Monessen in a Class A consolation game. The Greyhounds (19-6), who trailed by two after the first quarter but took over the game with an 18-8 run in the third, will play Carlynton for fifth place and a spot in the PIAA playoffs Tuesday. Lane Allison scored 18 points and Parker Burns added 10 for No. 8 West Greene (16-9).

North Catholic 69, Knoch 52 – Max Hurray hit five 3-pointers, finished with 22 points and became his school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,589 career points to lead No. 5 North Catholic in a Class 4A consolation game. Jude Rottmann also hit five 3s and scored 19 points and Jason Fredericks added 12 points for the Trojans (15-9), who will play No. 7 South Allegheny for fifth place Tuesday. Zane Pacek scored 17 points, Teegan Finucan added 14 and Jackson Bauman had 12 for the No. 8 Knights (15-10), who will play No. 3 Montour for seventh place and the final PIAA playoff spot out of the WPIAL on Tuesday.

South Allegheny 64, Montour 56 – Cam Epps scored 18 points, Mike Michalski added 14 and Drew Cook chipped in 13 to help No. 7 South Allegheny (18-7) to a Class 4A consolation win. Jake Wolfe scored 20 and Ama Sow added 15 for No. 3 Montour (19-5). South Allegheny will play No. 5 North Catholic in the fifth-place game Tuesday. Montour will play No. 8 Knoch for the seventh and final PIAA playoff berth from the WPIAL.

Girls

Clairton 72, Winchester Thurston 45 – WPIAL scoring leader Iyanna Wade connected for 56 points to lead No. 10 Clairton (19-5) to a Class 2A consolation win. The Bears will meet No. 9 Rochester for fifth place Tuesday. Aleah Cooper scored 13 and Jasmine Hollins added 11 for No. 11 Winchester Thurston (10-14), which will play No. 4 Fort Cherry for seventh.

Keystone Oaks 50, South Park 48 – Bailey Rieg scored 27 points to lead No. 8 Keystone Oaks (17-7) to a Class 3A consolation victory. The Golden Eagles will meet No. 11 Seton LaSalle in the fifth-place game Tuesday. Brooke Paylo scored 14 for No. 5 South Park (16-9), which will face No. 7 OLSH for seventh place.

Rochester 69, Fort Cherry 39 – Marque Taylor scored 24 points and Tia Yellock added 16 to lead No. 9 Rochester (16-8) in a Class 2A consolation game. Raney Staub scored 14 for No. 4 Fort Cherry (18-7). Rochester will play No. 10 Clairton for fifth place Tuesday. Fort Cherry will play No. 11 Winchester Thurston for seventh.

Seton LaSalle 60, OLSH 42 – Mallory Daly scored 25 points to lead No. 11 Seton LaSalle (15-9) to a Class 3A consolation win. Addie Lonergan hit for 19 and Tiara Curry added 10 for the Rebels, who will play No. 8 Keystone Oaks for fifth place Tuesday. Leah Parker scored 12 points for No. 7 OLSH (16-9), which will take on No. 5 South Park for seventh.