Scholastic Notebook – 02/04/2011
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Friday, February 4, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Is this the year Summit peaks? The Summit Academy boys' basketball team is sitting atop the WPIAL Class AA Section 2 standings with an 8-2 mark (11-6 overall). Neshannock is a half-game behind at 7-2.
Summit's record is significant for the Butler County reform school for adjudicated youth. Since Summit Academy joined the WPIAL in the 1998-99 season, the Knights have never won or even tied for a section title.
Summit has two more games remaining against Laurel and Ellwood City. Summit has already clinched a playoff spot, but a section title is what the Knights are seeking. The Knights' other best finish came in 2007 when they finished second with an 8-4 mark, and a 15-10 record overall.
The most wins in the school is 18 in the 2000-01 season. The Knights have finished in last place or tied for last four times since joining the WPIAL. The first year Summit joined the WPIAL, it was in Class A and made it to the WPIAL Semifinals.
One-Two Punches
It's been brought up this season how a couple boys' teams have potent one-two scoring punches. Norwin's Matt Palo and Andy Carter both average more than 22 points a game, and Sto-Rox's Shawn Smith and Rob Baltimore both average more than 19.
But a couple potent one-two scoring punches are also on the girls' side. At Avonworth, Lauren Mayernik averages 19.5 while Catherine Costa averages 18.4. New Castle's LaShauna Brothers and Christina Talbert both average 18 points a game.
Sophomoric Attitudes Toward Scoring
Look at the leading scorers in WPIAL girls' basketball, and two of the top four are sophomores.
Jeannette's Ciara Gregory is second at 21.5 and Hopewell's Shatori Walker-Kimbrough is fourth at 20.7.
WPIAL Basketball Factoids
* Gateway standout junior guard Tyler Scott did not play the past two games because of academic ineligibility. He might return to the team in a week or so.
* Highlands' Micah Mason, the leading scorer in the WPIAL, did not play Thursday night because of the flu, but he is expected to play in Friday night's showdown game against Mars.
* Moon recently opened a new high school
Tags: Avonworth, Gateway, Highlands, Hopewell, Jeannette
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