Feb 18, 2013 By Eleanor Bailey 3 min read

The first round of the WPIAL Quad-A boys’ basketball playoffs were unkind to Mt. Lebanon and Bethel Park.

Although the Blue Devils drew the No. 3 seed in the opening round, they battled Hampton well before faltering, 53-48. Lebo led, 10-8, after one frame and trailed only by one, 26-25, at intermission. However, the Talbots outscored Lebo, 18-12, in the third quarter. They also connected on 18 of 21 attempts from the charity stripe to seal the victory.

Ryan Luther and David Huber paced Hampton with 19 and 14 points respectively, Justin and Jonny David led Lebo with 21 and 13 tallies.

While Hampton improved to 19-4 and moved on to play McKeesport (15-7) in the quarterfinals set for Saturday, Feb. 23, Lebo finished the season at 10-13 overall. The Blue Devils graduate two seniors, Justin David and Tyler Roth.

Meanwhile, the Black Hawks succumbed to McKeesport, 58-54, in overtime and ended their 2012-13 campaign at 17-6. Ranked at high at No. 1 to start the season, the Hawks lost five of their last eight games, including back-to-back defeats to the Tigers.

Carlitto Acie did in the Hawks. He exploded for 28 points, 14 in a pivotal third stanza that saw the Tigers turn a 33-26 deficit into a 34-33 advantage. Acie buried six, 3-point field goals.

While BP led, 29-24, at halftime, McKeesport outscored the Hawks, 22-12, in the third quarter.

Cody Gilchrist paced BP with 22 points followed by Rohan Young’s 15 markers. Wyatt Hagerty pitched in 10 tallies. His free throw near the end of regulation pushed the game into overtime, but the Tigers edged the Hawks, 7-5, in the decisive quarter.

The loss saw the end of the scholastic careers for Gilchrist, Young and Hagerty as well as starter Kenny Gilmore and reserves Robert Huntington and Matthew Fowler. Sophomore point guard Joey Mascaro will be the Hawks’ lone returning starter next winter.

In Class AA boys’ playoff action, Bishop Canevin upended Charleroi, 59-52, at Peters Township. Matt Tambellini tossed in 19 points while Jake Seligman provided 17 markers for the Crusaders, who improved to 11-12 overall.

The win advanced Crusaders to the WPIAL quarterfinals, where they will face Beaver Falls (19-3) Feb. 20 at West Allegheny.

In other Feb. 20 boys’ playoff action, Canon-McMillan (11-11) battles No. 2-seeded North Allegheny (19-3) at 8 p.m. at Chartiers Valley while Seton-La Salle (20-2) faces Mohawk (10-13) at 8 p.m. at Peters Township.

In other first-round action, Chartiers-Houston (14-9) dropped a 45-43 overtime decision to Beaver.

Though CH opened up a 27-22 lead after three quarters, they were outscored, 16-11, in the fourth frame and 7-5 in overtime. A 7-2 run propelled the Bobcats in the extra frame.

Ashley Balzer and Tori Foster led the Buccaneers with 12 tallies each.

The Lady Bucs graduate four seniors, including Balzer and Foster. Amanda Balzer and Kristin Scott are the other two.