Jan 13, 2015 By Eleanor Bailey 3 min read

Mt. Lebanon used a 21-3 fourth-quarter run to separate itself from rival Upper St. Clair during a key Section 4-AAA boys’ basketball game.

With the 57-37 triumph, Lebo improved to 5-1 overall and moved into a three-way tie for first place in the section. The Blue Devils are 10-4 overall. They host Moon Jan. 16 and visit Peters Township Jan. 17 to kick off the second-half of the regular season.

With the loss, USC slipped to 4-2 and fourth place in the section. The Panthers are 10-3 overall and battle Canon-McMillan in back-to-back frays Jan. 16 and 17.

Though USC bolted to a 10-6 advantage after one quarter of action, Lebo knotted the contest, 14-14, after Jonny David connected on three fouls shots. He was fouled on a 3-point attempt. The Blue Devils then raced ahead, 21-16, by halftime.

When the Panthers closed to 34-31 with 4:52 to play on a long-range shot by Zack Pateras, Lebo responded. David ignited and ended a 21-3 explosion with his sharpshooting. During the spree that gave Lebo its largest lead, 57-34, the senior guard scored nine of his game-high 19 points.

David connected on a 3-pointer to fuel a 12-point run that also featured hoops by Mark Lamendola, Matt Hoffman and Patrick Ehland as well as a pair of free throws by David. Before David ended the uprising with a basket with 26.4 remaining, Eddie Jenkins also got into the long-range shooting action. The junior buried a 3-pointer to lift Lebo to a 51-34 lead with 2:39 to play. Jenkins also managed a 3-pointer in the second stanza to finish with six tallies.

Ehland and Hoffman joined David in double digits. A 6-8 senior, Ehland fired in 15 points, all inside the paint. A 6-3 senior, who is bound for Penn on a football scholarship, Hoffman pumped in 11 points.

Andrew Wheeler led the Panthers with 10 tallies. Pateras and Marcus McGinnis pitched in eight and nine markers.

In other Jan. 13 action:

• Bethel Park dispatched Baldwin, 75-44, to keep pace with Lebo in the section race. With the win, the Hawks improved to 5-1 in the league and 9-4 overall. Joe Mascaro led the Hawks with 16 points followed by Jake Dixon with 12 tallies.

The Hawks host Chartiers Valley at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16. The Colts, who knocked off Lebo only a week ago, 71-57, are also tied for first in Section 4-AAAA. The Colts eased past Moon, 91-48, to improve to 5-1 in the division and 9-2 overall.

• Peters Township defeated Canon-McMillan, 48-33. With the win, the Indians improved to 2-4 in Section 4-AAAA and 6-6 overall. The Big Macs fell to 1-4 in the league and 6-7 overall.

• South Fayette remained unbeaten in Section 5-AAA. Lions take down Keystone Oaks, 61-37.

• Chartiers-Houston defeats Fort Cherry, 69-56, in Section 3-A action.