Feb 7, 2017 5 min read

Playoff spots are on the line as several area boys’ basketball teams enter the final days of the regular season. Feb. 10 is a key date for teams such as Upper St. Clair and Peters Township and it is not just because the squads battle arch rivals on the last day of Section 2 play in Class 6-A of the WPIAL.

While the Indians host Canon-McMillan, the Panthers will entertain Mt. Lebanon. Tip-off times for both contests are set for 7:30 p.m.

At the start of the week and before Tuesday night’s action (games played after press time), Mt. Lebanon perched atop the section standings with a 9-1 slate. The Blue Devils were 13-7 after their thrilling win against Baldwin, 52-50. The win avenged Lebo’s lone league loss, 51-45, earlier this season.

In the triumph, Mark Lamendola led the way with 22 tallies. Antonio Garofoli followed with 19 markers. The pair also paced Lebo with 19 and 15 markers in a 60-48 win against Connellsville.

Meanwhile, Canon-McMillan, by virtue of its recent wins against Connellsville, 69-53, and Bethel Park, 64-63, clinched a post-season berth along with Baldwin. Both were tied for second place in the section with 7-3 slates before battling each other Feb. 7.

In both C-M triumphs, Britton Beachy led the way. The senior fired in 22 points in the win against the Falcons. In the overtime win against the Hawks, he pumped in 21, including the buzzer-beater. Jason Fowlkes followed with 17 markers against the Hawks. He added 10 tallies against the Falcons. Carson Miller (14) and Kenyon Lewis (11) also registered double digits for C-M against Connellsville (2-9, 7-12).

Since four teams from each section advance to the WPIAL playoffs, which commence Feb. 17 and culminate with the championships set for March 2-4 at the Petersen Events Center, Peters Township and Upper St. Clair remained in contention despite recent stumbles.

After upending the Indians, 70-52, USC succumbed Feb. 4 to Bethel Park, 73-65. The Hawks had previously been winless in the section. With the loss, USC slipped to 5-6 in the league, a half game behind the Indians in the battle for the final playoff slot.

Against the Hawks, Darius Radfar exploded for 25 points. Ryan Meis, who had 21 against C-M, led BP with 29 tallies. Nick Bomar followed with 15 markers.

Against the Indians, Gabe Houy scored a career-high 28 points. The Pitt football recruit also pulled down 20 rebounds. His teammate, Kyle Meinert also finished in double figures with 18. Michael Cortese had 16 and Matt Thelk 15 for the Indians.

In Class 5-A, Chartiers Valley (6-3, 13-5) entered the week in third place in Section 2 behind Moon and Mars, which were tied for the top slot. Hampton (6-4) and Montour (5-5) also remained in contention for the final playoff slots.

The Colts, who travel to winless West Allegheny for a 7:30 p.m. tip on Feb. 10, will conclude regular season play at home against South Fayette at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13.

The Colts are fresh off a 69-50 win against Knoch that solidified their hold on a post-season berth. In the triumph, Ross Wilkerson exploded for 35 points.

Previously, CV dropped a 95-82 decision to Hampton. Caleb Zajicek (23), Wilkerson (18) and Joe Pipilo (16) also finished in double figures.

In Class 4-A, South Fayette rebounded from an overtime loss to Uniontown, 64-57, to defeat Waynesburg, 80-41, and bolstered its playoff positioning. The Lions were tied with McGuffey for second place in Section 3. Both were 9-3 before action on Feb. 7.

In the win, Matt Thomas led the Lions with 20 tallies. In the loss, Della Pack had 16.

Although out of playoff contention, Keystone Oaks defeated South Park, 94-78. Ryan Collins exploded for 37 points while Vonte Mitchell finished with 15 in the win. Previously, Collins pitched in 14 markers but that was not enough as KO fell to Belle Vernon, 63-57.

In Class 3-A, Seton-La Salle improved to 6-3 in Section 2 with wins against Carlynton, 59-58, and Freedom, 67-55. Against the Cougars, Michael Biglay pumped in 21 tallies. Santino Guando managed 14 against the Bulldogs.

Chartiers-Houston remained atop the Section 2-A standings, improving to 10-0 overall, thanks to an 80-53 win against Frazier. A.J. Myers tossed in 26 points and pulled in 16 rebounds while Cam Hanley provided 21 points and 17 rebounds for the Buccaneers. Zach Southern (15) and Andrew Clark (14) were also in double figures.

The Bucs also bested Bentworth, 76-43. Hanely chipped in 20 points and 12 rebounds as well as dished up six assists. Myers also had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Clark (11) and Southern (10) finished in double figures while Spencer Terling grabbed 12 rebounds.

Finally, Bishop Canevin eked out a 60-58 decision against Sewickley Academy and a 75-33 triumph against Sto-Rox to clinch a playoff berth in Section 3-AA. The Crusaders, who close out the regular season with road trips to Shenango and Erie McDowell (Feb. 11), held a slight lead over Sewickley in the division. Canevin had one league loss to the Panthers earlier in the year.

In avenging that 82-75 defeat back on Jan. 6, Walter Bonds held the hot hand. He buried five, 3-point field goals en route to a 32-point performance.

In the win against the Vikings, Mitchell King managed 23 points.