Jan 10, 2017 By Eleanor Bailey 4 min read

Mt. Lebanon and Peters Township prepared for their showdown in girls’ basketball by registering victories against rivals Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair to start the week’s action. Both teams improved to 3-0 in Section 3-A of Class 6-A of the WPIAL, which makes Jan. 12’s meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Lebo a critical match-up.

In the 47-29 win against the Hawks on Jan. 9, Lebo used defense to stifle the opposition. The Blue Devils outscored BP, 18-3, to pull away from the Hawks. Jess Wilhelm spearheaded the effort.

“Jess is our defensive stopper,” Lebo coach Dori Oldaker said. “She is not going to light up the boards but we always put her on the best offensive player. She’s done this now for three years for us. She just plays with her heart and her hustle follows.”

Offensively, Kate Sramac and Jamey Napoleon hustled up the points, reaching double figures with 15 and 14. Napoleon scored eight of her markers in the first frame. Kenzie Bushee tossed in nine points.

Oldaker noted that her team’s second stanza effort must be replicated for an entire game for the Lebo ladies to be successful against the Lady Indians. “If we can put that type of effort together for four quarters, then things should look pretty good,” she said.

Lebo looked good in its previous matches. The Blue Devils defeated Canon-McMillan, 50-41. The Lady Macs shared the section title with Peters last season. Bushee (19), Sramac (12) and Napoleon (11) all finished in double figures for the Blue Devils. For the Lady Macs, Cheyenee Trest topped all scorers with 21 tallies.

The Blue Devils also picked up a win against South Fayette, 63-36, during The Challenge, held at Mt. Lebanon. Alyssa Hyland (17) and Bushee (16) were the scoring leaders for Lebo. Jordan Caputo led the Lions with 16.

“I like the way we have been playing,” Oldaker said while noting that the upcoming fray with Peters Township really is no bigger than any game right now. “But, section games are very crucial.”

Meanwhile, the Lady Indians picked up critical wins against USC, 42-34, and Baldwin, 51-44. Against the Highlanders, who lost to Lebo on a last-second shot, McKenna Marisa fired in 17 points. She provided 13 markers against USC. Lillian Young pitched in with 12 tallies.

Despite the losses to Lebo, BP and C-M remain in the hunt for the section banner and a playoff spot. The teams battle in the Hawks’ Nest at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12.

The Lady Macs are coming off a 52-46 win against Baldwin. Cheyenne Trest led the way with 13 points while Tamara Mathis and Izzy Allen followed with 12 and 10 tallies.

Previously, BP dispatched USC, 49-34. Rebecca Rodriguez led the Hawks with 20 points. Kate Groninger picked up 12 for the Panthers. She had 11 in the loss to Peters.

Other action

In Section 3-A, Seton-La Salle downed Shady Side Academy, 42-25. Layne Ziegler led with 16 points. Despite 12 markers from Ziegler, the Rebels lost previously to Carlynton, 45-24,

Bishop Canevin dropped a 47-42 decision to Vincentian in The Challenge at Lebo. Brionna Allen fired in 15 points in the loss. She had 14 markers in a previous win against Steel Valley, 68-20.

Chartiers-Houston defeated McGuffey, 68-36, in the Chuckie Mahoney Classic played Jan. 7 at Burgettstown.

Alexa Williamson and Jala Walker contributed 29 and 21 points to the Lady Buccaneers’ attack. Williamson also exploded for 29 markers in a Section 2-A win, 62-20, against Aliquippa.

In a 72-29 win over Shenango on Jan. 9, Williamson tossed in a career-high 31 points to surpass the 1,000-point mark. The milestone occurred in the third quarter and Williamson, who also pulled down 15 rebounds, stands at 1,0007 career points.

Walker added 21 points for the Bucs.

Chartiers Valley defeated Montour, 57-43, while South Fayette downed Lincoln Park, 71-26, in Section 1, Class 5-A action. For the Colts, Gabi Legister fired in 19 points. For the Lions, Maura Castelluci finished with 14 tallies.

Finally, Keystone Oaks defeated Elizabeth-Forward, 62-59, in Section 3-AAAA play. Gillian Piccolino managed 16 points for the Golden Eagles.