WPIAL basketball round-up
Upper St. Clair (16-1, 5-1) has bounced back from its lone loss of the season with Mt. Lebanon (14-2, 6-0) and the two teams continue on their collision course to meet again on the final regular playing date, Feb. 5, to decide the Section 2 winner and seeding for the WPIAL 6A boys’ basketball tournament.
One day after the loss to the Blue Devils, USC upset Allderdice, 58-51, then dispatched North Hills, 75-60, before returning to league play and beating Peters Township, 58-45.
Against NH, Tanner and Luke Gensler pitched in 24 and 10 tallies while Chris Pantelis chipped in 17 markers.
Against PT, the Gensler brothers reversed their roles with Luke topping out with 15 points and Tanner finishing with 11. Andrew Casey and Pantelis both added 10 points. Sam Petrarca and Thomas Melonga both supplied 13 tallies for the Indians.
“We won two non-section games and the win against PT put us in good shape but we have big games still ahead before we can even think about Lebo,” USC coach Dan Holzer said, noting upcoming conflicts with Canon-McMillan on Jan. 29 and Bethel Park on Feb. 1.
“But, I really like how we have rebounded. This team is coming together. It’s almost like a perfect storm. This group is one of the most enjoyable, fun teams that I have ever coached.”
Meanwhile, Mt. Lebanon started the second half of section action with a win against Baldwin, 50-32. In the triumph, Sean Loughran (15), Blaine Gartley (13) and Jake Hoffman (12) all reached double figures.
In other action, Bethel Park (10-6, 1-5) posted its first section win by beating Canon-McMillan, 71-50. Tommy DiRenzo (18), Anthony Chiccitt (16), Alex Mullen (14) and Ron Zeiler (10) led the offensive. Earlier, the Hawks defeated Woodland Hills, 81-74, in the MLK Showcase. Mullen (26), Ryan Meis (25) and DiRenzo (16) were the top scorers.
Despite the loss to USC, Peters Township picked up a non-section win against Hempfield, 47-33. Colin Cote tossed in 11 and Sam Petrarca finished with 10 tallies for the Indians (10-5, 2-4).
In Class 5A boys’ basketball action, Chartiers Valley (11-3, 7-2) toppled Trinity, 90-63, and South Fayette, 52-35. Against the Hillers, the Colts buried 15, 3-point field goals. Jared Goldstrom and Joe Pipilo led the way with 22 and 15 points. Against the Lions, Goldstrom pitched in 10 tallies but Griffin Beattie led the way with 16 markers.
For the Lions (7-8, 3-6), Drew Franklin had eight points.
McConnell tops 1,000
In girls basketball, Megan McConnell surpassed the 1,000-point plateau when she buried a 3-point field goal during Chartiers Valley’s 79-28 win against Lincoln Place. The junior finished with nine points while her teammates Aisle Malcolm (13), Gabi Legister (13) and Mackenzie Wagner (12) all finished in double digits.
Additionally, the Colts coasted past Montour, 69-27, and edged Thomas Jefferson, 41-38. In double figures against the Spartans were: Malcolm (16), Wagner (12), McConnell (10) and Legister (10). Wagner (15) and Malcolm (11) led the way against TJ.
In other girls’ action, Bethel Park defeated Hempfield, 64-32, and Mt. Lebanon, 58-35. Maria Cerro (20), Maddie Dziezgowski (18) and Olivia Westphal (15) led the attack for against the Spartans. Westphal fired in 27 against Lebo while Cerro and Dziezgowski followed with 13 and 12 points.
The Hawks also beat Upper St. Clair, 47-33. Emma and Maddie Dziezgowski both scored 12 tallies. Marly McClintock led the Panthers with 12.
Previously, USC picked up a 56-45 win against Canon-McMillan but lost to Peters Township, 61-25. Against CM, Sarah Price and Cassie Kartsonas led the attack with 26 and 16 markers. Marly McClintock and Price had six each against PT.
Prior to the BP loss, Mt. Lebanon dispatched Connellsville, 44-30, as Ashleigh Connor tossed in 17 points. The Blue Devils also defeated Hempfield, 52-44. Morgan Palmer (14) and Patrice Smith (13) were tops for Lebo. In the loss to BP, Connor had 10 tallies.
Peters Towsnhip beat Baldwin, 71-23, as all five starters finished in double figures: Journey Thompson (17), Isabella Mills (17), Makenna Marisa (11), Jordan Bisignani (11) and Mackenzie Lehman (10).
The Indians also toppled Connellsville, 66-19, behind Marisa’s 26 markers and Thompson’s 15 tallies, and in the win against USC, Marisa and Thompson had 12 points while Bisignani followed with 11.