Kai Cox hit for 22 points as WPIAL runner-up New Castle rolled to a 68-38 victory over Wilson West Lawn in a PIAA Class 6A boys basketball first-round matchup Saturday.
Damian Harrison added 19 points and Marino Graham contributed 11 for the Red Hurricanes (24-2), who will take on Methacton in the second round Wednesday. Gabe Nyembo led Wilson West Lawn (17-10) with 10 points.
Aliquippa 87, Cranberry 52 – Qa’lil Goode scored 20 points and Anthony Ingram had 18 as WPIAL champion Aliquippa (19-6) downed Cranberry (22-4) in the first round in Class 3A. Jalen Harvey added 10 points for the Quips, who will face Forest Hills in the second round Wednesday.
Calvary Temple (VA) 61, Cheswick Christian Academy 21 – Charles Carson scored 15 points to lead Calvary Temple in the Division 5B third-place game at the NCSAA championships at Cedarville University in Ohio. Joseph Rosio and Sam Kostick scored nine points each for Cheswick Christian.
Clairton 55, Cochranton 52 – Donte Wright scored 14 points and Taris Wooding and Michael Ruffin added 13 each to lead Clairton (19-5) to a Class 2A first-round win. Walker Carroll scored 24 to lead Cochranton (16-10). The Bears will face McConnellsburg in the second round Wednesday.
Forest Hills 58, Shady Side Academy 39 – District 6 runner-up Forest Hills (24-4) defeated Shady Side Academy (10-17) in the Class 3A first-round and will face Aliquippa in Wednesday’s second round.
Jefferson-Morgan 50, Redbank Valley 26 – Jeremiah Robertson scored 24 points as Jefferson-Morgan (24-3) rolled to a Class A first-round win over District 9 champion Redbank Valley (18-8). The Rockets will face Jeannette in the second round Wednesday.
McConnellsburg 57, Eden Christian 55 – With 3.3 seconds left, Hoyt Glenn stole an inbounds pass and scored to give District 5 champ McConnellsburg (16-1) a Class 2A first-round win over Eden Christian (18-8). Hoyt scored 23 points and Brayden Ramsey added 19 for McConnellsburg, which will face Clairton in the second round Wednesday.
Mercyhurst Prep 66, Winchester Thurston 45 – Aiden Ollinger hit five 3-pointers and scored 21 points to lead District 10 champ Mercyhurst Prep (20-6) past Winchester Thurston (16-11) in the Class 2A first round. Mercyhurst Prep will take on OLSH in the second round Wednesday.
Mohawk 57, Everett 38 – Bobby Fadden had 18 points and Joey Nail added 16 as Mohawk (24-2) beat Everett (14-11) in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs. Mohawk will play the Camp Hill Trinity in the second round Wednesday.
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 47, Conemaugh Township 35 – Tiernan McCullough scored 16 points and Jake Johnson added 11 to lead OLSH (22-5) to a Class 2A first-round win. Greyson Studer scored 15 and Erik McClemens added 13 for Conemaugh Township (18-8). The Chargers will meet District 10 champ Cathedral Prep in the second round Wednesday.
Red Lion 69, Seneca Valley 62 – In the first round of the Class 6A playoffs, Ben Martin scored 19 points and sank five 3-pointers as Red Lion (23-4) beat Seneca Valley (14-12). Owen Flay also had 19 points for Red Lion while Isaiah Ogurcak tallied 15 points and Kade Shepherd contributed 12 points. Andrew Omasits paced Seneca Valley with 21 points while Ryan Priester hit five 3-pointers and scored 17 points and Owen Congdon chipped in 16 points. Red Lion matches up against Upper St. Clair in Wednesday’s second round.
Seton LaSalle 67, Eisenhower 65 – Will Martin scored 23 points, Charlie Crummie added 18 and Jaleel Wright chipped in 15 to lead Seton LaSalle (20-7) to a Class 3A first-round win. The Rebels, who trailed by two at the half and took over with a 21-9 advantage in the third quarter, will face Westmont Hilltop in the second round Wednesday. Austin Hanson scored 26 and Rylan Benton had 12 for District 10 champ Eisenhower (21-4).
Sewickley Academy 65, Saegertown 25 – Lucas Grimsley scored 14 points, Drew Steals added 10 and WPIAL champ Sewickley Academy (26-1) jumped out to a 42-12 halftime lead en route to a Class 2A first-round win. Luke Young led Saegertown (21-5) with nine points. The Panthers will meet Port Allegany in the second round Wednesday.
South Park 90, Perry Traditional Academy 61 – Luke Scarff scored 42 points to lead South Park (22-4) to a Class 3A first-round win over Perry Traditional Academy (4-21). The Eagles will take on Bishop Guilfoyle in the second round Wednesday.
United 54, Neshannock 36 – Carter Payne scored 15 points and Brody Burkett added 12 to help District 6 champ United (28-0) to a Class 2A first-round win. David Kwiat led Neshannock (19-7) with 13 points. United will meet Clarion in Wednesday’s second round.
Westmont Hilltop 58, South Allegheny 51 – Jack Wesner hit for 39 points and Grant Craig chipped in 12 as Westmont Hilltop (20-6) won in the Class 3A first round. Drew Cook scored 15, Jake Uher added 14 and Smaj Reason had 11 for South Allegheny (16-10).
Girls basketball
Aquinas Academy 58, Northern Bedford 40 – Tess Duer scored 19 points and Aquinas Academy (22-3) used a 20-6 surge in the second quarter to pull away in a Class A first-round victory. Elliot Keverline added 15 points and Katie Tarquinio had 10 for the Crusaders, who will meet Bishop Guilfoyle in the second round Wednesday. Ava Verbit led Northern Bedford (14-11) with 11 points.
Baldwin 66, Middletown 60 – Lynsey Bernotas scored 25 points and Baldwin (22-5) rallied from a four-point deficit after three quarters for a Class 5A first-round win. Laci Bernotas added 17 and Julianne Ott had 16 for the Highlanders, who will take on Indiana in the second round Wednesday. Jayla Koser scored 22 and Destiny Gassert had 17 for District 3 runner-up Middletown (24-2).
Blackhawk 45, Fairview 34 – Aubree Hupp hit for 22 points to send WPIAL runner-up Blackhawk (23-1) to a Class 4A first-round win. Tessa Trudnowski scored 14 for Fairview (20-6). The Cougars will face Belle Vernon in the second round Wednesday.
Clarion-Limestone 58, St. Joseph 37 – Hannah Beggs scored 17 points to lead District 9 champ Clarion-Limestone (20-7) to a Class A first-round win. Bella Bartolovic and Kasey Cienik scored 10 points apiece to lead St. Joseph (14-12). Clarion-Limestone will meet St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy in the second round Wednesday.
Elk County Catholic 40, Union 31 – Lana Polaski had 18 points as Elk County Catholic (18-8) beat Union (19-7) in the first round of the Class A playoffs. Ally Symons led Union with 12 points and Erykah Reighert chipped in 10. Elk County advances to play Williamsburg in the second round.
Farrell 57, Sewickley Academy 45 – Kris Blue scored 20 points to lead District 10 champ Farrell (12-12) in the Class A first round. Emma Eannarino scored 19 and Athena Ameredes added 11 for Sewickley Academy (16-11). Farrell will meet Bishop Carroll in the second round Wednesday.
Harbor Creek 42, South Park 28 – Jocelynn Bissell scored 19 points as District 10 champ Harbor Creek (22-4) rallied from a six-point halftime deficit with an 18-1 surge in the fourth quarter, defeating South Park (16-11) in the Class 4A first round. Harbor Creek will meet North Catholic in the second round Wednesday.
Indiana 46, Cathedral Prep 34 – Julia Antonacci scored 17 points, Addy Hutton added 15 and Indiana (22-5) pulled away for a Class 5A first-round win. Seana Thrower scored 10 for District 10 champ Cathedral Prep. Indiana will face Baldwin in the second round Wednesday.
Manheim Central 43, Thomas Jefferson 41 – Led by 13 points from Gianna Walters, 11 from Lilah Walters and 10 from Madelyn Gehman, District 3’s Manheim Central (19-8) picked up a Class 5A first-round win. Emily Hritz scored 15 and Maggie Spell had 10 for Thomas Jefferson (23-3). Manheim Central will take on Peters Township in the second round Wednesday.
North Catholic 50, Forest Hills 37 – Brady Wehner scored 16 points to lead North Catholic (21-6) past Forest Hills (16-9) in the first round in Class 4A. Lauren Reitz added 10 points and 10 rebounds for North Catholic while Aivah Maul had 15 points for Forest Hills. North Catholic will face Harbor Creek in Wednesday’s second round.
Oakland Catholic 64, Corry 26 – Zephania Troxler-Scott, Brooklyn Rozier and Josie Fontana scored 12 points each and Madi Pullen added 11 for WPIAL champion Oakland Catholic (22-2) in a Class 4A first-round win over Corry (14-12). The Eagles will meet Slippery Rock in the second round Wednesday.
Peters Township 46, Susquehannock 41 – Maddyn Mehl scored 12 points and Peters Township (16-11) jumped out to a 14-5 lead after one quarter in a Class 5A first-round win. Alina Sopko added 11 and Jordyn Welsh had 10 for Peters, which will meet Manheim Central in the second round Wednesday. Elena Snyder scored 19 and Johannah Bissett added 10 for Susquehannock (20-7).
Slippery Rock 54, Elizabeth Forward 46 – Brielle Jordan scored 17 points and Vanessa Hinkle added 16 to help Slippery Rock (20-5) to victory in the Class 4A first round. Kaelynn Settles led Elizabeth Forward (18-9) with 17 points. Slippery Rock will face WPIAL champ Oakland Catholic in the second round Wednesday.
South Fayette 64 Milton Hershey 35 – In the first round of the Class 5A playoffs, Juliette Leroux had 14 points, Haylie Lamonde 13 points and Ella Vierra 10 points as WPIAL champ South Fayette (26-1) beat Milton Hershey (17-10). The Lions will play Penn-Trafford in Wednesday’s second round.
St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy 91, Geibel Catholic 35 – Naomi Crispin scored 25 points to lead five St. Joseph Catholic Academy players in double figures in its Class A first-round win over Geibel Catholic (23-3). Aubrey Yartz added 20 points in the win while Alexia Luckovich had 19, Lauren Himes 11 and Jacee Cunningham 10 points. Emma Larkin (19 points) and Alexa Morgan (11 points) accounted for all but five of Geibel’s points. St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy (25-3) will face Clarion-Limestone in the second round Wednesday.
Trinity 39, Hollidaysburg 29 – Vitt Emerich scored 17 points and Sutton Williamson put up 13 to power Trinity (19-8) to a Class 5A first-round victory. Clare Podamonsky scored 10 for District 6 champ Hollidaysburg (18-5). The Hillers will meet York Suburban in the second round Wednesday.
Williamsburg 60, Serra Catholic 36 – Levada Gorsuch scored 17 points and Williamsburg (23-5) jumped out to a 25-5 lead after one quarter in a Class A first-round win. Bella Royer added 13 points and Brynn Lower had 10 for Williamsburg, which will face Elk County Catholic in the second round Wednesday. Bella Dumbroski led WPIAL champion Serra Catholic (18-7) with 17 points and Abby Genes added 14.
York Suburban 61, Fox Chapel 30 – Jordyn Williams hit five 3-pointers and finished with 19 points to lead District 3 champ York Suburban (23-2) to a Class 5A first-round victory. Brynn Barley added 16 points and Natalie Homisak had 10 for York Suburban, which will meet Trinity in the second round Wednesday. Lyla Jablon and Nina Kulikowski scored 10 points apiece for Fox Chapel (15-12).