It has been long seven years since the Belle Vernon boys' basketball team won a section title. But with a quick, four-minute burst last night, the Leopards moved closer to another title.

Jacob Dudzinski hit a tying shot late in regulation, then scored 10 of his team's 12 points in overtime as first-place Belle Vernon (14-5, 6-1) slipped past second-place Steel Valley (12-5, 4-3), 67-61, in a critical Class AAA Section 5 contest.

Dudzinski finished with 32 points for Belle Vernon, a combined 13-35 the past two seasons.

Steel Valley had battled back from an eight-point deficit after three quarters.

Ryan Sabo led the Ironmen with 12 points.

• Steve Removcik scored 22 of his game-high 31 points in the first half, as visiting Norwin (14-5, 9-2) earned an important Section 1 win against Latrobe (13-8, 7-4).

• After leading by two points at the half, No. 5 Canon-McMillan (14-6, 7-2) used a 28-14 edge after the break to defeat Section 4 foe Baldwin (8-12, 1-9), 58-42. Charles Murphy led the Big Macs with 23 points.

• Dom Lombardi made a 3-pointer at the buzzer, lifting No. 5 Indiana (14-5, 6-2) to a 67-64 Section 1 win against Hampton (11-8, 5-5). Lombardi led the Little Indians with 19 points, including four 3-pointers.

• Uniontown (15-2, 6-1) won its ninth consecutive game with a 61-51 upset of No. 3 Greensburg Salem (15-4, 6-1) in Section 3. The Red Raiders jumped to a 33-18 halftime lead and got 14 points apiece from James Pratt and Doug Sanner.

• Steve Mackin scored 13 points for Bishop Canevin (9-11, 6-5) as the Crusaders kept their playoff hopes alive with a 58-52 win against Sto-Rox (10-10, 6-5) in Section 3.

• Behind Donte Valentino's 23 points, No. 3 California (12-4, 7-0) remained perfect in Section 2 with a 51-45 win against Carmichaels (13-4, 5-2). The Mighty Mikes had won nine games in a row.

• Sophomore Tom Droney scored 24 points and dished out 11 assists for Sewickley Academy (9-7, 7-2) in its 70-56 victory against Western Beaver (6-12, 4-5) in Section 1.

• Players with four or more 3-pointers: Mike Conglose, Neshannock, 7; Peter Croke, Seton-LaSalle, 6; R.J. Goosby, Rochester, 5; Jacob Stotz, Allderdice, 4; Matt O'Brien, Baldwin, 4; Cody Fleeger, Butler, 4; Harrison Smith, Fox Chapel, 4; Steve Vranka, Gateway, 4; Dom Lombardi, Indiana, 4; Kevin Stapleton, Indiana, 4; Abe Strapac, Leechburg, 4; Chase Fredrick, Mohawk, 4; Dan Kusnyer, North Allegheny, 4; Steve Removcik, Norwin, 4; Brett Molanick, South Allegheny, 4; Joe Silko, South Fayette, 4; James Pratt, Uniontown, 4; Derrik Zeroski, West Allegheny, 4.

• Chartiers Valley (13-6, 6-1) moved into a first-place tie with Ringgold (14-5, 6-1) in Class AAAA Section 4, knocking off the visiting Rams, 59-53. Erica Restich scored 22 for the Colts, who have won six consecutive games.

• Christina Chukwuedo scored 14 of her game-high 16 points in the first half, lifting Monessen (19-0) to a victory against Washington (19-1), 47-43, in a showdown of two of the WPIALs three previously undefeated teams.

• Player with four or more 3-pointers: Alexis Maksin, McKeesport, 4.