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High School Highlights: North Catholic prevails in OT
Saturday, January 30, 2010

After losing an overtime decision to its rival earlier this month, North Catholic decided to extract some revenge in similar fashion. Brandt Gribbins converted two 3-pointers in overtime to lift Class AA No. 1 North Catholic to a 60-59 victory against No. 2 South Fayette in Section 3 Friday.

North Catholic (15-1, 9-1) led by 11 points after three quarters, before the visiting Lions (12-3, 7-2) came back and sent the game to overtime after Mike Lamberti's 3-pointer with nine seconds left. Gribbins began the extra period with a 3-pointer and added another later. Trailing by one, a late Lions layup attempt was unsuccessful.

Jesse Long scored 17 points for the Trojans, who had previously lost to South Fayette, 70-64.

Lamberti scored 17 for the Lions.

"It's a huge win," North Catholic interim coach Mike Fratto said. "We believed we could be where we are. We just had to prove it."

Other top boys' games

• Pine-Richland (6-10, 3-5) jumped to an eight-point halftime lead and went on to upset Class AAAA No. 2 Butler, 53-49, in Section 3. Eric Holmes led the host Rams with 15 points. Bobby Swartwout scored 25 for Butler (14-2, 7-2), which has lost two of three.

• For the second time this season, City League No. 1 Perry (14-1, 10-0) gained a one-point victory against No. 2 Allderdice (9-5, 7-3), this time defeating the visiting Dragons, 59-58. Daryl Harrington scored 23 points, including two free throws with five seconds left to put Perry ahead.

• Class AAAA top-ranked Mt. Lebanon (16-0, 7-0) coasted to a 53-27 victory against visiting Baldwin (11-6, 6-3) in Section 4. Deon Turman paced the Blue Devils with 10 points. Baldwin had won six in a row.

• McKeesport (13-4, 7-2) remained hot by defeating Class AAAA No. 4 Plum (13-4, 5-2), 65-49, in Section 2. Ty-Meer Brown scored 18 points and added 10 rebounds for the host Tigers, who have won seven of eight.

• Class AA No. 3 Beaver Falls (10-6, 8-0) took firm control of the lead in Section 6 with a 50-40 victory at Quaker Valley (14-3, 6-3). The Tigers outscored the Quakers, 19-8, in the final quarter. Drew Cook led the Tigers with 15 points.

Great finish

• Donnie Sipple's layup with one second left gave Fox Chapel (7-8, 4-5) a 49-47 victory at Penn Hills (7-11, 2-6) in Class AAAA Section 2.

Star of the night

• Craig Wolcott made his first 12 shots from the field and scored 40 points to help Peters Township (11-6, 7-2) defeat visiting Bethel Park (3-14, 1-7), 73-55, in Class AAAA Section 4. Wolcott hit 13 of 17 free throws and also grabbed 11 rebounds.

Boys' hot shots

• The following players made four or more 3-pointers: T.J. McConnell, Chartiers Valley, 7; Ethan Mildren, Laurel Highlands, 7; Jesse Reed, Greensburg C.C., 6; Luke D'Amico, Mount Pleasant, 6; Randy Hutchinson, Sto-Rox, 6; T.J. Olesky, Greensburg Salem, 5; Tarique Gibson, Kiski Area, 5; Bobby Nittinger, Neshannock, 5; Marquale May, New Castle, 5; Eric Blinn, Western Beaver, 5; Nico Palmosina, Bishop Canevin, 4; Trevor George, Center, 4; Josh Staniscia, Franklin Regional, 4; Jake Matthews, Greensburg Salem, 4; Kane Rombold, New Brighton, 4; Jack Counahan, North Allegheny, 4; Delvon Murray, Oliver, 4; Daryl Harrington, Perry, 4; Brandon Johnson, Schenley, 4; Tyler Manning, Seton-LaSalle, 4; Josh Valentic, Trinity, 4; Anthony Thomas, Union, 4; C.J. Hester, West Mifflin, 4.

Girls' hot shots

• The following players made three or more 3-pointers: Val Majewski, General McLane, 9; Ashley Albright, Brashear, 3; Meghan Mastroianni, Montour, 3; Samantha Howell, Mapletown, 3; Ashia Regan, Perry, 3.

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First published on January 30, 2010 at 12:18 am