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High School Highlights: Bethel Park girls upend rival Upper St. Clair
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There might not be a more talented section in WPIAL girls basketball than Class AAAA Section 4.
Bethel Park's victory Thursday provided a strong early statement.
Paige Kochka-Puskar scored 17 points to help No. 3 Bethel Park roll to a 59-29 win at No. 2 Upper St. Clair.
Megan Marecic chipped in 13 points for the Black Hawks (3-1, 1-0), who led, 25-12, at halftime and outscored the Panthers, 34-17, in the second half.
Jordan Serio led Upper St. Clair (3-1, 0-1) with seven points.
Other top girls games
• Class AAAA No. 1 Chartiers Valley fell behind host Baldwin by four points after one quarter, but the Colts (3-0, 2-0) bounced back to blow out the Highlanders (2-2, 0-1), 52-21, in Section 4. Mariah Wells scored a game-high 19 points for the Colts.
• Also in Section 4, fourth-ranked Mt. Lebanon (3-1, 1-0) used a 24-5 edge in the second quarter to defeat host Canon-McMillan (2-2, 0-2), 59-40. Alex Ventrone led the Blue Devils with 14 points.
• Jessica Slagus had 16 points and 10 rebounds for Belle Vernon (4-0, 1-0) in a 41-31 win against visiting Ringgold (0-3, 0-1) in Class AAA Section 4.
• Class AA No. 5 Greensburg Central Catholic (4-0, 1-0) raced to a 40-4 halftime advantage and coasted to a 57-24 win against visiting Shady Side Academy (1-3, 0-1) in Section 3. The Centurions got 18 points from Carolyn Appleby.
• In a non-section matchup of ranked Class A teams, Leslie Hoye's 18 points led No. 2 Serra Catholic (2-1) to a 72-45 victory against visiting No. 4 Quigley Catholic (3-2).
• Aila Bradford scored 23 points and Eden Christian (4-0, 1-0) remained unbeaten after a 57-21 rout of host Trinity Christian (0-2, 0-1) in Class A Section 2.
Perfect game
• Penn-Trafford sophomore Maria Palarino finished 8 for 8 from the field and 1 for 1 from the free-throw line, and finished with 19 points for the Class AAAA No. 5 Warriors (4-0, 1-0) in an 85-21 Section 1 triumph against visiting Laurel Highlands (0-4, 0-1).
Stars of the night
• Chassidy Omogrosso scored 19 of her 39 points in the first quarter for Class AAA No. 2 Blackhawk (4-0, 1-0) in a 91-22 victory against visiting Ellwood City (3-1, 0-1) in a Section 2 opener.
• Jeannette's Ciara Gregory continued her terrific start by scoring 34 points in helping the Jayhawks (2-1, 1-0) win at South Allegheny (2-2, 0-1), 77-47, in Class AA Section 3. Gregory scored 40 and 39 points in her first two games.
• Lauren Wolosik finished with 30 points -- including 21 of her team's 28 first-half points -- in leading Class A No. 3 North Catholic (1-2, 1-0) to a 47-22 win at Ellis School (2-2, 0-1) in Section 2.
• Fort Cherry's Rachel Bellhy scored 23 points and added 22 rebounds, allowing the Rangers (2-1, 1-0) to squeeze past visiting Brentwood (1-3, 0-1), 39-35, in Class AA Section 4. Bellhy had 10 of her points in the fourth quarter.
Hot shots
• Players with four or more 3-pointers: Ciara Gregory, Jeannette, 6; Lexi Posset, Beaver, 5; Katie Fischer, Ambridge, 4; Chassidy Omogrosso, Blackhawk 4; Jayne Oberdorf, Greensburg Salem, 4; Jaylee Patterson, South Allegheny, 4.
Top boys games
• Three of the Post-Gazette's No. 1 teams are playing in the KSA tournament in Orlando, Fla., and at least two of them opened with victories.
Freshman Maverick Rowan had seven 3-pointers and scored 33 points to help Class A No. 1 Lincoln Park (3-0) edge Cypress Creek, Fla., 72-65. Rowan's final 3-pointer with 40 seconds left broke a 65-65 deadlock.
Matty McConnell scored 24 points and Mike Boulos added 19 to lead Class AAA No. 1 Chartiers Valley (3-0) to an 81-59 win against Tottenville, N.Y. The Colts scored 36 points in the first quarter.Class AAAA No. 1 New Castle was scheduled to play late Thursday night.
Star of the night
• Tim Jaczesko knocked down seven 3-pointers among his 45 points, while adding 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals for host Deer Lakes (2-2) in an 80-43 non-section victory against Aquinas Academy (1-2).
Hot shots
• Players with four or more 3-pointers: Tim Jaczesko, Deer Lakes, 7; Maverick Rowan, Lincoln Park, 7; Tanner Huffman, California, 6; Brennen Schmick, Cypress Creek, Fla., 6; Mike Boulos, Chartiers Valley, 4; Christian Koroly, Trinity, 4; Jordan Grabowski, Upper St. Clair, 4; Thomas Steve, Upper St. Clair, 4.
First Published December 14, 2012 12:00 am
