Jeannette ends GCC's streak; Norwin girls win section; other hoops Friday
Written by: Westmoreland Sports Network
February 10, 2018
Tags: Anthony Johnson Tre Cunningham Robert Kennedy Joel LoNigro Shawn Wilson Gianni Rizzo Josh Ratesic Jules Nicholls Marcus McCarthy Bryce Butler Reed Fenton Sean Kelly Connor Watt JJ Johnson CJ Waldier Jarett Bach Nate Leopold Olivia Gribble Jessica Kolesar Kayla Collins Mackenzie Markle Dymond Crawford Sara Nguyen
Westmoreland County boys and girls basketball results from Friday, February 9 2018:
BOYS
Jeannette 61 Greensburg Central Catholic 33 LISTEN BROADCAST
>> Sparked by the return of junior Anthony Johnson, Jeannette scored 25 first quarter points to down rival Greensburg Central Catholic 61-33 and clinch a share of the Section 1-2A title. The Jayhawks can win the championship outright with a victory at Riverview on Saturday. Jeannette flew out of the gates to a 25-10 early lead. GCC trimmed the lead to 27-17 but the Jayhawks went on a 12-0 run and held a 41-20 lead at halftime. Tre Cunningham dropped a game-best 22 points for Jeannette (16-3, 10-1). Teammate Robert Kennedy added 15 points and Johnson, who had missed six games with an injury, put in 11. Joel LoNigro tallied 15 for the Centurions who had to win the game to make the WPIAL playoffs. Instead, a 17-year streak of Greensburg Central Catholic making the post-season was stopped.
Hempfield 55 Norwin 52 WATCH BROADCAST
>> The game may not of meant anything in the standings but rivals Norwin and Hempfield went at it at the Castle on Friday. A lay up by Shawn Wilson with 1:01 remaining put the Spartans ahead 52-50 and they went on to beat the Knights 55-52 in the Section 3-6A finale for the squads. Norwin's Gianni Rizzo paced all scorers with 17 points with Josh Ratesic putting in 11 for the Knights (10-11, 5-9). Jules Nicholls topped the Spartans (7-15, 4-10) with 11 points and Marcus McCarthy added 10 including eight in the fourth quarter.
Penn Hills 94 Latrobe 82 LISTEN BROADCAST
>> A rough third quarter spelled doom for Latrobe as it dropped back-to-back games to end section play with a 94-82 loss at Penn Hills in Section 3-6A play. The Wildcats trailed just 43-41 at the halftime break but were outscored 25-13 in the third quarter by the Indians. Bryce Butler poured in 24 points for Latrobe while teammate Reed Fenton came in with 23. The Wildcats will finish fourth in the section and end the regular season hosting non-section Altoona on Monday.
Woodland Hills 55 Penn-Trafford 37
>> Woodland Hills clinched the Section 3-6A championship with a 55-37 victory at Penn-Trafford. The Wolverines turned a four point lead after one quarter to a commanding 32-20 advantage at halftime. Sean Kelly was the lone player to finish in double figures for the Warriors (6-16, 3-11) with 10 points.
Indiana 60 Derry Area 51
>> Derry hung tough with Section 1-4A champion Indiana but couldn't overtake the Indians in a 60-51 loss at home. The Trojans were behind 11-4 after one but had the game at 26-22 at halftime. Indiana edged Derry 21-16 in the third quarter and that proved to put the game away. Connor Watt's 14 points was a team-high for the Trojans (8-11, 4-8).
Yough 68 Mt. Pleasant 67
>> Yough won its first section game in the final Section 1-4A contest of the season 68-67 over Mt. Pleasant. J.J. Johnson poured in a game-high 36 points for the Vikings (3-19, 1-11). C.J. Waldier racked up 27 for the Cougars (4-17, 1-11) and Jarett Bach scored 22.
Franklin Regional 69 McKeesport 60
>> Section 3-5A co-champion Franklin Regional used a strong second quarter to down McKeesport 69-60 in non-section action. The Panthers held a slim 11-10 advantage after one but used a 21-12 run in the second quarter to open up a 32-22 lead at the break. Nate Leopold tallied 16 points for Franklin Regional (17-4, 9-1).
GIRLS
Norwin 50 Hempfield 23
>> Norwin clinched the Section 2-6A championship outright with a 50-23 victory at home over rival Hempfield. The Knights outscored the Spartans 25-8 over the second and third quarters. Olivia Gribble scored 14 points for Norwin (11-8, 8-2). Jessica Kolesar added 13. Kayla Collins put in nine points for the Spartans (11-10, 6-4) who finish tied for second place with Latrobe.
Penn Hills 59 Latrobe 51
>> Latrobe dropped its fourth straight section game to finish the season in a 59-51 Section 2-6A loss at Penn Hills. The Indians outscored the Wildcats 17-6 in the third quarter. Mackenzie Markle's 23 points topped Latrobe (15-6, 6-4). Laura Graytok finished with 16. The Wildcats finish tied for second place with Hempfield.
Carmichaels 69 Jeannette 43
>> Jeannette was outscored 35-16 in the second half in a Section 3-2A loss to Carmichaels. Dymond Crawford closes out an impressive season with 14 points for the Jayhawks (7-15, 4-10).
Woodland Hills 48 Penn-Trafford 35
>> Penn-Trafford fell behind 14-4 early and dropped a non-section game to Woodland Hills at home 48-35. Sarah Nguyen's 10 points were best on the Warriors (7-15, 3-7) who will miss the WPIAL playoffs.