Cavaliers, Leopards, Scotties, Centurions boys win section titles

Section play in WPIAL boys basketball concluded last Friday, and four Westmoreland County teams captured section crowns. Kiski Area, Belle Vernon Area, Southmoreland, and Greensburg Central Catholic all reigned atop their respective sections. The Cavaliers won Class 5A Section 2 with a mark of 11-1, as they notched a 68-61 victory at Penn Hills last Friday, finishing one game better than the Indians. It’s the first section title for the Cavs since 2013. In Class 4A Section 3, the Leopards took first with a mark of 11-1, one game ahead of Elizabeth Forward. BVA wrapped up its section slate with a 83-48 triumph at Greensburg Salem last Tuesday. Leopards’ head coach Joe Salvino announced his plan to retire following the conclusion of Belle Vernon’s season. The Scotties proved their supremacy in Class 3A 4 with a 10-0 mark, three games better than both Ligonier Valley and Waynesburg Central. Last week, Southmoreland prevailed 59-44 at Mount Pleasant and 87-49 at home against Brownsville Area. The section title for the Scotties marks their first since 1992. The Centurions were perfect in Class 2A Section 1 at 14-0, two games ahead of Jeannette. GCC edged the Jayhawks 58-48 last Tuesday at home, and followed with a road win against Springdale 53-40 three days later to cap off the unblemished section run.

Panthers, Bucs fall in state quarterfinals

Less than a week after capturing WPIAL team wrestling titles, Franklin Regional and Burrell both fell short of another championship run in the state bracket last week. In the PIAA Class 3A field, the Panthers lost in the quarterfinals, as well as the consolation semifinals. Franklin Regional opened the state bracket last Tuesday with a decisive 38-13 win at home against Norwin. On Friday at Altoona Area High School, though, the Panthers were edged 32-29 by District 11 runner-up Nazareth. In the defeat, FR received falls by Beau Fennick, Max Firestine, and Elishua Daugherty, a tech fall from Henry Patts, a major decision via Titus Colangelo, and a decision by Luke Ankney. In the consolation bracket, the Panthers rebounded with a 39-11 triumph against Central Mountain, but the Panthers came up short against Connellsville Area 28-22 in the consol semis, ending the season at 19-2. In Class 2A, homestanding Burrell outlasted Penns Valley 39-27 last Tuesday. In the quarterfinals on Friday in Altoona, though, the Buccaneers were overmatched by eventual-champion Faith Christian 65-4. Burrell’s lone victory came via a major decision by Julian Bertucci, who notched his 100th win. In the consolation bracket, the Bucs were ousted by Cathedral Prep 42-18 on Saturday. Against the District 10 Champion Ramblers, the Buccaneers received a fall by Bertucci, as well as decisions courtesy of Carter Thomas, Calio Zanella, Isaac Lasinski, and Luke Boylan. Burrell concluded the campaign with a mark of 15-3.

Upset win sparks Spartans hockey

Hempfield Area hockey notched a pair of important wins last week, including a stunning upset against Penn-Trafford. Last Monday at the Palmer Imaging Arena in Delmont, the Spartans rallied to defeat the Warriors 6-5. Nino Dipietro provided the winning goal with just five seconds left in regulation, capping off Hempfield’s rally from a 4-2 deficit midway through the contest. Dipietro tallied two goals and an assist, Guerin Gardner scored twice, and Dane Busch dished out a pair of helpers. The outcome spoiled a stellar effort from PT’s Aiden Drotos, who amassed two goals and three assists. Three days later, the Spartans bested Canon-McMillan 7-3 at the Kirk Nevin Arena in Greensburg. Gardner produced three goals and an assist against the Big Macs, while Colby Herron added two goals and an assist for the Spartans, who registered 50 shots on goal. As a result, the Spartans ascended to 5-9-1-1, and with 18 points, they pulled ahead of Canon-McMillan into seventh place in the PIHL Class AA.

Mount Pleasant’s Kovach, KA’s Arnold capture gymnastics crowns

A pair of Westmoreland County gymnasts stood atop the podium last Saturday, as Mount Pleasant Area’s Olivia Kovach and Kiski Area’s Ellie Arnold won their respective divisions. Competing at Moon Area High School, Kovach narrowly won the Advanced Division, unseating three-time champion Abby Rexrode of Baldwin by a margin of 38.20-37.90. Kovach, a junior, placed first in the beam, second in the bars, fifth in the vault, and sixth in the floor event. Arnold, meanwhile, took first place in the Intermediate II Division, winning the vault and finishing second in the beam.

SVC’s Barkley garners another honor

Saint Vincent College wrestler Nathan Barkley continued to rack up the accolades during his freshman year with the Bearcats, as he was recognized as the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Newcomer of the Week last Tuesday. Barkley, a Derry Area grad, has garnered the honors three times this season, including in consecutive weeks. Barkley earned the most recent recognition as a result of his pinfall victory in the second period against Washington & Jefferson’s Joshua Searle. Barkley, who wrestles at 174 pounds, as helped SVC achieve a mark of 3-1 in the conference this season, and 5-7 overall.