FRANKLIN, Pa. – In a battle of early-season unbeatens, Franklin knocked off crosstown rival Rocky Grove, 66-40 to capture the Dick Russell Tournament title.
Easton Fulmer scored 28 points on his way to tournament MVP honors. He scored 69 points in the two wins (including 41 in Monday’s victory over Clarion-Limestone).
Fulmer talked about the win afterward:
Fulmer scored the Knights’ first 12 points of the game, but Rocky Grove hung tough, trailing by just nine, 27-18 at the half.
Franklin took over in the third quarter, however, outscoring the Orioles 22-7 to take complete control.
Luke Guth scored 16 points, including a pair of thunderous dunks in the first half, and was named to the All-Tournament team. Cole Buckley added nine points for Franklin and Damon Curry, saddled with foul trouble in the first half, netted all eight of his points in the second half.
De’Andre Whitman led Rocky Grove with 15 points, while Isaac Clayton finished with eight. Reece Henderson, who was named to the All-Tournament team, added six.
SAEGERTOWN 68, MONITEAU 58
MERCER, Pa. – Jaden Wilkins and Brady Greco combined to score 47 points to lead Saegertown past Moniteau, 68-58, on the second day of the Mercer Christmas Tournament.
Wilkins led the Panthers with 24 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, with Greco adding 23 while hitting five 3-pointers.
Also reaching double digits for Saegertown with 10 points was Zach Balog, who hit three 3-pointers.
Kyle Pry scored 20 points to lead Moniteau with Ryan Jewart adding 17.
HAMPTON 75, GROVE CITY 57
ALLISON PARK, Pa. – Grove City trailed by just one, 31-30 at halftime, but Hampton pulled away in the second half for a 75-57 win over the Eagles in the opening round of the Hampton Christmas Classic.
Dylan Stull had a strong game for the Eagles, scoring 15 points, including three triples, while Landon Haggart netted 12 points.
Eric Weeks had a monster game for Hampton pouring in 32 points.
HICKORY 79, MEADVILLE 51
FARRELL, Pa. – Jackson Pryts poured in 32 points to lead Hickory to a 79-51 win over Meadville in the championship game of the Dresch-McCluskey Tournament.
The Hornets led by 13 at halftime and outscored the Bulldogs 29-13 in the third quarter en route to the win.
Aiden Enoch was also in double figures for Hickory with 16 points.
Khalon Simmons led Meadville with 19 points, while Kellan Ball netted 13.
FARRELL 51, VALLEY 40
FARRELL, Pa. – Lamont Samuels scored 13 points as Farrell beat Valley, 51-40 in the consolation game of the Dresch-McCluskey Tournament.
Omar Stewart Jr. added eight points for the Steelers.
Ben Aftanas had 15 points to pace Valley.
UNION (NEW CASTLE) 73, WILMINGTON 23
NEW CASTLE, Pa. – Matthew Stanley, Jaden Wynn, and Cameron Taylor scored 11 points apiece as Union powered past Wilmington, 73-23 in the Neshannock Tournament.
Anthony Reed had 10 points for Wilmington, while Tuff McConahy added eight.
REYNOLDS 61, PORTERSVILLE CHRISTIAN 56
HADLEY, Pa. – Ashton Small and Hayden Obenrader scored 18 points apiece as Reynolds eared a 61-56 win over Portersville Christian in the opening round of the Commodore Perry Christmas Tournament.
The Raiders outscored Portersville 21-16 in the fourth quarter en route to the win.
Jake Williams was also in double figures for the Raiders with 15 points. Williams scored 11 of his points in the first quarter, while Obenrader scored 12 in the second half.
ELLWOOD CITY 74, MERCER 49
MERCER, Pa. – Joseph Roth scored 25 points and Alexander Roth 23 as Ellwood City powered past Mercer, 74-49 in the championship game of the Mercer Christmas Tournament.
Ellwood City built a 40-23 halftime lead en route to the victory.
Jake Mattocks scored 13 points for Mercer, while Julian Lawrence added 10.
CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS 55, KEYSTONE 41
CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS, Pa. – Josh Reisenauer led a trio of Cambridge Springs players in double digits with 17 points, as the Blue Devils toppled visiting Keystone, 55-41.
Ethan Counasse added 13 points for Cambridge Springs with Nathan Held chipping in 11.
Bret Wingard had a monster game for Keystone with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and seven blocked shots.
Also for the Panthers, Tyler Albright scored 15 points.
KANE 50, YOUNGSVILLE 25
SHEFFIELD, Pa. – Landon Darr had 12 points and six rebounds to lead a balanced effort for Kane in a 50-25 win over Youngsville in the opening round of the Sheffield Christmas Tournament.
Andy Jekielek added 10 points and five rebounds for the Wolves with Justin Mishic chipping in nine points, nine rebounds, and four assists, and Jack Bell eight points and five rebounds.
Alex Hill led Youngsville with 11 points.
FAIRVIEW 48, MERCYHURST PREP 33
SHARON, Pa. – Tyler Shultz led a balanced scoring effort with 14 points as Fairview earned a 48-33 win over Mercyhurst Prep.
Logan Frazao had 12 points for Fairview, which outscored the Lakers 18-10 in the fourth quarter.
James Sitter added eight points and Zach Scott seven for unbeaten Fairview.
Dewey Byrd led Mercyhurst Prep with a game-high 22 points.
FREEPORT 47, SLIPPERY ROCK 44
SARVER, Pa. – John Sabo scored 22 points, but it was Freeport that came out with a 47-44 win over Slippery Rock.
OIL CITY 55, GENERAL MCLANE 54
OIL CITY, Pa. – James Henry and Judias Johnson scored 13 points as Oil City outlasted General McLane, 55-54.
The Oilers outscored the Lancers 18-10 in the fourth quarter to rally for the win.
Jake Hornbeck and Connor Highfield had 10 points apiece for the Oilers, while Cam VanWormer added seven.
Dane Jukes and Danny Bruce scored 12 points each for GM, while Brad Weber added 10.
BURRELL 56, MCDOWELL 51
BETHEL PARK, Pa. – Brandon Coury scored 30 points to lead Burrell to a 56-51 win over McDowell in the consolation game of the Bethel Park Christmas Tournament.
Luke Chamberlain had a big game for McDowell with 20 points, while Nick Grimm and Isaiah Lovgin added seven each.
OLSH 76, SENECA 45
HARBORCREEK, Pa – Jake Dimichele scored 34 points as Our Lady of Sacred Heart earned a 76-45 win over Seneca in the Harbor Creek Tournament.
The Chargers, who also got 13 points from Bryson Kirschner, led 42-27 at halftime.
Jacob Young led Seneca with 16 points and Justin Walker added 10.
HOWLAND (OHIO) 53, SHARON 17
SHARON, Pa. – Anthony Massuci scored 17 points as Howland powered past Sharon, 53-17.
Garret Hoffman had seven points for Sharon.
NORTH EAST 66, MAPLEWOOD 33
LAWRENCE PARK, Pa. – Ryan Mayes scored 19 points as North East doubled up Maplewood, 66-33 in the C. Thomas Barringer Classic at Iroquois.
Noah Crozier was also in double figures for North East with 11 points as the ‘Pickers outscored the Tigers by 18 points in the third quarter en route to the win.
Cole Doolittle led Maplewood with 10 points.
