UNION CITY, Pa. – Union City senior Matthew Bennett joined the prestigious 1,000-point club as the Bears picked up a big win over Eisenhower, 58-44.
With the win, the Bears moved to within ½ game of the Knights in the Region 2 standings at 7-4 (Eisenhower is now 7-3).
Bennett reached the milestone with a free throw, as the Bears came out strong, building a nine-point (29-20) halftime advantage.
Bennett had strong bookend quarters, netting seven in the first and six in the fourth on his way to a game-high 19.
Bryce Drayer also had a big hand in the hot start for the Bears, scoring 11 of his 17 points in the first half in helping UC to split the regular-season series with the Knights. Cole DeSimone chipped in with nine points.
The Knights were unable to mount a second-half comeback despite the best efforts of Kyler Black, who scored all 14 of his points in the second half. Kael Hunt scored 12 points (four triples) for Eisenhower, while Union City held Ike’s leading scorer, Wyatt Lookenhouse, to just two points.
Kris Bunk and Curt Darling had eight points apiece for Eisenhower.
WARREN HARDING (OHIO) 76, KENNEDY CATHOLIC 69
HERMITAGE, Pa. – Despite 39 points from Elijah Harden, Kennedy Catholic came up just short in a 76-69 thriller against Warren Harding (Ohio).
With the game tied at 62 apiece in the fourth quarter, Harding outscored the Golden Eagles by seven to close the game, ending KC’s 14-game winning streak in the process.
Kennedy was as close as one, 67-66, with 2:50 to play after a pair of free throws from Harden
The lead was four, 70-66 with a minute to play before Duncan Moy knocked down a pair of free throws, and after a Kennedy miss on the other end, the Golden Eagles were whistled for a technical foul and Moy knocked down 1-of-2 from the line to make it 73-66 and essentially put the game away.
Tyriq Ivory was huge for Harding, pouring in 32 points, while Moy finished with 18.
Malik Lampkins-Rudolph was also in double figures for Kennedy with 15 points.
FARRELL 60, LAKEVIEW 44
FARRELL, Pa. – Lamont Samuels and Omar Stewart combined for 30 points as Farrell earned a 60-44 win over Lakeview.
The Steelers built a 10-point (32-22) halftime lead en route to the win, as Samuels tallied 16 points and Stewart 14.
Cam Pence had 16 points to lead Lakeview.
ERIE 59, MERCYHURST PREP 35
ERIE, Pa. – Andreas McCullum scored 15 points and Layveon Gore 10 as Erie earned a 59-35 non-region win over Mercyhurst Prep.
The Royals outscored the Lakers by 18 in the second half en route to the win.
Dewey Byrd had 17 points for Mercyhurst Prep.
NORTH EAST 77, ERIE FIRST CHRISTIAN 66
ERIE, Pa. – North East put four players in double figures in a 77-66 win over Erie First Christian.
Noah Crozier and Ryan Mayes combined for 45 points, as Crozier dropped in 24 and Mayes 21, while Owen Kemp added 17.
The Pickers scored 26 points in the first quarter en route to the win.
Evan Montefiori had 23 points for EFC and Jesse Jong 16.
NORTHWESTERN 50, CONNEAUT (OHIO) 28
CONNEAUT, OHIO – Ryan Tewell scored 18 points as Northwestern earned a 50-28 Region 3 win over Conneaut (Ohio).
Jake Kelley added 10 points for Northwestern.
Gavin Hedrick led Conneaut with 10 points.
GIRLS
MAPLEWOOD 63, EISENHOWER 15
GUYS MILLS, Pa. – Izzy Eimer led a balanced Maplewood effort with 13 points as the Lady Tigers earned a 63-15 Region 2 win over Eisenhower.
Nine different Maplewood players made their way into the scoring column, as Sadie Thomas netted 12 points and Lilianne Moorhead netted nine.
Bella Marino and Lilly Smythe had five points each for Eisenhower.
WEST MIDDLESEX 74, MERCER 38
WEST MIDDLESEX, Pa. – Carlie Beatty and Emily Anthony had big games onces again as West Middlesex powered past Mercer, 74-38.
Beatty had 20 points and Anthony 18 in the win for the Big Reds, which built a 41-23 halftime lead en route to the win.
Julia Balaski had 14 points to lead Mercer.
KENNEDY CATHOLIC 66, REYNOLDS 23
TRANSFER, Pa. – Layke Fields led four Kennedy Catholic players 17 points as the Golden Eagles earned a 66-23 win over Reynolds.
Kennedy scored 28 points in the first quarter en route to the win.
Hayden Keith, Paris Gilmore and Monique Vincent scored 12 apiece for the Golden Eagles.
Halle Murcko had 10 points for Reynolds.
MERCYHURST PREP 49, GIRARD 26
ERIE, Pa. – Anna Tranum and Olivia Kulyk combined for 30 points as Mercyhurst Prep earned a 49-26 Region 3 win over Girard.
Tranum scored 16 points and Kulyk 14 for the Lakers.
Kayla Sharman had 10 points to lead Girard.
