HERMITAGE, Pa. – Looking to make the march back to Hershey, Kennedy Catholic had no problems in their PIAA Class 2A opener, disposing of Brentwood, 77-20.
The Golden Eagles (22-4) raced out to a 20-point lead after the first quarter, scoring 30 points in the opening eight minutes.
Hayden Keith poured in 24 points for Kenedy Catholic, 16 of which came in the first half.
Kennedy Catholic put five players in double figures, as Layke Fields had 13 points, Monique Vincent 12, Cassie Dancak 12, and Bella Magetro 10.
Mia March had 10 points to lead Brentwood.
With the win, Kennedy advances to play Burgettstown, a 57-52 overtime winner over United, on Tuesday, March 14 in the second round.
(10-2) MAPLEWOOD 65, (7-4) ALIQUIPPA 47
GUYS MILLS, Pa. – Sadie Thomas scored 23 points as Maplewood earned a 65-47 first-round win over Aliquippa.
Maplewood led wire-to-wire, building an 18-10 lead after the first quarter and 32-21 at halftime.
The Lady Tigers went to the free-throw line 32 times, converting 19 of them in the win.
Thomas scored eight of her 23 points in the fourth quarter to help close out the win, while Bailey Varndell knocked down four 3s to finish with 12 points.
Maddie Eimer and Maggie Means added seven points each for Maplewood, while Madison O’Hara finished with six.
Angel Henry led Aliquippa with 22 points, while Yaree Carter and Rashanique Lowe added 10 each.
With the win, Maplewood advances to play Greensburg Central Catholic, a 55-33 winner over Windber, in the second round.
(10-3) LAKEVIEW 47, (9-2) MONITEAU 40
WEST SUNBURY, Pa. – Leading by one going to the fourth quarter, Lakeview got points from six different players in the final eight minutes to secure a 47-40 win over Moniteau in the PIAA Class 2A opening round at Moniteau.
The Sailors (17-9) were up 32-31 at the end of 24 minutes after Moniteau (19-8) outscored them 12-4 in the third quarter to turn a nine-point deficit at the half into a single point with eight minutes to play.
But Kelsey Seddon hit a big 3-pointer in the fourth quarter and scored five of her game-high 12 points in the frame to help Lakeview to the win.
The Sailors weren’t great from the line in the fourth quarter but hit enough – 6 of 14, to maintain the lead.
Kyndra Seddan added 11 points and nine rebounds in the win with Emma Masteller adding 10 points. Alaina Peltonen added five assists and six points.
Masteller hit a pair of first-quarter 3-pointers and scored eight of her 10 points in the quarter to help Lakeview to a 14-7 lead at the end of one.
Kyndra Seddan then scored six of her points in the second quarter to expand the lead to nine points by halftime.
Catherine Kelly and Davina Pry each scored 11 points for Moniteau with Pry adding eight rebounds. Sophie Fleeger added seven points, and Kendall Sankey had three points and five blocked shots.
Lakeview will face WPIAL champion Shenango in the second round Tuesday, March 14, at a time and site to be announced.
CLASS 3A
(10-1) MERCYHURST PREP 73, (7-7) WAYNESBURG CENTRAL 35
ERIE, Pa. – Mercyhurst Prep made 14 3s in a 73-35 win over Waynesburg Central in the first-round of the PIAA playoffs.
Olivia Kulyk led Mercyhurst Prep with 22 points, as the Lakers built a 30-13 halftime advantage.
Lillirose Lang also had a big game for the Lakers with 17 points, while Shannon Stevenson added nine.
Josie Horne and Kaley Rohanna had 10 points each for Waynesburg.
With the win, Mercyhurst prep advances to play Shade Side Academy, a 54-19 winner over Karns City, in the second round on Tuesday.
(7-2) LAUREL 57, (10-3) SHARPSVILLE 31
NEW CASTLE, Pa. – Laurel outscored Sharpsville 18-2 in the second quarter en route to a 57-31 win.
Regan Atkins poured in 23 points for Laurel, while Joselynn Fortuna added 10.
Tori Kimpan led Sharpsville with 12 points, while Chasie Fry and Lily Palko added eight points each.
With the win, Laurel advances to play River Valley, a 60-52 winner over York Catholic, in the second round on Tuesday.
(7-5) OLSH 60, (10-2) WILMINGTON 42
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – Kyleigh Nagy scored 18 points as Our Lady of Sacred Heart beat Wilmington, 60-42.
Mia Grasafi added 11 points for OLSH.
Lia Krarup led Wilmington with 16 points.
CLASS 6A
(7-2) UPPER ST. CLAIR 56, (10-1) MCDOWELL 34
PITTSBURGH – Rylee Kalocay poured in 30 points as Upper St. Clair knocked out McDowell, 56-34.
USC built a 31-13 halftime lead en route to the win.
Amiya Nelson led McDowell with 12 points.
USC advances to play Pennsbury, a 23-18 win over Nazareth, in the second round.
BOYS
CLASS 5A
(10-1) CATHEDRAL PREP 47, (7-5) SOUTH FAYETTE 45
ERIE, Pa. – Cathedral Prep rallied from a 5-point halftime deficit to earn a 47-45 first-round win over South Fayette.
Prep led 46-45 and South Fayette had the ball with 14 seconds to go, but the Ramblers were able to force a tie-up and had the possession arrow.
After a 1-of-2 trip from the free-throw line, the Ramblers held off the Lions’ last-ditch effort to preserve the win.
Semontae Lofton led Prep with 15 points, while Jake Sambuchino had 14.
The Ramblers overcame a big effort from South Faytte’s Elijah Hill led all scorers with 30 points. Hill and Michael Plasko (15 points) were the only two South Fayette players to score in the game.
With the win Prep advances to play Mars, a 61-49 winner over Manheim Central, on Tuesday.
CLASS 1A
(10-1) FARRELL 75, (7-4) GEIBEL CATHOLIC 62
FARRELL, Pa. – Trailing by four after one quarter, Farrell went on a 24-13 run in the second and didn’t look back in a 75-62 first-round win over Geibel Catholic.
The win is the second consecutive first-round win for the Steelers over Geibel.
Freshman Danny Odem led Farrell with 21 points, while Nasir O’Kane had 15, and Malachi Owens and Khanye Matthews had 10 each.
Jaydis Kennedy poured in a game-high 27 points for Geibel Catholic, while Kaiden Grady, Jeff Johnson, and Trevon Whtie had 10 each.
With the win, Farrell advances to play Harmony, a 70-58 win over DuBois Central Catholic, in the second round on Tuesday.
UNION (NEW CASTLE) 65, KENNEDY CATHOLIC 45
NEW CASTLE, Pa. – Matt Stanley scored 28 points as Union eliminated Kennedy Catholic with a 65-45 win.
Union went on a 23-12 run in the second quarter to take a 37-23 halftime advantage.
Lucas Stanley added 12 points for Union, while Peyton Lombardo added nine.
Thorsten Hart rifled in 21 points for Kennedy Catholic, while Levi Hailstock and Remington Hart had 10 each.
Union will meet the winner of the Portage/Cameron County winner in the second round. That game will be played on Saturday after being postponted due to inclement weather.
CLASS 4A
(7-2) NORTH CATHOLIC 89, (10-2) HICKORY 65
CRANBERRY, TWP., Pa. – Max Hurray scored 25 points as North Catholic raced past Hickory, 89-65.
North Catholic went on a 26-14 run in the third quarter, breaking open what was a 6-point halftime lead.
Andrew Maddalone had 22 points, Matt Ellery 20 and Max Rottman 10 for North Catholic.
Tyson Djakovich had 17 points for Hickory, while Devin Daniels added 13 points and Ben Swanson nine.
With the win, North Catholic advances to play the winner of Valley View and Shamokin in the second round. That game was postponed to Saturday due to inclement weather.
(7-5) HAMPTON 61, (10-1) GROVE CITY 44
GROVE CITY, Pa. – Eric Weeks poured in 26 points as Hampton earned a 61-44 first-round win over Grove City.
Grove City led 15-11 after the first quarter, but Hampton went on a 14-4 run in the second quarter to take a halftime lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Braxton Eastly added nine points for Hampton.
Nathan Greer poured in 20 points to lead Grove City, while Jimmy Irani added eight points.
With the win, Hampton advances to play Hampton, an 82-59 winner over Clearfield, in the second round.
