Observer-Reporter

Trailing 12-0 at one point, the Avella girls basketball team mounted a fierce comeback to earn an important Section 2-A victory on the road Monday night against Clairton, 41-39.

The Eagles (2-2, 9-4) battled back and tied the game going into the fourth quarter, out-scoring the Bears (3-1, 6-5) 29-19 over the middle two quarters. The lead changed hands several times in the final frame before Avella went ahead and hung on for the victory.

Joelle Yamber, who played much of the game with three fouls, led all scorers with 18 points for the Eagles. She had 12 points in the second half, including eight in the third quarter.

Serra Catholic 41, Fort Cherry 39: Jade Stewart's three-pointer in the waning seconds dealt Fort Cherry a crushing loss, 41-39 to Serra Catholic, in a key Section 2-A game.

The Rangers (2-2, 10-3), ranked ninth in the state, led by eight going into the fourth quarter. After the Eagles (4-0, 8-3) took the lead late, two Johnna McGivern free throws put Fort Cherry back in front.

Stewart followed by draining her third trey of the night for the win with 12 seconds remaining. She finished with 13 points. Teammate Lauren Bartko netted 14 points.

Marissa Miles led Fort Cherry with 17 points.

Cornell 49, Chartiers-Houston 40: Cornell made 23 of 41 free throws and defeated Chartiers-Houston, 49-40, in Section 2-A.

The Raiders (1-3, 5-8) scored all nine of their points in the fourth quarter from the foul line to hold off the Bucs (0-4, 3-11).

Nikki Goode led all scorers with 19 points and Karissa Lee added 14 for Cornell.

Gabby Provenzano had a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds for Chartiers-Houston. She also had six assists and six steals. Katie Rosemeier, who fouled out in the third quarter, scored 11.

Beth-Center 47, Bentworth 37: Beth-Center held off Bentworth to earn a 47-37 win in Section 5-AA.

The Bulldogs (3-3, 8-6) led by seven after the first quarter and extended that lead in the third by out-scoring the Bearcats (2-4, 6-6), 12-8.

Breigh Devecka notched a double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds for Beth-Center.

Samantha Ritzer scored 18 points and Amanda Kennedy had 12 for Bentworth.

Ringgold 61, Trinity 50: Emily Schartner scored a team-high 13 points and Ringgold used a big night at the free-throw line to rally and defeat visiting Trinity 61-50 in Section 4-AAAA.

Trinity (1-6, 6-6) led 24-22 at halftime but Ringgold (2-5, 5-9) outscored the Hillers 19-9 in the third quarter. Ringgold won the game by making 14 fourth-quarter free throws. The Rams were 27-for-37 at the line for the game.

Jennie Affinito scored 12 points for Ringgold, making 10 of 11 at the free-throw line. The Rams have won five of their last seven.

Marissa Manko was the only Trinity player to score in double figures. She had 15 points, which included four three-pointers.

Peters Township 49, Canon-McMillan 25: Emily Correal scored 22 points to power Peters Township to a 49-25 victory over visiting Canon-McMillan in Section 4-AAAA.

Peters Township (4-3, 7-6) broke open the game in the third quarter, stretching a 21-14 halftime lead into a 35-16 lead.

Sophomore Emily Hansen led Canon-McMillan (0-7, 1-13) with 13 points.

South Fayette 72, Carlynton 28: Senior guard Sara Throckmorton made a career-high six three-pointers and South Fayette cruised to a 72-28 victory over host Carlynton in Section 3-AA.

South Fayette (4-2, 9-3), which has won five in a row, raced to a 28-5 lead after one quarter and was never challenged. Paige Uram scored 13 points and Colleen Graeser had 10 for the Lions.

Carlynton (1-4, 3-9) was led by Lauren Henry's 11 points.

Yough 47, McGuffey 41: Host Yough used a breakaway layup to take a two-point lead with one minute remaining and some clutch free-throw shooting to seal a 47-41 victory over McGuffey in Section 5-AAA.

Senior guard Elisa Schober had a big night for McGuffey (0-4, 4-9), scoring 18 points. Allison Saccani, a 6-2 center, scored 18 points for Yough (2-2, 7-6) and Gina Moore scored 12, all on three-pointers.

Mapletown 35, West Greene 26: Mapletown out-scored West Greene by nine points in the second half to pull out a 35-26 victory in Section 3-A.

Kaitlyn Novak scored 15 points with five assists and three steals for the Maples (3-3, 5-8).

Ashlie Harris led the Pioneers (1-4, 2-10) with 10 points.

Carmichaels 61, Jeff-Morgan 28: Jordan Duke scored 24 points and Carmichaels defeated Jefferson-Morgan, 61-28, in Section 3-A.

The Mikes (4-1, 7-5) led 40-7 at halftime. Molly Stuvek added 12 points for the Mikes (4-1, 7-5), who led 40-7 at halftime.

Nicole Shultz scored 13 points for the Rockets (0-6, 1-13).

Monessen 65, California 19: Three players scored in double figures to power Monessen past California, 65-19, in Section 3-A.

Samone Stepoli and Jessica Diggs each netted 18 points and Chelsea Heath contributed 13 for the Greyhounds (6-0, 11-3).

Alli Greenlief scored 12 points for the Trojans (2-4, 3-10), who trailed 36-8 at halftime.

Elizabeth Forward 67, Waynesburg 15: Kristen Hawkins made 12 field goals on her way to 24 points in Elizabeth Forward's 67-15 victory over Waynesburg in Section 5-AAA.

Paige Pearce scored 13 points and Taylor Ohm and Jaci Martincic each had 11 for the Warriors (4-0, 8-4).

The Raiders are 0-4, 4-10.

Boys basketball

Burgettstown 81, Avella 39: Five players scored in double figures as Burgettstown coasted to an 81-39 non-section victory at Avella.

Kevin Bielecki led the Blue Devils (8-6), who have won 12 straight quarters, with 17 points. Nick Tasz scored 16, Sean Tunno netted 13 behind four three-pointers, and Tyler Lonchar and Tyler Pavan each added 12 points.

Josh Carlisle led the Eagles (6-8) with 17 points.

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