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Weiss scores 39 as McGuffey defeats section champion

6 min read

McGuffey prepared for the upcoming WPIAL playoffs by snapping a three-game losing streak and playing of its best games of the season, defeating Section 4-AAA champion Elizabeth Forward, 87-78, Monday night in the regular-season finale in Claysville.

Sammie Weiss scored 39 points to lead three McGuffey players in double figures. Weiss made 13 field goals and 12 of 13 free throws. The Highlanders (16-6) were almost perfect at the free-throw line, making 28 of 32 shots compared to only nine of 20 for Elizabeth Forward.

EF (17-5) led 19-12 after one quarter and 40-36 at halftime before McGuffey took control with a big third quarter. The Highlanders outscored EF 29-8 in the third quarter, getting 10 points from Weiss, to forge a 65-48 lead.

Katie Demi, who scored 22 points, had seven points in the pivotal third quarter. Demi finished the night going 11-for-12 at the free-throw line.

Rachel Czulewicz also reached double figures with 16 points.

EF, which scored 30 points in the fourth quarter, was led by Abigail Sporio’s 27 points. Olivia Barkley also had a big game with 25 points and Jessica Palady tallied 12.

Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic 68, Trinity 43: Sophomore Samantha Breen and freshman Mary Cassmassa combined for 49 points and led Cardinal Wuerl North catholic to a 68-43 victory over visiting Trinity in the regular-season finale for both playoff-bound teams.

North Catholic (17-5), the Section 2-A runner-up, led 35-26 at halftime and pulled away down the stretch by outscoring Trinity (16-6) 20-7 in the fourth quarter.

Breen, a 6-2 sophomore, scored a game-high 32 points, and Cassamassa, a 5-10 freshman, followed with 17 points for the Trojans.

Mary Dunn led Trinity with 14 points and Rachel Phillis contributed 11 for the Hillers, who had their five-game winning streak snapped. Trinity finished in a tie for second place with South Fayette in Section 5-AAA.

Ringgold 30, Monessen 25:

Ringgold scored eight points in the final 1:15 to break up a tie game and pull out a 30-25 victory over host Monessen.

The score was tied 22-2 with 1:15 to play when Ringgold, which had been held scorless in the fourth quarter to that point, made its final push to open a 30-22 lead. Monessen made a late three-pointer to close the scoring.

Ringgold (12-10), which has qualified for the Class AAA playoffs, led 18-9 at halftime. The Rams received nine points from both Marlena Schmidt and Kara Foster.

Monessen, which concludes the season with an 8-14 record, was led by Cara Grogan’s nine points.

Canon-McMillan 57, South Fayette 53: A 15-5 run in the third quarter provided the cushion needed in Canon-McMillan’s 57-53 victory over South Fayette in a non-section game in Canonsburg.

Danielle Parker scored 25 points for the Big Macs (13-9), who were tied 30-30 at halftime. Cheyenne Trest chipped in with 10.

Emily Anderson led South Fayette (16-6) with 19 points, Carlee Kilgus chipped in with 12 and Mikayla Fetchet had 11.

Chartiers-Houston 63, Frazier 30: Freshman Alexa Williamson scored a career-high 30 points to lead Chartiers-Houston to a 63-30 victory over Frazier ina non section game in Houston.

Williamson scored 11 points in the second quarter, when the Bucs (15-7) went on a 24-6 run. She did not score in the first quarter. Jalynn Myers added 10 points.

Emily Marshall led Frazier with eight points.

Bentworth 60, Avella 43: Reilly Skerbetz moved into 14th place on the school’s all-time scoring list after tossing in 24 points in Bentworth’s 60-43 victory over Avella in a non-section game.

Skerbetz finished with 629 career points, one more than Samantha Ritzer, who graduated in 2009.

Heather Chester scored 15 points for the Bearcats (9-13), who led 28-22 at halftime.

Boys results

Ringgold 48, Trinity 46: George Martin scored a game-high 11 points and Ringgold held off a late charge by Trinity to defeat the visiting Hillers 48-46 in the regular-season finale.

Ringgold end the season with an 8-14 record while Trinity went 9-13.

Ringgold trailed 25-22 at halftime but surged to a 38-35 lead entering the final eight minutes. The Rams held a four-point lead late in the game before missing the front end of a one-and-one, which set up a layup for Trinity that cut the gap to 46-44. After Ringgold made one of two at the free-throw line, Trinity again took the ball to the basket and scored a layup that trimmed Ringgold’s lead to 47-46.

Ringgold’s Nico Law then made one of two free throws to make it a two-point game, and Trinity gained possession for the game’s final shot. The Hillers, however, went for the win and missed a three-pointer as time expired.

Adam Raggi and Beau Baldwin each scored nine points to lead the Hillers, who made only 10 of 20 free throws compared to Ringgold’s 16 of 28.

McGuffey 61, Yough 52: Five players scored in double figures to lead McGuffey past Yough, 61-52, in a non-section game in Claysville.

Shaun Sanders led the way with 16 points for the Highlanders (8-14). Damian McCloskey had 12, Nathan Whipkey 11 and Nick Haynes and Zach Maxwell 10 apiece. Maxwell had 12 rebounds and Haynes seven assists.

Blake Kosor paced Yough (6-16) with 12 points.

Chartiers Valley 69, South Fayette 54: Ross Wilkerson’s 21 points led four players ind ouble figures as Chartiers Valley stopped South Fayette 69-54 in a non-section game.

Jake Ritson had 18, Eddie Flohr 12 and Matty McConnell 10 for the Colts (19-3).

Nick McKee scored 17, Brett Brumbaugh 16 and Jack Relihan 10 for the Lions (17-4).

Fox Chapel 79, Peters Township 68: Billy Urso scored 22 points to power Fox Chapel to a 79-68 victory over Peters Township in a non-section game.

Mike Zappala and Jack Lundy each scored 20 points for the Foxes (8-14), who led 41-29.

Jake Brucker scored 11 and Nick Valentic 10 for PT (8-14).

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