Feb 1, 2024 4 min read

Avella kept its postseason hopes alive with a 40-39 win, which included two buzzer-beating shots, at Jefferson-Morgan in a Class A Section 2 girls basketball game Thursday night.

After Avella inbounded the ball at midcourt with 6.9 seconds remaining in the game and J-M leading 39-38, Eagles junior guard Sydney Strope drove for a game-winning layup as time expired.

It was the second buzzer-beater of the game for Avella. The Eagles’ Abby Boggs scored a basket as time expired in the first half. Boggs’ field goal tied the score.

The Eagles trailed 31-29 entering the final period and won with an 11-8 scoring edge.

Ava Frank led the Eagles (2-6, 4-15) with 14 points. Kayla Larkin scored a game-high 18 points for J-M (1-7, 3-15).

Trinity 44, West Allegheny 37

Ruby Morgan continued her stretch of hot shooting from long distance as Trinity defeated host West Allegheny 44-37 in Class 5A Section 4.

Morgan made six three-point field goals and scored a game-high 22 points as Trinity improved its record to 6-2 in the section and 14-5 overall. The Hillers have clinched a playoff berth.

Trinity led 21-16 at halftime and pulled away to a 37-27 edge after three quarters.

West Allegheny freshman Alexis Santucci scored 21 points for the Indians (0-8, 6-12).

Waynesburg 49, Yough 19

Avery Davis scored 15 points as Waynesburg inched closed to the Class 3A Section 4 title with a 49-19 win over Yough.

Waynesburg leads the section at 8-0, one game ahead of second-place South Park. The Raiders (18-1 overall) host South Park on Monday.

Chartiers-Houston 73, Frazier 20

Since suffering its first section loss last week at Washington, Chartiers-Houston has had its offense in high gear.

Amelia Brose scored 20 points, Ava Capozzoli added 18 and Chartiers-Houston rolled to a 73-20 thumping of visiting Frazier in Class 2A Section 4.

The Bucs (10-1, 15-5) led 24-10 after one quarter and 45-16 at halftime. Frazier scored only four points in the second half.

Ali Wingard gave C-H three players in double figures as she finished with 14 points.

South Park 61, Charleroi 30

South Park stayed within striking distance of first place in Class 3A Section 4 with a 61-30 victory over visiting Charleroi.

The win makes South Park 7-1 in the section and 13-6 overall.

The Eagles held Charleroi (1-7, 8-10) to nine points in the first half. South Park led 22-4 after one quarter and 35-9 at halftime.

Bella Carroto, Ella Sypolt and Riley Jones each scored seven points for the Cougars.

Ella Clifford led three South Park players in double figures with 15 points.

California 52, Bentworth 31

Rakiyah Porter had a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds, teammate Hayley Gibson had 18 points and 17 rebounds, and playoff-bound California defeated visiting Bentworth 52-31 in Class 2A Section 4.

Amber Salle led Bentworth (1-10, 4-16) with 13 points and Aubrie Logan contributed 11.

Brownsville 44, McGuffey 36

Brownsville outscored McGuffey 13-0 in the fourth quarter to rally for a 44-36 victory in a Class 3A Section 4 game played on the Highlanders’ home court.

Brownsville (3-4, 10-8), which trailed 36-31 after three quarters, slipped ahead of McGuffey (3-5, 13-6) in the standings.

Skylar Gates and Zariah Reed led the Falcons’ comeback by scoring 20 and 11 points, respectively.

McGuffey received a big game from Madison Gaso, who tossed in 19 points.

Laurel Highlands 52, Belle Vernon 35

Arianna Sumpter scored a game-high 16 points and Laurel Highlands outscored Belle Vernon in all four quarters en route to a 52-35 win in Class 4A Section 3.

Miya Harris added 13 points for LH (8-2, 16-2).

Belle Vernon (6-5, 10-11) received 15 points from Kenzi Seliga on five three-point field goals.

In other games

Peter4s Township ran its record to 19-0 with a 57-42 win at Mt. Lebanon in Class 6A Section 2. Class A Section 2 leader Monessen was a 45-39 winner at West Greene. Geibel Catholic was a 43-27 winner at Mapletown in Class A Section 2. No game details were reported by press time.