Jan 23, 2024 5 min read

It can be said that The High is on fire.

The Washington boys basketball team ran its winning streak to 10 games and clinched a Class 3A playoff berth with a 68-34 thumping of host Charleroi in Section 4 play Tuesday night.

The Prexies, who lead the section at 7-0 and are 10-5 overall, were in control throughout. Wash High led 19-3 after one quarter and 38-13 at halftime.

Braiden Wise led a balanced Prexies attack with 14 points and Ruben Gordon was close behind with 13. De’ondre Daughtery tallied 13 and james Carter tossed in 12.

Jackson Kernako was the leading scorer for Charleroi (2-6, 6-11) with nine points.

Peters Township 89, Elizabeth Forward 61

Jack Dunbar led four Peters Township players in double figures with 21 points and the Indians rolled to an 89-61 victory over Elizabeth Forward in a non-section game at AHN Arena.

The win is the sixth in a row for PT (12-4) heading into a key Class 5A Section 1 game at home Friday against Thomas Jefferson.

The Indians took charge early against EF (9-6), taking a 25-9 lead after one quarter. Peters Township held a commanding 50-32 lead at halftime.

Nick McCullough tallied 16 points for PT’s balanced attack. Nate Miller followed with 15 points and Dylan Donovan also hit for 15. Miller made four of the Indians’ 12 three-point field goals.

Charlie Meelieb had a strong game for EF with 20 points and Isaiah Turner scored 15.

Fort Cherry 77, Bentworth 51

Derek Errett had a huge game with 27 points and Class 2A Section 4 leader Fort Cherry clinched a playoff berth with a 77-51 victory at Bentworth.

The Rangers (7-0, 12-4) dominated the middle quarters to extend their winning streak to six games. Fort Cherry led 12-11 after one quarter and outscored Bentworth 47-22 over the second and third quarters.

Shane Cornali and Blake Sweder also hit double figures for the Rangers with 12 points apiece.

Lucas Burt led the Bearcats with 17 points and Ben Hays tossed in 12.

Burgettstown 56, Carmichaels 48

Zack Schrockman scored a game-high 23 points and Burgettstown pulled away in the fourth quarter to fight off upset-minded Carmichaels 56-48 in a Class 2A Section 4 game played on the Blue Devils’ home court.

Burgettstown (6-2, 13-5) led 28-18 at halftime before Carmichaels (0-7, 3-12) used a three-point barrage in the third quarter to close to within 44-40. The Blue Devils won the pivotal fourth quarter by a 12-8 clip.

James Leuice scored 12 points and Carson Tkalcevic added 1 for the Blue Devils.

Dom Colarusso scored 14 points for Carmichaels. He had three of his four three-point field goals during the Mikes’ 22-point third quarter. Aydan Adamson added 11 points.

Jefferson-Morgan 55, Avella 53

Deyton Marion poured in a game-high 23 points and Jefferson-Morgan took a hard-fought 55-53 home-court victory over Avella in a non-section contest.

Avella (8-9) led 30-23 at halftime but Jefferson-Morgan closed to within 44-42 entering the pivotal fourth quarter, which the Rockets won by a 13-9 margin.

John Woodward scored 11 points for Jefferson-Morgan (11-6).

Bryce Wright led Avella with 16 points. He was followed by Rylan Bell with 14 and Westley Burchianti with 10.

Baldwin 57, Trinity 50

Jacob Dunkle scored a game-high 27 points but Trinity needed a few more from somebody else as the upset-minded Hillers lost at Baldwin, 57-50, in a non-section game.

After the first quarter ended tied, Baldwin (12-3) moved out to a 27-18 halftime lead and stayed ahead the rest of the way.

Nate Wesling was the only player to score in double figures for the Highlanders. He tossed in 21 points.

Trinity’s record falls to 7-9 overall.

Carrick 72, California 42

Carrick of the Pittsburgh City League was a 72-42 winner at California in non-section play.

Carrick trailed 11-9 after one quarter, then scored 67 points over the next three quarters. The Raiders led 30-26 at halftime

Brayden Fisher led three Carrick players in double figures with 23 points.

Jacob Ziolecki was the high scorer for California (4-12) with 12 points and Noah Neil scored 11.

Brownsville 51, Waynesburg 31

Trenton Wible scored a game-high 24 points and Brownsville broke open a close game over the final eight minutes to beat visiting Waynesburg 51-31 in Class 3A Section 4.

Brownsville led 18-16 at halftime and 29-23 after three quarters. The Falcons won the game with a 22-8 scoring edge in the fourth stanza.

Harlan Davis contributed 14 points for Brownsville.

Alex Vansickle was the leading scorer for Waynesburg with nine points.

Girls results

Peters Township 51, Baldwin 41

The beat goes on with Peters Township.

Gemma Walker and Natalie Wetzel combined for 34 points as Peters Township remained undefeated and clinched a playoff berth with a 51-41 victory at Baldwin in Class 6A Section 2.

The win makes PT 17-0 overall and 8-0 in the section. Baldwin slips to 1-7, 8-9.

The Indians built a lead in the first quarter and stayed ahead the rest of the way. PT led 20-12 after one quarter, 32-23 at halftime and 39-31 after three quarters.

Walker led the way for the Indians with 18 points followed by Wetzel with 16.

Lynsey Bernotas scored 10 points for Baldwin.

In other games

Chartiers-Houston was a 50-35 winner at Beth-Center in a Class 2A Section 4 boys game. Complete game details were not reported by press time.