Sports briefs
High School boys
Noah Thimons scored 22 points and Kiski Area earned a 90-59 victory over Belle Vernon (1-3) at the WCCA Showcase at Hempfield. Bart Martin added 15 points for the Cavaliers (2-2) and Isaiah Gonzalez and James Flemm scored 11 each. Zion Moore netted a game-high 33 points for the Leopards and Trevor Kovatch contributed 16 points.
Lorenzo Gardner scored 17 points as Monessen held off Burrell, 55-53, at the WCCA Showcase at Hempfield. Jaisean Blackman added 12 points for Monessen (3-1) while teammate Dante DeFelices chipped in 10 points. Macky Bennis scored a game-high 26 points for Burrell (1-3), which trailed by 10 at halftime.
High School wrestling
A pair of Waynesburg wrestlers took home titles from the prestigious Ironman Tournament hosted by Walsh Jesuit in Ohio. Rocco Welsh won his second title in the event, defeating Jarrel Miller of St. Edward, 13-4 in the 175-pound final. Mac Church defeated Western Reserve’s Sam Cartella, 2-1 in tiebreaker 1, in the 144-pound final.
n Trinity swept the day on its home mat and earned the program’s 800th victory in the process. Trinity defeated Penn-Trafford 57-18, North Allegheny 48-18, and Latrobe 45-24. Latrobe placed second and North Allegheny was third.
In the finals, Trinity’s Blake Reihner (139), Jackson Bruckner (145) and Robbie Allison (152) recorded consecutive pins to break open a match tied 12-12. Thomas Allison (127), Bodie Morgan (172) and Nick Fedorchak (189) also had pins for the Hillers. Heavyweight Ty Banco won by decision.
Luke Willochell (114), Wyatt Schmucker (160) and Corey Boerio (215) had pins for Latrobe. Leo Joseph (121) and Jacob Braun (133) won by decision.
n McGuffey took second place in the John Marshall Duals.
The Highlanders defeated East Fairmont, 51-26, Cameron 78-3, Brooke 60-18, and Oak Glen 42-32. McGuffey lost in the finals to John Marshall, 40-36.
Two Highlanders went undefeated in the five matches: Lucas Baarr (126) and Victor Bonus (138).
NBA great Silas dies
Basketball taught Paul Silas how to be patient.
As a player, he waited 10 years before winning his first championship. As a coach, he waited 15 years for a second chance at running a team. As a father, he waited 20 years before seeing his son get a chance to lead a franchise.
“I always tried to remain positive,” Silas said in 2013, “and I think it usually worked out.”
Silas – who touched the game as a player, coach and president of the National Basketball Players Association – died, his family announced Sunday. Silas, whose son, Stephen Silas, is coach of the Houston Rockets, was 79.
“He combined the knowledge developed over nearly 40 years as an NBA player and coach with an innate understanding of how to mix discipline with his never-ending positivity,” Charlotte Hornets chairman Michael Jordan said. “On or off the court, Paul’s enthusiastic and engaging personality was accompanied by an anecdote for every occasion. He was one of the all-time great people in our game, and he will be missed.”
Silas’ daughter, Paula Silas-Guy, told The New York Times that her father died Saturday night of cardiac arrest. The Boston Globe first reported Silas’ death.
“We mourn the passing of former NBA All-Star and head coach Paul Silas,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “Paul’s lasting contributions to the game are seen through the many players and coaches he inspired, including his son, Rockets head coach Stephen Silas. We send our deepest condolences to Paul’s family.”
Tributes began arriving quickly. New Orleans had a moment of silence for Silas prior to its game with Phoenix on Sunday, and both Suns coach Monty Williams and Charlotte coach Steve Clifford spoke at length about Silas’ role on their careers.
“For my family, he’s a God. He’s larger than life,” Clifford said.