Eduardo Benitez led Cornell to a 54-52 basketball victory over Brashear with 26 points, including crucial free throws in the final seconds. In another boys game, Brentwood defeated Carlynton. In girls play, Shaler edged Moon Area, Geibel Catholic topped Bishop Canevin and Fort Cherry defeated Carlynton.
Moon Area's boys basketball team defeated Obama Academy 52-38, led by Jackson Bauman's 14 points. The team improved to 4-1. In other games, OLSH whipped Laurel, 62-49, behind Tiernan McCullough's 21 points and 18 from Frankie Igrec while Montour and Cornell both lost.
Moon Area's Maria Depner scored 24 points in a dominant 71-21 win over New Castle. Chartiers Valley edged Montour 36-34 on McKenna Helfrick's late basket, while Beaver Falls overcame a halftime deficit to beat OLSH 44-37. Other results included Jeannette's 44-23 victory over Carlynton and Serra Catholic's 70-38 win over Bishop Canevin.
Haley Smarsh from Moon Area finished fourth at the Women of Ironman Wrestling Tournament at Walsh Jesuit High School. After winning her first two matches, she faced a quarterfinal loss but secured three consecutive consolation wins before losing in the third-place match.
Lola Garner scored 22 points, leading Our Lady of the Sacred Heart to a 62-19 victory over Ellwood City in a WPIAL Class 3A girls basketball game. OLSH's boys team lost, as did Montour and Carlynton while Sto-Rox and Cornell captured wins.
The high school wrestling season features Carlynton, Montour and Moon Area competing with returning wrestlers and new hopefuls. Coverage from the West Hills Gazette will highlight each team’s progress, focusing on postseason ambitions.
Moon Area lost 61-53 to Lincoln Park after leading at halftime. Turnovers and missed shots plagued Moon in the final quarter. Jackson Bauman led Moon with 26 points, while Lincoln Park’s Josh Pratt scored 25 to secure the victory. Sto-Rox fell to Clairton in another boys game.