Turnovers and missed shots down the stretch proved to be crucial as Moon Area suffered a 61-53 loss to visiting Lincoln Park Wednesday night in a WPIAL Class 5A Section 4 boys basketball game.
The Tigers, who suffered their first loss after starting the season 3-0, led 25-21 at halftime, thanks in part to Jackson Bauman’s 10 first-quarter points.
But Lincoln Park’s Josh Pratt got hot in the third quarter, scoring 13 points to help the Leopards move in front, 43-41, heading into the final eight minutes.
In the first minute of the final quarter, the Leopards parlayed two Moon turnovers into a layup and a 3-pointer to increase the lead to 48-41.
Eventually, Lincoln Park built its lead to 55-43 with 4 minutes, 24 seconds remaining.
The Tigers weren’t finished, though, and used a 10-2 run to cut the deficit to 57-53. Moon had possession with 1:34 to play and a chance to slice the lead to two, but another turnover ruined that opportunity.
The Tigers regained possession after a Lincoln Park foul with 1:24 left, but a twisting contested layup attempt failed to fall, and the Leopards turned that miss into a layup at the other end to widen the gap to 59-53 with 58.9 seconds remaining.
Moon had two more opportunities to score in the final minute, but a missed shot and a traveling call scuttled those chances, and Lincoln Park held on for the win.
Moon coach Gino Palmosina said after his team led at halftime, “we just got away from doing what got us that lead.”
“We had two really bad starts in the third and fourth quarters, and that was kind of the difference,” he added.
Pratt led Lincoln Park, now 3-0, with 25 points while Amaizin Straughters added 14 and Jeremiah Pratt chipped in 12.
Jackson Bauman led Moon with 26 points and Caden Kopay added eight.
Moon Area’s Brody Bauman dishes off a pass in front of Lincoln Park’s Damar Jackson at Moon High School. 
Moon Area’s Jackson Bauman drives to the basket in front of Lincoln Park’s Amir Woods at Moon High School. 
Moon Area’s Tigers Caden Kopay drives to the hoop against Lincoln Park’s Taymeir Holmes at Moon High School. 
Moon Area’s Jackson Bauman pulls up for a shot in action against Lincoln Park at Moon High School. 
Moon Area’s Caden Kopay battles Lincoln Park’s Jeremiah Pratt for a loose ball at Moon High School. 
Moon Area’s Caleb Waclawski drives to the hoop against Lincoln Park’s Taymeir Holmes at Moon High School. 
Moon Area’s Jackson Bauman drives to the hoop against Lincoln Park’s Taymeir Holmes at Moon High School. 
Moon Area’s Brody Bauman goes in for a layup and gets cut off, forcing him to dish off a pass in action against the Lincoln Park Leopards at Moon High School. 
Moon Area’s AJ Buford drives to the hoop against Lincoln Park’s Antonio Goodman at Moon High School. 
Moon Area’s Jackson Bauman drives to the hoop against Lincoln Park’s Damar Johnson at Moon High School. 
Moon Area’s AJ Buford drives to the hoop against Lincoln Park’s Malcolm Frye at Moon High School.
Photos by Mike Longo Jr.
Clairton 66, Sto-Rox 57
Taris Wooding exploded for 16 second-quarter points to help the host Bears build a 44-26 halftime lead and they held on to beat the Vikings in a nonsection game.
Clairton led 15-14 after one quarter and then outscored Sto-Rox 29-12 in the second quarter.
Wooding finished with 26 points to lead all scorers and Brandon Murphy added 15 for the Bears.
Adam Thomas and Marcus Griffin each scored 14 points to lead Sto-Rox, which fell to 1-2, while MJ Thomas contributed 14 and LJ Washington nine.
WRESTLING
Franklin Regional 41, Moon Area 25
Kartsen Kirchner registered the lone pin for the Tigers, who managed just three victories in the middle and upper weights in losing to the Panthers.
Kirchner stopped Connor Visnick at 3 minutes, 26 seconds of their 121-pound match.
Other Moon winners were Bryce Thomas, who downed Salvatore Colangelo, 4-0, at 107; Zachary Regotti, who posted a 5-3 decision over Max Firestine at 152; Liam Costa, who decisioned Ethan Cartwright, 4-1, at 172; and Michael Olszewski, who posted an 11-2 major decision over Evan McManis at 189.
HOCKEY
Montour 4, Richland 3
Trey Varga snapped a 3-3 tie a little less than four minutes into the third period Monday night to give the Spartans a victory in a PIHL Varsity “A” Blue contest at Cambria County War Memorial Arena in Johnstown.
Austin Lipinski scored a pair of first-period goals for Montour, which improved to 4-5-1-1, and the Spartans led 2-1.
Richland tied the score just 21 seconds into the second period, but Montour answered just 13 seconds later on Anthony Klimas’ goal.
Richland again countered with the game-tying goal six minutes into the period.
Varga’s unassisted goal at 3 minutes, 53 seconds into the third period proved to be the difference.
Varga picked up three assists to go along with his game-winning goal. Aidan Jennings and Landon Keaton also had assists for Montour.
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