Frankie Igrec’s 12 third-quarter points helped Our Lady of the Sacred Heart rally to beat Bentworth, 54-40, Monday night in the opening round of the WPIAL Class 2A boys basketball tournament at OLSH’s Angela Activities Center.
Igrec scored the Chargers’ first eight points of the second half to help his team turn a 22-17 halftime deficit into a 26-22 lead, and OLSH never trailed again.
The Chargers, now 19-4 and the winners of 15 straight games, clinched a spot in the PIAA tournament with the win. They’ll advance to a WPIAL quarterfinal matchup against Jefferson-Morgan Thursday at a time and place to be determined. The sixth-seeded Rockets defeated No. 11 Springdale, 49-35, Monday night.
Bentworth, the tournament’s No. 14 seed, gave the third-seeded Chargers all they could handle and trailed just 45-39 with 2 minutes, 25 seconds remaining in the game.
But the Bearcats scored just one more point the rest of the way while OLSH made them pay at the free-throw line down the stretch, converting 7 of 9 attempts.
Tiernan McCullough and Jake Johnson each scored 14 points to lead the Chargers, and the two combined for 10 points in the third quarter when OLSH outscored Bentworth 25-11. Igrec scored all 12 of his points in that quarter.
Bentworth’s swarming 3-2 zone caused the Chargers problems right from the start. Some cold shooting and several turnovers left OLSH staring at a 10-2 deficit midway through the first quarter and the Bearcats led 13-5 at the end of the quarter.
OLSH regrouped and pulled to within two points at 15-13 with less than three minutes to play in the first half when Johnson hit a falling down floater in the lane.
But Bentworth’s Adam Moessner hit a jumper and after an OLSH turnover, the Bearcats’ Ben Hays converted two free throws to make it 19-13.
Another Chargers turnover led to Ryan Moessner getting fouled, and he drained two more free throws to widen the lead to 21-13.
OLSH’s Owen Minzner hit a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 21-15 and his steal and layup pulled the Chargers to within 21-17.
But Levi Urcho answered with a free throw for Bentworth, giving the Bearcats their 22-17 halftime lead.
Igrec’s instant offense at the start of the third quarter completely changed the tenor of the game. He opened the second-half scoring with a layup and after OLSH rebounded a missed free throw, Igrec drained a 3-pointer and then followed with a second consecutive 3-pointer to make it 26-22.
Bentworth climbed to within two points at 34-32 with 1:30 to play in the third quarter, but the Chargers finished the quarter on an 8-1 run, with Igrec contributing half of those points. That left OLSH with a 42-33 lead heading into the final quarter.
OLSH’s Austin Avsec goes up for a shot in front of Bentworth’s Levi Urcho. The Chargers hosted the Bearcats in first-round action of the WPIAL playoffs at the Angela Activities Center. 
OLSH’s Tiernan McCullough grabs a rebound in front of Bentworth’s Alejandro Leichty. The Chargers hosted the Bearcats in first-round action of the WPIAL playoffs at the Angela Activities Center. 
OLSH’s Jake Johnson attempts a 3-point shot over the Bentworth defense. The Chargers hosted the Bearcats in first-round action of the WPIAL playoffs at the Angela Activities Center. 
OLSH’s Frankie Igrec drives to the basket past Bentworth’s Dillan Colbert. The Chargers hosted the Bearcats in first-round action of the WPIAL playoffs at the Angela Activities Center. 
OLSH’s Patrick Altmar goes in for a layup ahead of Bentworth’s Levi Urcho.The Chargers hosted the Bearcats in first-round action of the WPIAL playoffs at the Angela Activities Center. 
OLSH’s Jake Johnson attempts a 3-point shot over the Bentworth defense. The Chargers hosted the Bearcats in first-round action of the WPIAL playoffs at the Angela Activities Center. 
OLSH’s Ethan Engel attempts a point shot over the Bentworth’s Levi Urcho. The Chargers hosted the Bearcats in first-round action of the WPIAL playoffs at the Angela Activities Center. 
OLSH’s Tiernan McCullough lays in a shot in front of Bentworth’s Levi Urcho. The Chargers hosted the Bearcats in first-round action of the WPIAL playoffs at the Angela Activities Center. 
OLSH’s Austin Avsec goes up for a shot in front of Bentworth’s Levi Urcho. The Chargers hosted the Bearcats in first-round action of the WPIAL playoffs at the Angela Activities Center. 
OLSH’s Owen Minzer battles Bentworth’s Ryan Moessner for the ball. The Chargers hosted the Bearcats in first-round action of the WPIAL playoffs at the Angela Activities Center. 
OLSH’s Owen Minzer has his shot blocked by Bentworth’s Levi Urcho. The Chargers hosted the Bearcats in first-round action of the WPIAL playoffs at the Angela Activities Center. 
OLSH’s Austin Avsec battles Bentworth’s Levi Urcho for a loose ball. The Chargers hosted the Bearcats in first-round action of the WPIAL playoffs at the Angela Activities Center.
Photos by Mike Longo Jr.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Eden Christian 46, Bishop Canevin 38
Annalese Haring scored a game-high 20 points as the No. 9-seeded Warriors outlasted the eighth-seeded Crusaders in the opening round of the Class 1A tournament at Bishop Canevin.
The contest was close throughout, as Eden Christian led by one point after one quarter, 8-7. Bishop Canevin took a three-point lead midway through the second quarter but Eden Christian ended the second quarter on a 7-0 run to lead 21-17 at halftime.
The two teams battled on even terms throughout the third quarter and the Crusaders got to within three points in the fourth, but Hannah Wallace’s acrobatic layup extended the Warriors’ lead to five and that proved to be the difference as Eden Christian outscored Bishop Canevin 13-9 in the quarter to put the game away.
Wallace added 14 points for Eden Christian.
Kya Cooley scored 19 points to lead Bishop Canevin and Isabella Sysak added 10 for the Crusaders, who finished their season 9-12 overall.
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