1-17-20 WPIAL Boys Basketball Key Notes
McKeesport basketball player, Deamontae Diggs (23), goes up for a layup against Laurel Highlands on January 17, 2020.
SOURCE: TRIB LIVE HSSN
Fox Chapel's 57-49 win over Baldwin helped the Foxes improve their winning streak to 15 as they currently have an overall record of 15-0. They have a 5-0 section record as well. Arnold Vento scored 19 points for the Foxes while Andy Dagenhardt led Baldwin in points in this game as he scored 16 points.
Hempfield defeated Peters Township by a score of 57-52. After this win for Hempfield, both teams now have an overall record of 8-7.
Chris Peccon's 26-point performance helped Ringgold defeat Connellsville by a score of 71-68.
Senior Dante Parsons is considered a scoring machine at Greensburg Salem. It seems like every game he leads Greensburg Salem in points. He did tonight as he scored 24 points against Albert Gallatin. However, Greensburg Salem lost by a score of 63-62.
Basically, the game of the day was Laurel Highlands at McKeesport. WPIAL stars Rodney Gallagher (Laurel Highlands) and Deamontae Diggs both put up a show. Gallagher scored 21 points while Diggs scored 28 points for their respected teams. They both led their team in points in this game. McKeesport would win the game by a score of 81-77 and now is ranked second in their section.
Chartiers Valley got revenge over Trinity as the Colts defeated the Hillers by a score of 60-59. The last time these two teams played was on December 13, 2019, as Trinity won at Chartiers Valley by a score of 84-73. In tonight's game, Senior Jared Goldstrom led the Colts in points with 16 while Senior Michael Koroly led the Hillers in points with 22. This win helped the Colts take first place in their section.
Thomas Jefferson lost to South Fayette by a score of 65-60 as this was a loss that the Jaguars did not want to take. Isaac McNeil scored 22 points for the Jaguars, but it was not enough. This loss for TJ makes them ranked second in their section with Chartiers Valley now ahead of them.
Mars took care of business by beating Indiana by a score of 63-37. If Mars wants to find a way to get on top of their section, they must win the games that they are favored to win. Their section record is now 5-2 as they are ranked third in WPIAL Class 5A Section 3.
A guy that should deserves more attention in WPIAL basketball is Camden Polak. He averages near 30 points per game for Steel Valley and leads the team night by night. He scored 32 points in a 72-61 win over Valley tonight. The win for Steel Valley improves their overall record to 9-4 and their section record to 5-2.
To me, what is funny is that Blackhawk has an overall record of 6-6, but they are first place in their section with a 6-1 conference record. They defeated Central Valley by a score of 77-59 as Ryan Heckathorn led Blackhawk in points in this game with 25.
New Castle only scored 4 points in the fourth quarter in their game against Hopewell. Don't get paranoid, New Castle won the game by a score of 56-39 as they led Hopewell by a score of 52-29 at the end of the third quarter. I guess Ralph Blundo wanted to rest his starters in the fourth quarter.
Southmoreland defeated Elizabeth Forward by a score of 53-52. Even though this was not a section game, it was a one-point game, and that matters.
Chauncie Mickens and DeQuay Canton are helping Carlynton win games. They defeated Burgettstown by a score of 75-50.
North Catholic's 88-43 win over Freedom helped keep the Trojans undefeated in conference play.
Keystone Oaks basketball players, Frank Stumpo and Owen Minford, combined for 47 points in a 68-61 loss over Fort Cherry. Yes, the Golden Eagles lost. What's nice for Fort Cherry is that this win gave them their first section win. Congrats to them.
Mason Tomlin scored 11 points for Shady Side Academy in a 57-37 win over Burrell.
Charleroi is now ranked first place in WPIAL Class 3A Section 4 as they defeated Washington by a score of 53-51. Washington is now ranked second in this section after the loss. Give Washington credit as they had at least four players scored 10 points or greater in tonight's game.
Tonight, Sto-Rox had a big 62-60 section win over Apollo Ridge. Sto-Rox's Malik Smith led all players in scoring with 23 points.
Bentworth remains winless as they lost to Serra Catholic by a score of 86-45.
Bishop Canevin remains undefeated in conference play as they defeated West Greene by a score of 59-40. Army football recruit, Ben Jackson scored 13 points for West Greene.
Vincentian Academy defeated Rochester by a score of 91-35. VA is still undefeated in conference play while Rochester is still winless on the season.
Aquinas Academy has a star player in Vincent Cugini. He is only a freshman as he has to be averaging at least 30 points per game. He scored 38 points tonight in a 90-70 loss over Clairton. Don Napper led Clairton in points in this game with 38.
Brentaro Yamane: bythebossandgoat@gmail.com and Twitter @BYHilton13