The bitter cold combined with snow and ice has had its way with Western Pennsylvania for much of the past week.
With temperatures finally warming up, Highlands’ Katelyn Myers was red-hot Tuesday while hurting her team’s opponent with another form of precipitation — rain.
Myers made it rain 3-pointers, scoring a career-high 32 points and making what is believed to be a school-record 10 3-pointers while helping Highlands to a 52-38 win against North Hills in the Highlands tournament.
It was all Myers straight from the opening tip in this one. A junior guard, Myers scored all 17 of Highlands’ points in the first quarter and collected 26 in the first half as Highlands jumped to a 33-20 lead.
Myers, who connected on eight 3-pointers in a game last season, is the cousin of former North Catholic standout Tess Myers, who now plays at Duquesne.
Highlands improved to 4-4, while North Hills dropped to 4-5.
Other girls games
• Aquinas Academy (8-0) stayed unbeaten by defeating Rockwood, 61-27, in the California University Hoopfest. Ellie Junker paced the Crusaders with 15 points and Violet Johnson chipped in with 10. The Crusaders are giving up only 26.9 points per game.
• Raney Staub tallied 20 points, including the game-winning basket with 4.2 seconds left, to propel Fort Cherry (5-3) to a 42-41 win against West Allegheny (2-5) in the McGuffey tournament. Alaina Holtz scored 14 points for West Allegheny, which turned the ball over on its final possession.
• Also in the McGuffey tournament, the host Highlanders (8-2) continued their strong start by defeating Avella (5-3), 63-49. Taylor Schumacher paced McGuffey with 25 points and Libby Mallah chipped in with 14. Avella’s Katie Dryer scored her 1,000th career point.
Boys games
• Bishop Canevin (6-0) didn’t need to wait for a New Year’s Eve champagne toast to have some fun. Champine popped off and helped the Crusaders edge Montour, 63-62, in the Montour tournament. Shea Champine poured in 41 points, the final 2 coming on the tying and go-ahead free throws with 18 seconds left. Jake Wolfe scored 20 points for Montour (2-6).
• Braylon Littlejohn and freshman Donovan Carney combined for 53 points while leading Butler (7-1) to an 86-74 win against Central Florida Christian in the North Allegheny tournament. Littlejohn scored 27 points and Carney had 26. Littlejohn was 17 of 20 from the free-throw line, while Carney made four of the team’s 12 3-pointers.
• No big man. No problem. Despite not having standout 6-7 forward Royce Parham for the second game in a row because of an injury, North Hills (6-1) was able to outlast Grove City, 83-81, in double overtime in the Hampton tournament. Five players scored in double figures for the Indians, with Jake Pollaro (21) and Jayden Thomas (17) leading the way.
• Also in the Hampton tournament, Chartiers Valley (7-0) got six 3-pointers and 32 points from Dom Sleva to down host Hampton (6-2), 71-63. The Colts outscored Hampton, 42-26, in the second half. Jayden Davis added 21 points for the Colts, while Peter Kramer scored 19 and Liam Mignogna 18 for the Talbots.
Three stars
*** — Bryce Epps, South Allegheny. Epps led all scorers with 27 points and was named most outstanding player of the tournament after leading South Allegheny to a 66-43 win against Elizabeth Forward in the championship of the South Allegheny tournament.
** — Tiffany Zelmore, Mount Pleasant. Zelmore helped Mount Pleasant have a pleasant night by scoring 36 points in a 50-28 win against Brownsville in the Mount Pleasant tournament.
* — Jonathan Anderson, New Castle. Anderson scored a game-high 21 points to propel New Castle to a 75-39 win against Meadville in the Farrell tournament.
Hot from deep
Players with 3 or more 3-pointers: Drew Sleva, Chartiers Valley, 6; Laci Bernotas, Baldwin, 4; Donovan Carney, Butler, 4; Shea Champine, Bishop Canevin, 3; Colin Casteel, Butler, 3; Jayden Davis, Chartiers Valley, 3; Anna Lynn Isaacs, Mars, 3; Alexis Cashdollar, Mars, 3; Ty Reed, Montour, 3.
Boys scores
Aliquippa 39, Beaver Falls 23
Bentworth 50, West Greene 36
Bishop Canevin 63, Montour 62
Brownsville 56, Carrick 28
Butler 86, Central Florida Christian 74
Chartiers Valley 71, Hampton 63
New Castle 75, Meadville 39
North Hills 83, Grove City 81 (2 OT)
Serra Catholic 66, Seton LaSalle 50
South Allegheny 66, Elizabeth Forward 43
South Fayette 66, McKeesport 42
Southern Garrett, Md. 69, Waynesburg 29
Southmoreland 59, California 31
Union 59, Quaker Valley 46
Girls scores
Aquinas Academy 61, Rockwood 27
Canon-McMillan 56, Southmoreland 12
Fort Cherry 42, West Allegheny 41
Freeport 47, Burrell 23
Geibel 30, Bentworth 29
Greensburg C.C. 53, South Park 26
Highlands 52, North Hills 38
Mapletown 48, Turkeyfoot Valley 45
Mars 63, Baldwin 45
McKeesport 47, Norwin 37
Mount Pleasant 50, Brownsville 28
Ringgold 36, Propel Montour 19
South Fayette 68, St. Elizabeth, Del. 51
Thomas Jefferson 33, Belle Vernon 32
Waynesburg 53, Jefferson-Morgan 11
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.