Thursday basketball rundown: Late free throws send Neshannock girls past Mohawk

Defending PIAA champ Neshannock had to earn everything it got Thursday against Mohawk.

But in the end, it was something “free” that allowed the Lancers to escape with a win.

Megan Pallerino made the tying and winning free throws with 18 seconds left to cap Neshannock’s rally from nine points down in the fourth quarter in a 53-50 win against visiting Mohawk (8-6, 2-2) in Class 3A Section 1.

Neshannock (7-5, 3-1) trailed 50-49 when standout senior Mairan Haggerty went to the free-throw line for two shots with 20 seconds left. Haggerty missed both attempts, but Pallerino grabbed the rebound, was fouled and made two free throws with 18 seconds left to put the Lancers in front. Following a Mohawk turnover, Pallerino sank two more free throws with four seconds left. Mohawk missed a desperation heave at the buzzer.

Haggerty led Neshannock with 20 points and Pallerino added 16.

Other girls games

• Blackhawk (11-0, 4-0), the lone remaining unbeaten team in the WPIAL, stayed that way after rallying to defeat host Quaker Valley (9-5, 3-1), 48-37, in Class 4A Section 2 action. Quaker Valley led, 21-14, at the half before being outscored, 18-5, in the third quarter. Kassie Potts and Alena Fusetti paced Blackhawk with 16 points apiece.

• Freedom (10-1, 5-0) remained unbeaten in Class 2A Section 1, but it wasn’t easy. The Bulldogs, a WPIAL and PIAA finalist last season, slipped past host Aliquippa (6-5, 4-2), 57-54. Shaye Bailey scored 10 of her team-high 18 points in the fourth quarter for Freedom. Angel Henry led the Quips with 20.

• Freshman Erica Gribble scored 17 points to help Greensburg Central Catholic (12-2, 5-0) win its fourth game in a row, 57-48, at Clairton (5-3, 3-2) in Class 2A Section 3. Mya Morgan added 14 points for the Centurions, who led 28-13 at the half. WPIAL scoring leader Iyanna Wade led Clairton with 36.

• In two overtimes, Fox Chapel (9-5, 3-2) handed Armstrong (11-2, 4-2) just its second loss in Class 5A Section 2, 55-48. Lyla Jablon tallied a team-best 17 points for the Foxes, while Armstrong’s Kyla Fitzgerald scored 14.

• Norwin (12-1, 4-0) upped its win streak to five, beating Pine-Richland, 41-33, in Class 6A Section 1 play Lauren Palangio paced Norwin with 13 points, while Madison Zavasky led Pine-Richland (6-5, 2-2) with 21.

• Indiana (9-4, 5-0) remained unbeaten in Class 5A Section 1 following a 54-44 win at Woodland Hills (5-7, 3-2). Freshman Jayla Peterson led the Little Indians with 20 points and Bella Antonacci added 15. Hope Hawkins paced the Wolverines with 22.

• Five players scored in double figures for Beaver (10-3, 3-1) in a 75-19 win against visiting Ambridge (1-13, 0-4) in Class 4A Section 2 action. Zoe Ringer scored 21, Chloe List 12, Kylie Conley 11, Laure Hansen 10 and Constantina Krzeczowski 10. Beaver travels to Blackhawk for a key section game Monday.

• Camille Dominick scored 23 points and Elle Snyder had 21 to lead Latrobe (10-4, 3-2) to a 67-59 triumph at Thomas Jefferson (6-7, 1-4) in Class 5A Section 3. Thomas Jefferson’s Laekyn Flinn poured in a game-high 27 points.

• Mars (10-2, 5-0) escaped an upset bid by rallying for a 50-44 win at North Hills (4-9, 0-5) in Class 5A Section 2. The Planets trailed by two after three quarters before outscoring North Hills, 17-9, in the fourth. Vita Vargo led Mars with 18 points, while Mallory Pierce paced the Indians with 13.

Three stars

*** — Rylee Kalocay, Upper St. Clair. A sophomore, Kalocay poured in 31 points in a 67-35 home win against Canon-McMillan. Kalocay is averaging 19 points a game.

** — Payton Collins, Mt. Lebanon. Collins, also a sophomore, connected on four 3-pointers and scored a game-high 17 points in Mt. Lebanon’s 62-52 win at Altoona.

* — Tiffany Zelmore, Mount Pleasant. It was another big night for Zelmore, who scored 29 points in a 62-26 win against Ligonier Valley. Zelmore is second in the WPIAL with 29.2 points a game.

Hot from deep

Players with 3 or more 3-pointers: Zoe Ringer, Beaver, 5; Payton Collins, Mt. Lebanon, 4; Kyleigh Nagy, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 4; Olivia Henderson, Freedom, 3; Camille Dominick, Latrobe, 3; Elle Snyder, Latrobe, 3; Mallory Daly, Seton LaSalle, 3; Kyleigh Donnelly, Seton LaSalle, 3; Lena Cortazzo, South Allegheny, 3; Laekyn Flinn, Thomas Jefferson, 3.

Girls scores

Avonworth 63, East Allegheny 10

Beaver 75, Ambridge 19

Bentworth 39, Beth-Center 25

Carlynton 51, Sto-Rox 36

Fort Cherry 63, Northgate 25

Fox Chapel 55, Armstrong 48 (2 OT)

Franklin Regional 51, Gateway 38

Freedom 57, Aliquippa 54

Freeport 60, Derry 29

Greensburg Central Catholic 57, Clairton 48

Indiana 54, Woodland Hills 44