Friday basketball rundown: Bryce Epps sets school career scoring record, helps South Allegheny remain unbeaten

South Allegheny recorded its 12th consecutive win to start the season Friday, the same night its star player made history by breaking the program’s long-standing career scoring record.

Bryce Epps poured in 31 points to lead South Allegheny to a 68-42 win against visiting Quaker Valley in Class 4A Section 4.

A senior guard, Epps’ basket with 1:18 left broke a 40-year-old record held by Mike Kurka. Epps (1,632 points) now has one more point than Kurka, a 1983 graduate. Kurka was at the game and posed for photos with Epps afterward. Epps is averaging 23 points a game.

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There's a new GOAT at South Allegheny! In front of a packed gym, with 1:18 left to play in the game, @BryceEpps8 scored 31 points to become South Allegheny's All-Time Leading Scorer with 1,632, breaking a record held for 40 years by Michael Kurka. 👏👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/MH5OW94ACV
— South Allegheny SD (@southallegheny) January 14, 2023

South Allegheny (12-0, 4-0) is one of only three remaining unbeaten teams in the WPIAL. Lincoln Park and Union are the others. Quaker Valley dropped to 7-4 overall, 3-1 in section play.

History Making Night & Big Section WIN over Quaker Valley 68-42. @BryceEpps8 led all scorers with 31 pts becoming SA's All-Time Leading Scorer with 1,632 points. @Mike_Michalski1 poured in 18 points, @Camepps7 added 10 & @jestonb6 with 8. @NateWojo @CoachDiCenzo22 @SAcoachcrown pic.twitter.com/fIaHd98Qah
— South Allegheny SD (@southallegheny) January 14, 2023

Other boys games

• Central Catholic (6-5, 3-1) picked up its second big win in a row, 55-33 against visiting Butler (10-3, 2-2) in Class 6A Section 1. Cole Sullivan scored a team-high 16 points for the Vikings, who handed New Castle its first loss on Tuesday. Braylon Littlejohn led Butler with 10 points. Butler shot just 23% from the field (10 of 42).

• Eden Christian (10-2, 4-0) took over first place in Class 2A Section 2 after dealing Bishop Canevin (10-1, 3-1) its first loss of the season, 66-44. The host Warriors outscored Canevin, 31-15, in the first quarter. Ryan Merrick led the Warriors with 17 points, while Shea Champine paced Canevin with 25.

• Royce Parham made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give North Hills (10-2, 4-0) a 62-61 win against visiting South Fayette (6-6, 0-4) in Class 5A Section 4. It was another big night for Parham, who finished with 34 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks. Michael Plasko led South Fayette with 29 points.

• Brandon Bell hit the winning 3-pointer with three seconds left to give West Allegheny (6-8, 1-3) a thrilling 53-50 overtime win against visiting Moon (6-5, 2-2) in Class 5A Section 4. Bell finished with a game-high 18 points. Aiden Reesman led Moon with 13 points.

• Also in Class 5A Section 4, Tasso Sfanos poured in 31 points to lead Mars (9-2, 3-1) to a surprising 71-34 home rout of Chartiers Valley (12-2, 2-2). Ryan Ceh added 17 points for the Planets, while Drew Sleva led Chartiers Valley with 14 points. The Colts have dropped two straight.

• Bethel Park (9-3, 4-0) claimed sole possession of first place in Class 5A Section 1 by defeating visiting Thomas Jefferson (7-5, 3-1), 82-71. Shawn Davis led the Black Hawks with 24 points and Ben Guffey and Michael Mathias added 18 points apiece.

• Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (11-2, 5-0) rolled to an 80-52 home win against Seton LaSalle (3-8, 2-3) in Class 3A Section 2. Rocco Spadafora led the Chargers with 30 points and Bryson Kirschner added 12. Connor Spratt scored 16 for Seton LaSalle.

Girls games

• Malina Boord’s six 3-pointers and 20 points helped McKeesport (12-1, 5-0) win its 10th game in a row following a 59-35 win at Penn-Trafford (9-3, 3-2) in Class 5A Section 3. Rachael Manfredo added 15 points for the Tigers, while Olive Pepple paced Penn-Trafford with 15.

• Chartiers Valley (7-4, 3-2) handed host Peters Township (8-6, 2-3) its fourth consecutive loss, 56-54, in Class 6A Section 2. Emma Reynolds paced the Colts with 18 points and Ella Cupka added 15. Natalie Wetzel scored 23 for Peters Township.

• Emily Beaumont’s 20 points helped South Allegheny (6-7) defeat Clairton (5-4), 52-40, in the MVI Shootout at California University. Iyanna Wade scored 32 points for Clairton, including all 26 of the Bears’ points in the second half.

Three stars

*** — Landon Butler, Latrobe. Butler scored 17 points, including the 1,000th of his career, while helping Latrobe capture a 66-63 win at Penn-Trafford. Butler joins brothers Austin and Bryce as 1,000-point scorers.

** — Eli Teslovich, Shady Side Academy. Teslovich scored the go-ahead basket with 18 seconds left and finished with a game-high 23 points in a 66-63 win against Derry.

* — Kevin Mickens, Nazareth Prep. Mickens scored a game-high 34 points to propel Nazareth Prep past Propel Braddock Hills, 69-66, in double overtime.

Hot from deep

Players with 3 or more 3-pointers: Malina Boord, McKeesport, 6; Lucas Garofoli, Mt. Lebanon, 5; Yukon Daniels, Mount Pleasant, 5; Sophia Nath, Bethel Park, 4; Anthony Sciote, North Allegheny, 4; Julian Vizzoca, Shaler, 4; Jack Valasek, Armstrong, 3; Jason Zellie, Beth-Center, 3; Aiden Reesman, Moon, 3; T.J. Belles, Shaler, 3.

Boys scores

Allderdice 63, Carrick 33

Beaver 74, Ambridge 51

Bentworth 76, Beth-Center 71

Bethel Park 82, Thomas Jefferson 71

Carlynton 53, Avella 18

Central Catholic 55, Butler 33

Eden Christian 66, Bishop Canevin 44

Fort Cherry 80, Carmichaels 50

Fox Chapel 55, Woodland Hills 45

Greensburg Central Catholic 59, Clairton 54

Keystone Oaks 65, Brentwood 58