Thursday basketball rundown: Lincoln Park girls earn statement win at Neshannock

Considering the relative lack of experience on his team, Lincoln Park girls basketball coach Ryan Kacsur didn’t exactly expect to go into Neshannock’s home gym and defeat the defending WPIAL and PIAA champions.

Then again, he didn’t expect the Leopards to be 13-2 after 15 games, either, but that’s exactly where they stand after an impressive 62-55 non-section win Thursday night against the Lancers. The win comes only two days after a disappointing 58-46 loss to section rival Trinity, and Kacsur is thrilled with the way his team responded.

“They’re so young and so inexperienced, that I don’t even think they understood the magnitude of what they did today,” Kacsur said after what his players accomplished. “I know how big of a win it is. It’s not easy to win up there. It’s a different place.”

Mairan Haggerty scored a game-high 29 points while making five 3-pointers while Megan Pallerino chipped in 19, but it wasn’t enough for Neshannock (9-6, 4-1) to pull off a comeback win after falling behind by 15. Maddie Syka led the Leopards (13-2, 3-2) with 20 points to go with 14 from Aizlyn Thompson, who buried four 3-pointers.

“We got ourselves up to a big lead. I think we got up to about 15 at one point, and they had to battle back, and they were tired,” Kacsur said. “We knew [Haggerty] was good. We knew she was going to get hers, and she did. We just tried to minimize the other girls around her.

“Knowing what she brings to the table and how good Haggerty is — to go up there and still find a way to find a victory, kudos to them. They did a great job tonight.”

Lincoln Park’s J’La Kizart looks to pass the ball against Neshannock Thursday night at Neshannock High School. Lincoln Park won, 62-55. (Emily Matthews/Pittsburgh Union Progress)

Other girls games

• In a marquee matchup of two title contenders in Class 5A, defending WPIAL champion South Fayette proved it is still the team to beat with a 49-40 home win against McKeesport (12-3, 5-1). Maddie Webber led the Lions (14-2, 5-0) with 15 points to go with 10 from Erica Hall.

• Indiana (11-4, 7-0) remained unbeaten in section play thanks to a 23-point performance from 6-5 center Eve Fiala along with 14 from 6-4 forward Katie Kovalchick, helping the Little Indians cruise to a 50-31 home win against Penn Hills (5-9, 2-5).

• Freedom (12-1, 7-0) is barreling toward a section title in Class 2A Section 1 after a lopsided 58-26 home victory against South Side Beaver (6-9, 2-5). Shaye Bailey finished with a game-high 30 points while Julz Mohrbacher notched a triple-double with 14 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists for the Bulldogs.

Three stars

*** — Melaina Dezort poured in a game-high 29 points to propel visiting Freeport to a 53-37 win against Valley.

** — Makhai Valentine maintained his torrid scoring pace with a 30-point game including seven 3-pointers for Steel Valley, but the Ironmen came up just short in a 64-57 loss at McKeesport.

* — Halena Hill scored a game-high 30 points while hitting eight 3-pointers for Oakland Catholic in a 78-50 triumph at Latrobe, extending the Eagles’ winning streak to 11 games in a row.

Hot from deep

Players with 3 or more 3-pointers: Halena Hill, Oakland Catholic, 8; Makhai Valentine, Steel Valley, 7; Mairan Haggerty, Neshannock, 5; Elsie Smith, Fox Chapel, 4; Aizlyn Thompson, Lincoln Park, 4; Bella Antonacci, Indiana, 3; Olivia Henderson, Freedom, 3.

Boys scores

Carlynton 52, Central Valley 41

Jefferson-Morgan 49, Brownsville 37

McKeesport 64, Steel Valley 57

Monessen 57, East Allegheny 41

Summit Academy 75, Apollo-Ridge 23

Girls scores

Albert Gallatin 67, Thomas Jefferson 43

Apollo-Ridge 52, Jeannette 21

Aquinas Academy 68, Avella 47

Avonworth 47, Burgettstown 34

Beaver Falls 46, Carlynton 33