Friday basketball rundown: New Castle wins at Central Catholic; Vinnie Cugini passes Kobe; South Fayette outlasts Mars in three OTs

When New Castle and Central Catholic met on Jan. 10, Central Catholic handed New Castle its first loss of the season.

But in Friday’s rematch, it was New Castle which reigned supreme. The win was a big one, too, as it clinched the Red Hurricanes at least a share of a section title.

Da’Jaun Young’s game-high 22 points helped New Castle claim a 67-53 road win in Class 6A Section 1.

It was the fifth win in a row for New Castle, which improved to 17-2, 7-1 in section play. The Red Hurricanes hold a two-game lead over Central Catholic (11-8, 5-3) and Butler (14-5, 5-3). All three teams have two remaining section games. The section title is New Castle’s 10th in coach Ralph Blundo’s 13 seasons.

Isaiah Boice and Jonathan Anderson scored 18 points apiece for New Castle, which held a 30-22 halftime lead. The Red Hurricanes lost to Central Catholic, 56-45, in the previous meeting, a game in which they did not have Boice, the team’s leading scorer.

Debaba Tshiebwe led Central Catholic with 21 points, while Cole Sullivan added 15 and Dante DePante 11.

Other boys games

• Vinnie Cugini surpassed Kobe Bryant in career points after scoring 51 in Aquinas Academy’s (15-4, 4-4) 94-73 loss to visiting Imani Christian (13-5, 8-0) in Class 1A Section 3. Cugini, who broke the WPIAL all-time scoring record Tuesday, increased his career total to 2,929 points. Bryant scored 2,883 in his career at Lower Merion, located near Philadelphia. Alier Maluk led Imani Christian with 24 points and Dame Givner added 20.

• Penn Hills (15-2, 8-0) shot a scorching 64% from the field (24 of 37) on its way to a 58-41 win at Shaler (14-6, 5-3) in Class 5A Section 2. Julian Dugger led the Indians with 14 points and 8 rebounds, while Daemar Kelly chipped in 13 points and 9 assists. Joe DeSabato led Shaler with 12 points.

• In three overtimes, visiting South Fayette (10-9, 3-5) outlasted Mars (13-6, 5-3), 77-73, in Class 5A Section 4. South Fayette got a huge night from Elijah Hill, who finished with a game-high 36 points, including 11 in overtime. Tasso Sfanos led Mars with 25 points.

• Fort Cherry (18-2, 10-0) clinched at least a share of the Class 2A Section 4 title courtesy of a 61-48 win against visiting Chartiers-Houston (15-5, 9-2). Fort Cherry outscored Chartiers-Houston, 19-10, in the fourth quarter. Owen Norman led Fort Cherry with 20 points and Shane Cornali added 19, while Manny Ntumngia led the Bucs with 16.

• Gateway (13-5, 7-1) dominated in overtime to defeat visiting Kiski Area (10-10, 4-4), 66-53, in Class 5A Section 3. Regulation ended with the score tied, 50-50, but Gateway outscored Kiski Area, 16-3, in overtime. Kaleb Pryor led Gateway with 22 points and Jaydon Carr added 19. Isaiah Gonzalez led Kiski Area with 20 points.

• Makhai Valentine scored 29 points and Steel Valley (11-9, 9-2) overcame a five-point halftime deficit for a 70-65 win at Sto-Rox (6-13, 3-7) in Class 3A Section 2. Sto-Rox’s Jaymont Green-Miller poured in a game-high 35 points.

• Hampton (17-2, 8-0) clinched at least a share of a section title for the first time since 2012 after claiming a 53-36 win at Freeport (11-8, 3-5) in Class 4A Section 1. Peter Kramer and Liam Mignogna scored 14 points apiece for the Talbots, who have won 11 games in a row.

• Keondre DeShields scored 34 points and Rodney Gallagher added 25 to lead Laurel Highlands (16-2, 7-1) to a 78-59 win at Belle Vernon (9-10, 4-4) in Class 4A Section 3. The win was the fifth in a row for the Mustangs, who beat Belle Vernon by five points at home last month. Zion Moore led the Leopards with 19 points and Quinton Martin had 17.

• Braylon Littlejohn’s 32 points propelled Butler (14-5, 5-3) to a 66-55 win against visiting North Allegheny (8-10, 3-5) in Class 6A Section 1. Littlejohn went 10 of 14 from the field with three 3-pointers and was 9 of 10 from the free-throw line. He added six assists, five rebounds and five steals.

• Jefferson Moorefield-Brown scored 10 of his game-high 19 points in the first quarter and Fox Chapel (13-6, 5-3) cruised to a 51-30 win at Armstrong (11-8, 2-6) in Class 5A Section 2. The win put the Foxes in the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season. Armstrong got 13 points from Cadin Olsen.

• The Wesling brothers, James and Nate, each scored 23 points and led host Baldwin (12-7, 5-3) to a 63-50 win against Norwin (11-8, 3-5) in Class 6A Section 2. James is a senior and Nate a sophomore. Adam Bilinsky also scored 23 points for Norwin.

Girls games

• Avonworth (13-5, 7-1) stayed on top of Class 3A Section 2 with a 53-44 home win against Keystone Oaks (13-7, 5-3). Becca Goetz scored 16 points and Greta O’Brien added 13 for Avonworth, which has won six straight and avenged an earlier loss to Keystone Oaks. Erionna Neal paced the Golden Eagles with 26 points.

• Mt. Lebanon (14-6, 8-3) rallied from six points down after three quarters by shutting out host Peters Township (9-10, 3-7) in the fourth quarter of a 53-49 win. Mt. Lebanon trailed, 49-43, after three before blanking Peters Township, 10-0, in the fourth. Payton Collins paced the Blue Devils with 14 points, while Natalie Wetzel led Peters Township with 15.

Three stars

*** — Brody McQuiston, Shenango. McQuiston poured in 32 points, including the 1,000th of his career, to lead host Shenango to a 67-42 win against South Side.

** — Evan Berger, Thomas Jefferson. The Jaguars served up a Berger with the works, as Berger went off for a game-high 28 points in a 72-68 overtime win over visiting Trinity.

* — Shea Champine, Bishop Canevin. Champine’s 30 points vaulted Canevin to a 70-48 home triumph against Propel Braddock Hills.

Hot from deep

Players with 3 or more 3-pointers: Katie Lucarelli, Baldwin, 6; Mike Mathias, Bethel Park, 4; Connor Oros, Seneca Valley, 4; Braden Zeigler, Shenango, 4; Braylon Littlejohn, Butler, 3; Jayden Mickens, Connellsville, 3; Ryan Ceh, Mars, 3; Elijah Guillory, Moon, 3.

Boys scores

Aliquippa 60, Northgate 42

Allderdice 110, Carrick 33

Avella 55, Cornell 50

Baldwin 63, Norwin 50

Bethel Park 78, Connellsville 45

Bishop Canevin 70, Propel Braddock Hills 48

Burgettstown 75, Bentworth 67

Butler 66, North Allegheny 55

Carlynton 58, Rochester 43

Chartiers Valley 62, Moon 56

Derry 68, Valley 50