Monday basketball rundown: Shaye Bailey etches name in WPIAL history, leads Freedom past Aliquippa with school-record 51 points

It’s not an exaggeration to call Shaye Bailey’s 51-point explosion on Monday night one of the greatest individual performances in WPIAL history.

Bailey is already established as one of the best all-around players in the state in Class 2A, but with the junior guard entering the night needing 45 points to reach the 1,000-point plateau for her career, she appeared to surely be at least two games away from hitting the milestone — or so it seemed.

Freedom coach John Kaercher wondered aloud to his fellow coaches before Monday’s game, pondering the idea of Bailey potentially breaking the single-game school record of 44 points in order to reach 1,000 against Aliquippa. Bailey did that and then some, notching the second 50-point game in the WPIAL this year to shatter the 37-year-old school record set by Stephanie Meyers in 1986.

Thanks to Bailey, the Bulldogs (15-4, 10-1) routed the Quips (10-8, 8-4) by a score of 73-42 to keep pace with Shenango in the race for the Class 2A Section 1 title in the last week of the season.

“To see it unfold before your eyes was simply incredible. Something you wouldn’t fathom happening,” Kaercher said. “This was such a huge game for us. We need to win at New Brighton on Thursday to secure a share of a section title. First time that would occur here at Freedom in 25 years.”

Julz Mohrbacher, who joined the 1,000-point club earlier this year, also had a memorable game for Freedom, finishing with a triple-double. A 5-10 senior forward, Mohrbacher collected 17 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists.

“When we told [Bailey], ‘You broke 1,000 points and you broke the single-game record,’ she got emotional. She broke down and cried on the floor,” Kaercher said. “I said, ‘Go take your curtain call and take your bow.’ She was sobbing and waving to the fans who were jumping up and down and cheering.

“We’ve been saying all year that Shaye hasn’t had that breakout game, and tonight was that performance.”

Other girls games

• In a rematch between two of the top teams in Class 5A, South Fayette again appeared to be a step ahead of Trinity (13-6, 7-2) in a 48-31 home win. Backed by a game-high 20 points from Maddie Webber to go with 13 points from Ava Leroux, the defending WPIAL champion Lions (18-2, 9-0) extended their winning streak to 12 games in a row while remaining unbeaten in section play.

• Indiana kept its perfect mark in section play intact with a 61-56 home win against Woodland Hills (10-11, 7-4), led by a 23-point performance from 6-5 senior Eve Fiala. Bella Antonacci added 17 points while hitting four 3-pointers for the Little Indians (15-6, 11-0), and 6-4 senior Katie Kovalchick scored 14 points while reaching the 1,000-point mark for her career. Jhaylynn Wilson led four players in double figures for the Wolverines with 16 points.

• In a must-win game against section rival Chartiers Valley, Gemma Walker finished with a game-high 25 points to power Peters Township to a 59-53 road victory. Natalie Wetzel added 17 points for the Indians (10-10, 4-7) while Ella Cupka led the Colts (10-8, 6-5) with 16 points.

• Mya Morgan scored 28 points, Erica Gribble scored 21 and Cadie Peter added 11 to lead Greensburg Central Catholic (17-4, 10-1) to a commanding 78-40 win against visiting Clairton (9-8, 7-5). Iyanna Wade finished with 35 points to lead the Bears, surpassing 1,000 points for her career while still only a sophomore.

• Kyleigh Nagy scored a team-leading 18 points for Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (14-6, 7-2), and Emma Ficorilli chipped in with 13 in a 53-42 home win Seton LaSalle (12-8, 4-5). Mallory Daly poured in a game-high 25 for Seton LaSalle.

• Rachel Boehm led all scorers with 22 points to go along with 13 from Ashley Lippold and 10 from Josie Bochicchio, guiding Bishop Canevin (9-7, 5-1) to a 57-46 road win at Aquinas Academy. Emily Fisher finished with 20 points to lead the way for Aquinas (14-7, 2-4).

Three stars

*** — Mairan Haggerty, Neshannock. Haggerty continued her recent string of dominance with 26 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Lancers to a 48-44 win at Mohawk.

** — Tiffany Zelmore, Mount Pleasant. Zelmore continued to pour in the points for the Vikings, leading all scorers with 36 points in a 55-41 win at Ligonier Valley.

* — Melaina Dezort, Freeport. Dezort scored a game-high 17 points as the Yellowjackets cruised past Derry for a 54-20 win, surpassing 1,000 points for her career.

Hot from deep

Players with 3 or more 3-pointers: Bella Antonacci, Indiana, 4; Shaye Bailey, Freedom, 4; Hattie McGraw, Knoch, 4; Bailey Strnisa, South Side, 4; Essie Hilton, New Brighton, 3; Kaley Rohanna, Waynesburg, 3; Amber Sallee, Bentworth, 3; Ava Wright, Beaver, 3.

Boys scores

Winchester Thurston 50, Propel Montour 12

Propel Andrew Street 53, Hillcrest Christian Academy 44

Girls scores

Albert Gallatin 71, Connellsville 29

Apollo-Ridge 58, Burrell 22

Avella 54, Geibel Catholic 30

Avonworth 57, East Allegheny 23

Beaver 94, Ambridge 26

Beaver Falls 65, Ellwood City 43

Beth-Center 32, Bentworth 19

Bethel Park 75, Baldwin 67