Thursday basketball rundown: Chartiers Valley girls use big second half to strong-arm Armstrong; Union star hits milestone; Butler boys deal Kiski Area first loss

One of the top girls teams in WPIAL Class 6A faced a big challenge Thursday.

But instead of being strong-armed by Armstrong, Chartiers Valley used a dominant second half to run to another impressive win.

In a matchup of unbeaten teams, senior guard Ella Cupka scored a team-high 16 points to lead Chartiers Valley past visiting Armstrong, 55-34, in a non-section clash.

Chartiers Valley (3-0) held just a 24-22 lead at the half before outscoring Class 5A Armstrong (3-1), 31-12, in the second half.

“We put it together tonight,” Chartiers Valley coach Mike Semplice said. “I thought we played a complete game. The thing that made me most happy is that we got contributions from everybody.”

Among the contributors were junior guard Emma Reynolds, who made her second start of the season and scored 10 points. Reynolds is bouncing back from a serious leg injury she suffered in July.

Armstrong’s Emma Paul and Kyla Fitzgerald, both all-section picks last season, led the River Hawks with 18 and 10 points, respectively.

Other girls games

• Kelly Cleaver scored 13 points, including the 1,000th of her career, while helping defending WPIAL and PIAA Class 1A champion Union (1-2) capture a 50-11 non-section win at Shenango (1-2). Cleaver, a senior and Millersville recruit, now has 1,001 career points.

• Saint Francis recruit Gemma Walker scored 18 points to lead Peters Township (3-0) to a 57-27 non-section win at Montour (2-1). The offensively consistent Indians have now scored 56, 55 and 57 points in their first three games.

• Aquinas Academy (4-0) remained unbeaten following a 60-54 non-section win at Seton LaSalle (2-1). Victoria Taylor scored 20 points and Violet Johnson 19 for Aquinas, while Mallory Daly paced Seton LaSalle with 26.

• London Creach scored 10 of her 12 points in the first quarter and Oakland Catholic (3-0) breezed to a 74-17 home win against Gateway (0-4) in non-section action. Mars Logan added 13 points, Mia LeDonne 12 and Alayla Bivens 10 for the Eagles.

• Iyanna Wade, last season’s WPIAL scoring champion, pumped in 33 points to lead Clairton (4-0) to a 58-42 non-section win at South Allegheny (2-2). Gabi Jackson connected on seven 3-pointers among her 23 points for South Allegheny.

• Abby Genes poured in a game-high 27 points to push host Serra Catholic (4-0) to a 59-52 non-section win against Elizabeth Forward (2-2). Cate Clarke added 12 points for the Eagles, who led, 27-19, at the half.

• Jaedin Griggs scored 30 points and added five steals to lead visiting Moon (2-0) to a 56-28 non-section win against Quaker Valley (0-3). Mimi Thiero (24 points) scored all but four of Quaker Valley’s points.

• McGuffey (3-0) stayed perfect courtesy of a 58-28 non-section win at Uniontown (1-3). Taylor Schumacher led the Highlanders with 18 points and Lexi Ewig chipped in 13.

Boys games

• After leading by three points at the half, Butler (2-0) pulled away late to grab a 74-65 non-section win at Kiski Area (3-1). Braylon Littlejohn scored 27 points and Donovan Carney added 24 for Butler, while Isaiah Gonzalez led Kiski Area with 28.

• Peter Kramer’s 30 points and 10 rebounds propelled host Hampton (3-0) to a 72-68 non-section win against Peters Township (2-2). Liam Mignogna added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Talbots, while Jack Dunbar paced Peters Township with 17 points.

• Bradyn Foster scored 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead host Highlands (2-2) to a 75-40 non-section win against Blackhawk (2-2). Cameron Reigard added 16 points for the Golden Rams and Jordyn Tavarez had 12.

Three stars

*** — Savaughn Wimbs, West Mifflin. Wimbs went 17 of 19 from the free-throw line and scored 32 points in leading West Mifflin (2-2) to a 48-26 non-section win at Connellsville (2-1).

** — Nate Papuga, Derry. Papuga made six 3-pointers and scored 31 points to help Derry (2-1) score a 66-55 non-section win at Connellsville. Papuga scored 21 of his points in the second half.

* — Anna Clark, Burrell. Clark flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists to help host Burrell (2-0) defeat Southmoreland (0-3), 54-14, in non-section play.

Hot from deep

Players with 3 or more 3-pointers: Gabi Jackson, South Allegheny, 7; Nate Papuga, Derry, 6; Sean Thelk, Peters Township, 5; Sophia Laurenza, Deer Lakes, 3; Kayla Jones, Ellwood City, 3.

Boys scores

Albert Gallatin 66, Ringgold 56

Aquinas Academy 76, Leechburg 47

Armstrong 49, Obama Academy 39

Derry 66, Connellsville 55

Hampton 72, Peters Township 68

Highlands 75, Blackhawk 40

Girls scores

Aquinas Academy 60, Seton LaSalle 54

Belle Vernon 56, California 43

Burrell 54, Southmoreland 14

Chartiers Valley 55, Armstrong 34