Liam Mignogna, all 6 feet 9 of him, was held without a point the first three quarters and finished with just 6 points total Friday night in Hampton’s game against Knoch.
But, boy, the final 2 points the big man chalked up might have been the biggest scored by a Hampton player this season.
Mignogna converted a jump shot at the buzzer to give Hampton a thrilling 51-49 win against visiting Knoch in Class 4A Section 1.
It was the sixth win in a row for Hampton (11-2, 4-0), which moved into sole possession of first place in the section, one game ahead of Knoch (10-3, 3-1) and Highlands (8-4, 3-1). Knoch had won six games in a row.
“It’s a really big win in order for us to accomplish one of our goals, and that is to win a section championship,” Hampton coach Joe Lafko said. “You have to win your home games, and we were able to win home games the first time around against Highlands and Knoch.”
Lehigh recruit Peter Kramer converted four 3-pointers and scored a game-high 29 points for Hampton, which found itself deadlocked with Knoch, 49-49, with 3.5 seconds remaining. Running an inbounds play, Lafko said the plan was to get the ball to Kramer. But when Kramer was quickly double-teamed, Mignogna, a senior forward, ran a slip cut to the middle of the paint. Robert Coll hit Mignogna with a pass, and Mignogna gathered the ball, turned, and converted a jumper from about 6 feet just before the buzzer sounded.
“It was huge,” Lafko said. “He didn’t have his best game tonight, but he came through with a big fourth quarter. For him to come out and win the game, I think that it’s big for him and his confidence.”
Alex Nyilas added three 3-pointers and 12 points for Hampton, while Jackson Bauman paced Knoch with 16 points and Kaden Spencer and Teegan Finucan added 10 apiece.
Other boys games
• Central Catholic (7-4, 3-1) raced to a 19-point first-quarter lead and went on to cruise to a 66-42 win at Butler (10-2, 3-1) in Class 6A Section 1. Bradley Gompers poured in 27 points for Central Catholic, which led, 26-7, after eight minutes. Braylon Littlejohn led Butler with 22 points.
• Andrew Mendelovich scored a team-high 16 points and Pine-Richland (6-6, 2-2) used a 21-6 scoring edge in the second quarter to hand host New Castle (10-4, 1-3) its third loss in four games, 62-49, in Class 6A Section 1. Ralphie Blundo pumped in 24 points for New Castle.
• Allderdice (9-2, 3-0) hit the century mark in a 100-21 win against visiting Westinghouse (1-5, 1-2) in City League play. Logan Golle scored 26 points and Major Rainey added 18 for the Dragons, who led, 60-10, at the half.
• Gateway (11-1, 4-0) took sole possession of first place in Class 5A Section 3 after a 58-48 win at Franklin Regional (11-2, 3-1). Taili Thompson scored a team-high 14 points for the Gators, who won their 10th game in a row. Franklin Regional got 18 points from Cam Rowell.
• Evan Berger’s 22 points allowed Thomas Jefferson (10-2, 4-0) to claim its sixth consecutive win, 72-60, at Bethel Park (8-5, 3-1) in Class 5A Section 1. Noah Prosser added 18 points and Nick Trklja 16 for the Jaguars, while Shawn Davis led Bethel Park with 21 points.
• Kaden Orga’s 22 points helped Shaler (13-1, 3-1) capture a 73-62 win at Armstrong (8-6, 1-3) in Class 5A Section 2. Shaler outscored Armstrong, 32-10, in the second quarter. Isaiah Riggle led Armstrong with 19 points.
• Michael Plasko poured in 30 points to lead host South Fayette (7-6, 3-1) to a 60-51 win against North Hills (5-7, 1-3) in Class 5A Section 4. The Lions outscored North Hills, 33-25, in the second half. Freshman Nathan Schanbacher scored a team-high 14 points for North Hills.
• Jamire Braxton scored 14 of his 30 points in the second quarter to help Uniontown (12-0, 3-0) remain unbeaten after a 78-65 win at Elizabeth Forward (9-3, 1-2) in Class 4A Section 3. Cy Herchelroath scored 20 points for Elizabeth Forward, which was outscored, 35-21, in the second quarter.
• Playing without Meleek Thomas (official visit to Auburn), Lincoln Park (10-3, 4-0) still was able to edge host Central Valley, 67-61, to stay atop Class 4A Section 2. Brandin Cummings had a huge game for the Leopards, finishing with a game-high 30 points, including 23 in the first half. Isaiah Jeter paced Central Valley (7-5, 2-3) with 28 points.
• Jared Astorino scored 21 points and Adam Fernandez had 18 to push Ambridge (6-8, 3-2) to a 60-56 win at Beaver (7-6, 3-2) in Class 4A Section 2. Brady Mayo scored 25 points for Beaver, which had its three-game win streak come to a close.
• Anthony Arlia scored 20 points and Rowan Carmichael added 16 to help Avonworth (10-3, 4-0) seize control of first place in Class 4A Section 4 after a 64-48 home win against Montour (9-2, 3-1). Montour got 20 points from Jake Wolfe.
• Also in Class 4A Section 4, Zach Washington scored a game-high 21 points to help Quaker Valley (7-6, 2-2) break a three-game losing streak courtesy of a 54-51 double-overtime win against South Allegheny (9-4, 1-3). Cam Epps led South Allegheny with 17 points.
• In a showdown for first place in Class 3A Section 2, Seton LaSalle (10-3, 5-0) got 14 points apiece from Hayden Merchant and Patrick Weldon to defeat visiting Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 51-41. Greg Mineard scored 12 points for OLSH (9-4, 4-1), which was outscored, 20-13, in the second half.
• Nate Sprajcar scored a school-record 45 points while leading Riverview (6-6, 1-4) to an 81-60 win at Leechburg (2-11, 0-4) in Class 2A Section 3. Sprajcar collected 20 of his points in the fourth quarter when Riverview outscored Leechburg, 34-15.
• Franco Alvarez scored 21 points and Tyree Turner added 18 to vault Greensburg Central Catholic (12-2, 5-0) to a 73-49 home win against Clairton (7-8, 4-2) in Class 2A Section 3. Mike Wright tallied 16 points for Clairton, which trailed, 41-27, at the half.
Top girls games
• Baldwin (7-7, 1-5) ended a four-game losing streak and captured its first section victory after winning in overtime at Bethel Park, 61-56, in Class 6A Section 2. Katie Lucarelli led Baldwin with 16 points, and Ella Harmon scored 13 for Bethel Park (4-9, 1-4).
• Emma Paul’s 29 points propelled Armstrong (9-4, 4-2) to its fourth win in a row, 74-49, at Fox Chapel (3-11, 1-4) in Class 5A Section 2. Natalia Schaffer and Bella Urso led the Foxes with 12 points apiece.
• Amelia Brose scored 16 points and Class 2A Chartiers-Houston (9-4) led by 11 points at the half before going on to claim a 47-35 non-section win at Class 1A Monessen (6-3). MyAsia Majors led the Greyhounds with eight points.
Three stars
*** — Joseph Roth, Ellwood City. Roth’s triple-double of 24 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists vaulted Ellwood City (7-6, 3-2) to a 66-41 home win against Beaver Falls (3-8, 3-3) in Class 3A Section 1.
** — Macky Bennis, Burrell. Bennis scored 12 points, including the 1,000th of his career, while helping Burrell (9-3, 4-1) roll to a 62-36 win against visiting Apollo-Ridge (1-14, 0-6) in Class 3A Section 3.
* — Noah Neil, California. Neil’s double-double of 25 points and 16 rebounds helped host California (3-10, 3-1) pick up a 61-52 win against Geibel Catholic (0-14, 0-4) in Class 1A Section 2.
Hot from deep
Players with 3 or more 3-pointers: Bobby Fadden, Mohawk, 5; Brody Barber, Mt. Lebanon, 5; Max Hurray, North Catholic, 5; Anthony Arlia, Avonworth, 4; Vinny Manzella, California, 4; Daniel Spence, Elizabeth Forward, 4; Peter Kramer, Hampton, 4; Aaron Webb, Indiana, 4; Parker Hollick, Ligonier Valley, 4; Mason Hopper, Mohawk, 4; Liam Sheely, Mt. Lebanon, 4; Ralphie Blundo, New Castle, 4; Drew Cook, South Allegheny, 4; Cam Epps, South Allegheny, 4; Nick Trklja, Thomas Jefferson, 4; Jared Astorino, Ambridge, 3; Emma Paul, Armstrong, 3; Katie Lucarelli, Baldwin, 3; Nick Krzeczowski, Beaver, 3; Mike Mathias, Bethel Park, 3; Sam Miller, Canon-McMillan, 3; Alex Nyilas, Hampton, 3; Stanford Webb, Indiana, 3; Dre’Air Mack, Neighborhood Academy, 3; Shamar Simpson, Neighborhood Academy, 3; Max Grice, Plum, 3.
Boys scores
Allderdice 100, Westinghouse 21
Ambridge 60, Beaver 56
Baldwin 68, Hempfield 47
Burrell 62, Apollo-Ridge 36
Calfornia 60, Geibel Catholic 52
Central Catholic 66, Butler 42
Connellsville 70, Ringgold 61
Ellwood City 66, Beaver Falls 41
Gateway 58, Franklin Regional 48
Greensburg Central Catholic 73, Clairton 49
Highlands 74, Indiana 62
Imani Christian 88, Summit Academy 40
Jeannette 66, Springdale 54
Lincoln Park 67, Central Valley 61
Mars 57, Chartiers Valley 45
Mohawk 75, New Brighton 34
Monessen 80, Mapletown 36
Moon 58, West Allegheny 42
Mt. Lebanon 66, Norwin 35
Mount Pleasant 70, Waynesburg 53
Neighborhood Academy 77, St. Joseph 15
North Catholic 77, Blackhawk 52
North Star 66, Ligonier Valley 36
Penn Hills 72, Plum 46
Pine-Richland 62, New Castle 49
Quaker Valley 54, South Allegheny 51 (2 OT)
Shady Side Academy 78, Derry 63
Shaler 73, Armstrong 62
Shenango 51, Sewickley Academy 48 (OT)
South Fayette 60, North Hills 51
Thomas Jefferson 72, Bethel Park 60
Union 50, Rochester 36
Uniontown 78, Elizabeth Forward 65
Upper St. Clair 65, Canon-McMillan 49
West Greene 45, Jefferson-Morgan 39
Girls scores
Armstrong 74, Fox Chapel 49
Baldwin 61, Bethel Park 56 (OT)
Canon-McMillan 40, Upper St. Clair 26
Chartiers-Houston 47, Monessen 35
Franklin Regional 52, Gateway 24
Greensburg Central Catholic 64, Springdale 16
Moon 23, West Allegheny 21
Plum 66, Kiski Area 28
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.