Saturday basketball rundown: Hampton boys snap Moon's 11-game win streak on Peter Kramer's game-winning free throw

They don’t make non-section games much bigger than Hampton against Moon in late January, and this anticipated clash more than lived up to the hype.

Two of the WPIAL’s premier players went head-to-head for 32 minutes, as Talbots senior Peter Kramer and Tigers senior Elijah Guillory traded blows throughout a back-and-forth affair between two WPIAL title contenders. In the end, it was Kramer who got the last laugh, as he sank a go-ahead free throw with 4.3 seconds remaining to lift Hampton (13-2) to a dramatic 53-52 victory in the PBC Legends Classic at Moon. Kramer’s clutch free throw snapped an 11-game winning streak for the Tigers (12-3) while extending the Talbots’ win streak to eight games in a row.

“Coming into that game, we just knew we had to give it our all,” Kramer said. “It was awesome. A hard-fought game. That’s a great team we just beat right there.”

Kramer thought he had fumbled the game away when he turned the ball over on a drive to the paint in the final 10 seconds, but he managed to steal the ball back a split second later as Moon tried to advance it up the court. That’s when he drew the foul that sent him to the line, and after missing his first attempt, Tigers coach Gino Palmosina called a timeout.

Hampton coach Joe Lafko then used the timeout to draw up his team’s defense in anticipation of Kramer making the second free throw, and that’s exactly what he did. Trailing by one, Moon attempted a lob pass that 6-8 forward Liam Mignogna deflected, and Mignogna then blocked a last-gasp jump shot by the Tigers to seal the win.

“I had an iso up top and made a play and made a really bad pass. I tried to get it to Liam inside, and they actually stole the ball,” Kramer said. “They tried to outlet to one of their guys, and I stepped in and got a steal, so I kind of made up for my mistake. I missed the first free throw, but I just wanted to make it entertaining, so then I hit the second one.”

Kramer’s trusted sidekick, Mignogna posted another double-double for the Talbots with 17 points and 11 rebounds in the win. Kramer finished with a game-high 26 points, including five 3-pointers, while Guillory scored a team-high 24 points for Moon.

“Elijah is a great player,” Kramer said. “He’s a really good scorer. He’s really smooth. He kind of got the best of me there in the second half.

“We just had to make a play at the end, and luckily we came out with the victory.”

Greensburg Central Catholic’s Tyree Turner tries to drive past Riverview’s Nate Sprajcar on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, at Riverview High School. Turner scored a game-high 21 points and Sprajcar finished with 20 as Greensburg Central Catholic won, 73-46. (Emily Matthews/Pittsburgh Union Progress)

Other boys games

• Tyree Turner poured in a game-high 21 points to go with 12 from Franco Alvarez and 11 from Liam Gallagher as Greensburg Central Catholic (14-2, 7-0) rolled to a 73-46 road win at Riverview (6-9, 1-6) in Class 2A Section 3. Nate Sprajcar led the Raiders with 20 points in the loss.

• In the midst of a stellar senior season, Logan Golle led the way for Allderdice once again with 23 points in a 59-42 home win against Aliquippa. The Quips jumped out to a 16-10 first-quarter lead, but the Dragons rallied to take a two-point lead into the break before blowing the game open in the second half. Josh Pratt scored a team-leading 23 points for Aliquippa (10-3), while Major Rainey contributed 16 for Allderdice (11-2).

• Alex Pitcher scored a game-high 13 points for defending WPIAL Class 6A champion Central Catholic (9-5), and Bradley Gompers and Enzo Khalil each chipped in 12 points apiece in a 61-38 home win against Penn-Trafford (8-8). Evan Gross led the Warriors with eight points in the non-section defeat.

• Billy Schaeffer led a trio of double-digit scorers for defending WPIAL Class 3A champion Deer Lakes with 17 points in an 81-29 Class 3A Section 3 win at Ligonier Valley (2-12, 1-5). Wayne Love and Nathaniel Moore each finished with 14 points for the Lancers (12-2, 7-0), who have now won five consecutive games.

• T.J. Kubicsek paced three players in double figures for Chartiers Valley with 15 points in a 63-54 non-section win at Trinity (7-8). Jayden Davis added 12 and Julian Best tacked on 10 for the Colts (7-9), while Jacob Dunkle led all scorers with 20 points for the Hillers.

Greensburg Central Catholic’s Anthony Semelka drives to the hoop as Riverview’s Rio Stotts (1) and Matt Orbin (42) try to block him on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, at Riverview High School. Greensburg Central Catholic won, 73-46. (Emily Matthews/Pittsburgh Union Progress)

Girls games

• Rachel Boehm led the way with 15 points and Emma Reynolds tacked on 12 for Chartiers Valley (12-2), helping the Colts rally from a seven-point halftime deficit for a 48-43 overtime win at Trinity (11-3). Ruby Morgan and Maddy Roberts led the Hillers with 13 points apiece in the non-section showdown, which marked their second consecutive overtime loss.

• Norwin remained unbeaten against WPIAL competition after traveling to Mt. Lebanon and using its stifling defense to bring home a 55-37 non-section victory against the Blue Devils (8-8). Lauren Palangio led all scorers with 14 points for the Knights (13-3) to go with 13 from Kendall Berger and 10 from Ava Christopher.

• Grace Heliger led all scorers with 13 points while Leah Skweres added 12 and Lydia Betz finished with 10 for defending WPIAL Class 6A champion North Allegheny in a dominant 69-25 win at District 3 foe Cumberland Valley. The Tigers (13-1) have now won seven games in a row following a 47-42 loss against Norwin on Jan. 2.

• Kaley Rohanna scored a game-high 16 points and Josie Horne added 14 for Waynesburg (15-1), which cruised to its seventh consecutive win with a lopsided 51-23 victory against visiting Washington (7-8) in a non-section affair.

Riverview’s Alex Schultheis drives to the hoop against Greensburg Central Catholic on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, at Riverview High School. Greensburg Central Catholic won, 73-46. (Emily Matthews/Pittsburgh Union Progress)

Three stars

*** — Emma Paul, Armstrong. The multi-sport standout scored a game-high 24 points to lead the River Hawks to an impressive 61-52 non-section win against Class 6A foe Seneca Valley.

** — Jake Wolfe, Montour. The 2023 PUP All-Star quarterback is proving to be more than just a one-sport star, posting a game-high 30 points in a 58-44 win against Bethel Park at the PBC Legends Classic.

* — Joseph Roth, Ellwood City. The Wolverines’ star senior enjoyed a game for the ages in a 68-44 win against Quaker Valley, delivering an eye-popping triple-double with 24 points, 21 rebounds and 14 assists along with three blocked shots at the PBC Legends Classic.

Hot from deep

Players with 3 or more 3-pointers: Ralphie Blundo, New Castle, 6; Peter Kramer, Hampton, 5; Damian Harrison, New Castle, 4; Leah Skweres, North Allegheny, 4; Zach Washington, Quaker Valley, 4; Jake Wolfe, Montour, 4.