South Allegheny boys basketball coach Tony DiCenzo said he has talked with his team about slow starts in games, something that has been known to afflict the Gladiators more often than DiCenzo would like.
“We’ve traditionally started slow and don’t score the ball efficiently in the first quarter of games,” DiCenzo said.
Well, the Gladiators were efficient early on Friday night in their game against South Fayette. It propelled them to an impressive non-section win and continued what has been a sizzling start to the season.
Drew Cook scored 19 points and Cameron Epps added 18 to lead host South Allegheny to a 57-46 win against South Fayette in the South Allegheny tournament.
South Allegheny, which competes in Class 3A, improved to 8-1, while Class 5A South Fayette fell to 6-2 after dropping its second game in a row. Hot starts to the season are nothing new for South Allegheny, which started 7-0 a season ago and 13-0 the year before that.
Cook, a junior guard, was cooking early Friday. He scored 10 of his points in the first quarter as South Allegheny built a 17-13 lead after leading by as many as 9 points in the frame. Two of Cook’s baskets in the quarter came on step-back 3-pointers.
“You could kind of tell he had it going right from the beginning,” DiCenzo said. “He really carried us in that first quarter, but that’s what we expect from him.”
South Allegheny’s lead grew to 28-20 at the half. The Gladiators led, 40-33, after three quarters, but South Fayette could not draw any closer than 7 points in the final quarter.
Tyson Wright led South Fayette with 12 points, while Stefano Vezio and Dylan Head each scored 11.
Camden Lewis and Josh Jackowski added 8 points apiece for the Gladiators, whose only loss was to unbeaten Class 6A New Castle.
“It’s a huge win,’’ said DiCenzo, whose team will take on his alma mater, West Mifflin, Saturday. “I’ve got a ton of respect for them and they’re program. Dave [Mislan] does a tremendous job. We pride ourselves in playing a tough schedule. It’s a good gauge for us to see where we’re at and what we’re capable of. To get a win against a team like that is big as we prepare for section play.”
Other boys games
• Making his season debut, Duke football recruit Bradley Gompers scored 15 points, including the winning 3-pointer with 15 seconds left, to help Central Catholic (5-3) rally from 15 points down for a win at Bishop McDevitt (3-4), 73-72, in the Bishop McDevitt tournament. Central Catholic outscored Bishop McDevitt, 27-14, in the fourth quarter. Enzo Khalil led the Vikings with 18 points.
• Caden Kaiser’s double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds helped Fox Chapel (8-1) win its fifth game in a row, 50-38, against host Shady Side Academy (2-7) in the Peter Sauer Memorial tournament. Fox Chapel led, 24-14, at the half. Cam Mallory paced Shady Side with 18 points.
• Greensburg Central Catholic (8-1) is no longer unbeaten, this after Class 6A Hempfield (5-4) handed the Class 2A Centurions a 63-49 loss in the Greensburg Salem tournament. Danny Husenits pumped in 25 points for Hempfield, which held a 44-36 lead after three quarters. AJ Tarpley led the Centurions with 24 points.
• Baldwin (8-0) jumped to an 11-point lead after one quarter and went on to defeat Beaver (7-2), 66-57, in the Central Valley Roundball Classic at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Beaver County. Nate Wesling led Baldwin with 23 points, while Brady Mayo poured in 27 to pace Beaver.
• Paul Nnacho scored 17 points and Mykel Bruce-McCrommon chipped in with 13 to help Gateway (4-3) hand Central Valley (7-1) its first loss, 50-34, at the Central Valley Roundball Classic. Nnacho scored 8 of his points in the third quarter when Gateway outscored Central Valley, 15-10, to open with a 10-point lead. Isaiah Jeter paced Central Valley with 12 points.
• Courntey Wallace finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists while leading Neighborhood Academy (8-0) to a 69-45 win against McKeesport (3-6) in the Peter Sauer Memorial tournament at Shady Side Academy. Kedron Gilmore added 16 points and Syncer Nicholson 10 for the Bulldogs, who held a 38-27 lead at the half.
• Julius Best scored 18 points and Jayden Davis added 16 to help Chartiers Valley (8-1) claim a 69-60 win against Penn Hills (3-5) in the Ambridge tournament. Chartiers Valley led, 35-29, at the half. Amon Hawthorne led Penn Hills with 22 points and Calix Clark had 21.
• Michael Santicola made a jump shot with 2.3 seconds left to give Moon (7-2) a 72-70 win against Worthington Christian, Ohio (0-9) in the OHSBCA Shot Clock Shootout at Canton McKinley. Carter Tumulty led Mars with seven 3-pointers and a career-high 33 points, while Santicola added 17 points.
• Amier Robinson scored 16 points and Boston recruit Donte Tisinger tacked on 11 to help unbeaten Johnstown (7-0) slip past Knoch (7-2), 44-43, in the Central Valley Roundball Classic. Jackson Bauman and Teegan Finucan scored 12 points apiece to lead Knoch.
• Darius Webb scored 27 points and Aaron Webb had 18 as Indiana (3-4) delivered Keystone Oaks (8-1) its first loss, 72-63, in the Deer Lakes tournament. Indiana held a 34-27 scoring advantage in the second half. Erond Jakupi scored 19 points to lead Keystone Oaks.
• David Kwiat had a loud night for Neshannock (7-0), drilling eight 3-pointers and scoring a game-high 31 points in an 80-45 triumph against Burrell (4-5) in the Neshannock tournament. Jake Rynd added 21 points for Neshannock, which outscored Burrell, 22-7, in the second quarter.
• Jake Guillen scored 26 points and Sam Duer tacked on 23 to lead Aquinas Academy (7-1) to its seventh consecutive win, 85-76, against Carlynton (4-4) in the Aquinas Academy tournament. Ishaga Barre scored 21 points to pace Carlynton.
• Pat Wylly’s 19 points helped Springdale (8-1) remain hot by producing a 55-46 win against Winchester Thurston (5-3) in the Aquinas Academy tournament. The Dynamos also got 10 points apiece from Caleb Leahy and Rob Simmen.
Girls games
• In a matchup of defending WPIAL champions, Brady Wehner scored a game-high 19 points and North Catholic (6-2) used a big fourth quarter to take down Norwin (4-3), 71-49, in the North Allegheny tournament. It was the sixth consecutive win for the Trojanettes, who outscored Norwin, 20-4, in the fourth quarter. Kendall Berger led Norwin with 18 points.
• Payton Collins scored 17 points, including the 1,000th of her career, to help Mt. Lebanon (5-3) rally for a 44-40 win against Seneca Valley (5-4) in the Peter Sauer Memorial tournament. Mt. Lebanon outscored Seneca Valley, 12-4, in the fourth quarter. Natalie Hambly and Gracie Cato each scored 12 points for Seneca Valley, which had won four in a row.
• Maria Depner scored 20 points and Jaedin Griggs had 18 to help Moon (4-3) slip past host Butler (6-3), 58-56, in the Butler tournament. Amelia McMichael poured in 29 points for Butler, which trailed, 40-32, after three quarters.
• North Allegheny (2-5) snapped a five-game losing streak by defeating Knoch (3-6), 67-27, in the North Allegheny tournament. North Allegheny raced to a 26-6 first-quarter lead and got a game-high 20 points from Vange Balouris.
• Julia Antonacci and Laken Kugler each scored 8 points to drive Indiana (7-2) to a 35-31 win against Hempfield (6-2) in the Latrobe tournament. Indiana led, 14-10, at the half. Allie Cervola paced Hempfield with 17 points. She scored 8 in the fourth quarter.
• Karis Thomas scored 21 points and Cassie Sauer added 16 to help host Shady Side Academy (9-0) remain unbeaten courtesy of a 53-35 win against Woodland Hills (5-2) at the Peter Sauer Memorial tournament. Shady Side led, 24-9, at the half. Mylee Young led Woodland Hills with 13 points.
• Ryan Oldaker’s 24 points propelled South Fayette (8-0) to a 64-45 win against Charlotte, Fla. (8-5) in the Tampa Bay tournament. Lailah Wright chipped in with 15 points for the Lions, who held a 36-22 lead at the half.
• Vita Vargo’s 19 points helped Mars (5-2) open play in the Carolina Invitational with a 40-38 overtime win against St. Agnes Academy, Texas (10-6). Mars outscored St. Agnes, 6-4, in the extra period. Alexis Cashdollar added nine points for the Planets, who have won three in a row.
• Aubree Hupp pumped in 25 points to propel Blackhawk (8-2) to a 51-48 win against Southern Garrett, Md. (6-1) in the Deep Creek Lake Classic. Blackhawk is the defending PIAA Class 4A champion, while Southern Garrett reached the state final in Maryland’s smallest classification a season ago.
• Michelle Jellison poured in 26 points to vault host Elizabeth Forward (5-3) to its fourth consecutive win, 59-45, against Seton LaSalle (6-3) in the Betsy Invitational. The Warriors held a 25-14 lead at the half. Tiara Curry paced Seton LaSalle with 17 points.
Three stars
*** — R.J. Fischer, South Side. Fischer converted eight 3-pointers among his 30 points to lead South Side (6-3) to a 71-27 win against Cornell (1-6) in the South Side tournament.
** — Cate Gentile, Pine-Richland. Gentile scored 19 of her game-high 28 points in the second half to lift Pine-Richland (2-6) to a 51-42 win against Plum (2-6) in the Peter Sauer Memorial tournament.
*— Caden Monticelli, California. Monticello poured in 29 points to help California (2-6) snap a five-game losing streak by defeating Westinghouse (0-5), 64-63, in the Monessen tournament.
Hot from deep
Players with 3 or more 3-pointers: David Kwiat, Neshannock, 8; R.J. Fischer, South Side, 8; Carter Tumulty, Moon, 7; Mike Lee, Brashear, 6; Amon Hawthorne, Penn Hills, 6; Shyan Tindall, Laurel, 5; Drake Fox, Riverside, 4; Nico Santapau, Seneca Valley, 4; Leila Marchinsky, West Allegheny, 4; Bella Urso, Fox Chapel, 3; Griff Jarrell, Hampton, 3; Neah Ewing, Knoch, 3; Austin Campbell, Mars, 3; Austen Wroblewski, Mars, 3; Vange Balouris, North Allegheny, 3; Natalie Kinross, North Allegheny, 3; Brady Wehner, North Catholic, 3; Sam Weir, North Catholic, 3; Tamia West, Plum, 3; Kylie Fruehstorfer, Union, 3.
Boys scores
Ambridge Tournament
Ambridge 70, Rochester 58
Avonworth 72, Woodland Hills 42
Chartiers Valley 69, Penn Hills 60
Sto-Rox 65, New Brighton 57
Apollo-Ridge Tournament
River Valley 63, Leechburg 36
Aquinas Academy Tournament
Aquinas Academy 85, Carlynton 76
Springdale 55, Winchester Thurston 46
Avella Tournament
Chartiers-Houston 60, Avella 46
Fort Cherry 69, McGuffey 40
Bentworth Tournament
Carrick 64, West Greene 55
Nazareth Prep 63, Bentworth 45
Bishop McDevitt Catholic Showcase
Central Catholic 73, Bishop McDevitt 72
Burgettstown Tournament
Brashear 55, Riverside 54
Geibel Catholic 78, Burgettstown 45
Carmichaels King Coal Lions Tournament
Carmichaels 56, Mapletown 25
Jefferson-Morgan 56, Beth-Center 37
Central Valley Roundball Classic (at Geneva College, Beaver Falls)
Baldwin 66, Beaver 57
Blackhawk 73, Beaver Falls 47
Gateway 50, Central Valley 34
Johnstown 44, Knoch 43
Mentor, Ohio 73, Aliquippa 65
Uniontown 63, Abington Heights 54
Charleroi Tournament
Brownsville 57, Charleroi 56
Northgate 74, East Allegheny 34
South Park 56, Frazier 33
Deer Lakes Tournament
Deer Lakes 71, Belle Vernon 59
Indiana 72, Keystone Oaks 63
Governor’s Challenge (at Salisbury, Md.)
Archbishop Spalding, Md. 80, Imani Christian 59
Greensburg Salem Tournament
Hempfield 63, Greensburg Central Catholic 49
Jeannette 70, Connellsville 48
Hampton Tournament
Bethel Park 56, North Hills 55
Mars 64, Hampton 49
Hickory Tournament
Hickory 61, Shenango 33
Mercyhurst Prep 85, Eden Christian 57
Mercer Tournament
Clarion-Limestone 57, Ellwood City 44
Monessen Tournament
California 64, Westinghouse 63
Monessen 67, Beaver County Christian 46
Neshannock Tournament
Grove City 53, Union 48
Neshannock 70, Burrell 45
OHSBCA Shot Clock Shootout (At Canton McKinley, Ohio)
Moon 72, Worthington Christian, Ohio 70
Peter Sauer Memorial (at Shady Side Academy)
Fox Chapel 50, Shady Side Academy 38
Neighborhood Academy 69, McKeesport 45
Plum Tournament
Seneca Valley 62, Shaler 53
Sharon Tournament
Mohawk 63, Kiski Area 57
Slippery Rock Tournament
Cranberry 79, Freeport 78
Snowball Tournament (at Southern Garrett, Md.)
Armstrong 70, East Hardy, W.Va. 59
South Allegheny Tournament
Elizabeth Forward 71, Norwin 61
Franklin Regional 54, West Mifflin 39
South Allegheny 57, South Fayette 46
South Side Tournament
Brentwood 68, Western Beaver 47
South Side 71, Cornell 27
Tampa Bay Invitational in Florida
Countryside, Fla. 65, Montour 47
Trinity Tournament
Canon-McMillan 80, Washington 43
Trinity 54, Albert Gallatin 49
West Allegheny Tournament
McDowell 69, Peters Township 33
West Allegheny 59, Seton LaSalle 44
Girls scores
All About The Girls Tournament (at Baltimore Western, Md.)
Baltimore Western, Md. 41, Chartiers Valley 39
Apollo-Ridge Tournament
Deer Lakes 39, Apollo-Ridge 21
River Valley 62, Burrell 36
Bentworth Tournament
Bentworth 63, Propel Montour 10
Ringgold 56, Springdale 37
Beth-Center Tournament
Albert Gallatin 51, Fairmont, W.Va. 48
Betsy Invitational (at Elizabeth Forward)
Baldwin 71, Gateway 28
Elizabeth Forward 59, Seton LaSalle 45
Burgettstown Tournament
Aliquippa 74, Monessen 17
Burgettstown 46, Freedom 45
Butler Tournament
Altoona 62, Armstrong 14
Moon 58, Butler 56
Carmichaels King Coal Lions Tournament
Waynesburg 33, Jefferson-Morgan 17
Uniontown 48, Carmichaels 22
Carolina Invitational (at Charleston, S.C.)
Mars 40, St. Agnes Academy, Texas 38
Central Valley Roundball Classic (at Geneva College)
Central Valley 61, Northgate 9
Keystone Oaks 50, Rochester 41
Deep Creek Lake Classic in Maryland
Blackhawk 51, Southern Garrett, Md. 48
East Fairmont, W.Va. 68, Avonworth 44
Morgantown, W.Va. 72, South Park 53
Trinity 41, Walkersville, Md. 30
Hickory Tournament
Neshannock 69, Maplewood 39
Latrobe Tournament
Indiana 35, Hempfield 31
Laurel Highlands 64, Latrobe 39
Mount Pleasant Tournament
Greensburg Salem 43, Connellsville 34
West Mifflin 53, Mount Pleasant 36
Neighborhood Academy Tournament
Ellis School 47, Neighborhood Academy 27
Propel Braddock Hills 50, Westinghouse 19
North Allegheny Tournament
McKeesport 44, Obama Academy 38
North Allegheny 67, Knoch 27
North Catholic 71, Norwin 49
Shaler 54, Quaker Valley 24
West Allegheny 57, Penn Hills 56
Peter Sauer Memorial (at Shady Side Academy)
Mt. Lebanon 44, Seneca Valley 40
Pine-Richland 51, Plum 42
Shady Side Academy 53, Woodland Hills 35
Shenango Tournament
Laurel 64, Ellwood City 34
Riverside 46, Shenango 12
South Allegheny Tournament
Jeannette 45, South Allegheny 36
Winchester Thurston 48, Trinity Christian 15
South Side Tournament
South Side 64, Mohawk 26
Union 43, Brentwood 27
St. Joseph Tournament
Fox Chapel 81, Valley 34
St. Joseph 54, Freeport 51
Tampa Bay Tournament
South Fayette 64, Charlotte, Fla. 45
Non-section
Geibel Catholic 60, Carrick 24
Highlands 67, Southmoreland 50
Penn-Trafford 50, North Hills 22
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.