Saturday basketball rundown: Class 1A front-runner Neighborhood Academy issues statement win over Class 6A contender Fox Chapel to remain undefeated

If last year’s run to the WPIAL Class 1A championship game wasn’t enough to put Neighborhood Academy on the map, consider this your final notice — the Bulldogs have arrived.

Taking on one of the leading WPIAL title contenders in Class 6A at Shady Side Academy’s Peter Sauer Memorial tournament, Neighborhood Academy rallied from a four-point halftime deficit to remain undefeated with a 60-52 win against Fox Chapel (8-2). The Bulldogs trailed by one entering the final quarter, then put together a near-flawless fourth-quarter performance to take home another marquee win over a much larger school.

“When you build a program, and you have kids who get there as freshmen and are now seniors, and they just keep getting better and better and better — now it’s like, we’re really good,” said Neighborhood Academy coach Jordan Marks. “I always tell them, ‘It’s going to be hard for you guys to lose unless you beat yourselves.'”

Led by star senior and Yale recruit Courtney Wallace, the Bulldogs entered the season as the presumptive favorite to win the WPIAL Class 1A title after Imani Christian’s move up to Class 6A. Still, with a strength of schedule not many teams can match, few could have foreseen such a stellar start to the campaign for Neighborhood Academy (9-0).

Think about this — through their first nine games this season, the Bulldogs already hold three wins against teams in Class 5A or Class 6A — Allderdice, McKeesport and Fox Chapel.

“We had one game left on our schedule, and we sent out an email to every AD around the WPIAL, because we wanted a [Class] 5A or [Class] 6A team to play, and we got not one response,” Marks said. “We wanted to play more [Class 5A and Class 6A teams]. We wanted to play everybody. We’ll play anybody. It’s hard to get games.”

A supremely well-rounded 6-3 guard with elite athletic ability and rare defensive instincts, Wallace delivered another sensational performance for Neighborhood Academy with 26 points, 11 rebounds and six assists on Saturday night. For the season, Wallace is now averaging a triple-double with 21 points, 12 rebounds and 10.8 assists per game.

“The kid is special,” Marks said. “Forget about going to Yale and what he could potentially do there. To average a triple-double — I think someone said it hasn’t been done in 15-plus years. … What the kid has done is special. He deserves it.

“When you’re in the gym at 11 at night and 5 or 6 the next morning, and when you’re bringing guys in with you — as a leader, it’s contagious.”

Joining Wallace in double figures for the Bulldogs were Syncer Nicholson with 13 points and Kedron Gilmore with 12. Ike Moser and Asher White scored 17 points apiece to lead the way for the Foxes, with all 17 of White’s points coming in the first half. Marks assigned Wallace to guard White in the second half, and the switch paid off in a big way for Neighborhood Academy.

“We put Courtney on him in the second half and said, ‘Do not leave him.’ He’s the best defender, he’s the best player around here,” Marks said. “I think he’s the best player in the state.”

Now storming into the new year with a boatload of confidence and a full head of steam, the Bulldogs are going to be a tough out for any team that crosses their path — no matter the classification. And with Wallace leading the way, the sky is the limit for Neighborhood Academy as it attempts to go where no team in school history has gone before.

“You always hope that you play your best in March,” Marks said. “I tell them all the time, ‘Let’s just get better. Let’s keep getting better. Our schedule is very tough. Let’s just play our basketball [in March].’ And now you think, let’s just keep it going. We still haven’t played our best basketball yet, but we’re 9-0.

“Just keep improving 1% each day, and we’ll get to where we need to go.”

Other boys games

• After stumbling to a 1-3 start under new coach Kobe Phillippi, Mars rained down a barrage of 3-pointers to surge to its fifth consecutive win with an 83-55 rout against North Hills at the Hampton tournament. Three players scored 20-plus points for the Planets, including a team-leading 23 points with four 3-pointers from 6-6 forward Ben Detisch. Drew Navetta scored all 21 of his points on seven 3-pointers for Mars (6-3), and Austen Wroblewski added 20 points with four 3-pointers of his own. Zach Pollaro led all scorers with 25 points in the loss for the Indians (2-8).

• Luke Scarff surpassed 1,000 career points while scoring a game-high 26 on the evening for South Park (8-2), but it wasn’t enough to overcome a 30-point effort by Southmoreland‘s Noah Felentzer in a 66-58 win for the Scotties at the Charleroi tournament. Ty Whoric added 12 points in the win for Southmoreland (8-2) to go with 10 from Brock Pitts.

• Tayt Lewis tallied a team-leading 19 points to go along with 15 from Andrew Gettinger and 13 from Ayden Andrews, helping Butler (6-3) eke out a 66-60 win against Allderdice at North Allegheny’s Holiday Bash tournament. Lukas Stead finished with a game-high 26 points for the Dragons (2-6), while Trey Schachter added 13 in the defeat.

• A.C. Corfield out-dueled Colton Rosing in a battle of 30-point scorers, as Corfield finished with a game-high 35 points for South Side in a 91-70 win over Brentwood (3-6) while Rosing tallied 33 points in the defeat at the South Side tournament. Carter Wilson added 19 points for the Rams (7-3) to go with 12 apiece from R.J. Fischer and Mateja Pavlovich.

• One day after suffering its first loss of the season against Hempfield, Greensburg Central Catholic (9-1) bounced back with a commanding 81-54 win against Ligonier Valley at the Greensburg Salem tournament. A.J. Tarpley led the way with 25 points for the Centurions along with 18 from Samir Crosby, while Parker Hollick finished with 25 points for the Rams (6-4).

• Drew Gordon led all scorers with 19 points for Hempfield and Max Williams chipped in with 12 for the Spartans (6-4), who secured a 62-38 win against host Greensburg Salem at the Greensburg Salem tournament. Braedon Leatherman led the way for the Golden Lions (2-7) with 11 points in the defeat.

• Filling in as the go-to scorer for Belle Vernon in place of injured WPIAL scoring champ Zion Moore, Trevor Kovatch delivered a game-high 25 points to lead the Leopards (7-4) to a 61-47 win over Keystone Oaks at the Deer Lakes tournament. Erond Jakupi tallied a team-high 15 points while hitting four 3-pointers for the Golden Eagles (8-2).

• Bobby Fadden led all scorers with 31 points for Mohawk (8-2), while Joey Nail contributed 16 and Drew Wrona tacked on 12 in a narrow 67-64 win over host Sharon at the Sharon tournament.

Girls games

• In the final game of this year’s Peter Sauer Memorial tournament, host Shady Side Academy kept its perfect record intact with a 60-40 win against Pine-Richland. Karis Thomas led the way with 19 points for the Bulldogs (10-0), while junior Cassie Sauer scored 15 points in the win at the annual holiday tournament honoring her late father. Cate Gentile finished with a team-high 17 points for the Rams (2-7).

• Cali Green scored a game-high 29 points and pulled in 10 rebounds for Mt. Lebanon in a lopsided 60-22 win over Woodland Hills at the Peter Sauer Memorial tournament at Shady Side Academy. Payton Collins had another big night from beyond the arc for the Blue Devils (6-3), knocking down five 3-pointers on her way to 17 points for the game. Kaleena Earl-Hayden led the Wolverines (5-3) with eight points in the defeat.

• Bri Morreale paced four players in double figures for Peters Township with 18 points in a 60-43 win over Bishop Guilfoyle at North Allegheny’s Holiday Bash tournament. Taylor McCullough tacked on 14 points for the Indians (9-1) to go with 13 each from Natalie Wetzel and Alina Sopko.

• Star senior Greta O’Brien poured in a game-high 27 points for Avonworth while knocking down four 3-pointers and finishing 9-of-10 from the free-throw line, powering the Antelopes (5-3) to a 57-48 win against Millbrook, Va., at the Deep Creek Lake Classic.

• Kylie Fruehstorfer led all scorers with 27 points for unbeaten Union (9-0), burying a trio of 3-pointers and converting 8-of-8 attempts from the free-throw line in a 51-42 win against host South Side at the South Side tournament. Eden Schrier led the Rams (6-4) with 16 points in the defeat to go with 11 from Baily Strnisa.

• Casey Brancato led a trio of double-digit scorers with 22 points to go with 13 from Jules Fisher and 10 from McKenna Miller, helping Burrell (7-3) cruise to a 57-22 victory against host Apollo-Ridge (2-7) at the Apollo-Ridge tournament.

Three stars

*** — Grant Spacciapolli, Pine-Richland. Spacciapolli served up six 3-pointers en route to a game-high 34 points for the Rams in a 71-56 win against Beaver at the Central Valley Roundball Classic at Geneva College.

** — Demitrius Crosby, Summit Academy. Crosby caught fire for Summit Academy in a 75-51 win over River Valley, burying four 3-pointers on his way to a 36-point outburst at the Apollo-Ridge tournament. 

* — Rowan Carmichael, Avonworth. Already lighting up scoreboards with an average of 35 points per game, the sharp-shooting senior scored a game-high 42 points for the Antelopes in a 97-63 win against Penn Hills at the Ambridge tournament.

Hot from deep

Players with 3 or more 3-pointers: Drew Navetta, Mars, 7; Colton Rosing, Brentwoood, 6; Grant Spacciapolli, Pine-Richland, 6; Parker Hollick, Ligonier Valley, 5; John Jubec, North Allegheny, 5; Demetrius Crosby, Summit Academy, 4; Samir Crosby, Greensburg C.C., 4; Ben Detisch, Mars, 4; Lilly Holloway, Freeport, 4; Erond Jakupi, Keystone Oaks, 4; Gabby Rieg, Trinity, 4; Nico Santapau, Seneca Valley, 4; Austen Wroblewski, Mars, 4; Ella Ferrell, Shenango, 3; Kylie Fruehstorfer, Union, 3; Max Grice, Plum, 3; Trinity Ingram, Valley, 3; Marcus McGowen, Jeannette, 3.

Boys scores

Ambridge Tournament

Avonworth 97, Penn Hills 63

Chartiers Valley 76, Ambridge 52

Rochester 58, New Brighton 55

Woodland Hills 75, Sto-Rox 19

Apollo-Ridge Tournament

Apollo-Ridge 57, Leechburg 39

Summit Academy 75, River Valley 51

Aquinas Academy Tournament

Aquinas Academy 81, Springdale 60

Winchester Thurston 69, Carlynton 66

Avella Tournament

Avella 56, Fort Cherry 47

Chartiers-Houston 53, McGuffey 37

Bentworth Tournament

Bentworth 47, West Greene 20

Nazareth Prep 69, Carrick 24

Bishop McDevitt Catholic Showcase

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Md., 54, Central Catholic 41

Burgettstown Tournament

Brashear 70, Geibel Catholic 67

Burgettstown 47, Riverside 44

Carmichaels King Coal Lions Tournament

Beth-Center 78, Mapletown 29

Jefferson-Morgan 68, Carmichaels 27

Central Valley Roundball Classic (at Geneva College)

Aliquippa 71, Uniontown 44

Baldwin 57, Knoch 55

Central Valley 65, Lincoln Park 42

Johnstown 44, Gateway 39

Pine-Richland 71, Beaver 56

Charleroi Tournament

East Allegheny 59, Brownsville 45

Ringgold 62, Charleroi 46

Southmoreland 66, South Park 58

Deer Lakes Tournament

Belle Vernon 61, Keystone Oaks 47

Deer Lakes 73, Indiana 70

GlenOak (Ohio) Wishes Can Happen Tournament

Dalton, Ohio, 52, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 41

Governor’s Challenge (at Salisbury, Md.)

Don Bosco Prep, N.J., 84, Imani Christian 67

Greensburg Salem Tournament

Connellsville 54, Mount Pleasant 31

Greensburg C.C. 81, Ligonier Valley 54

Hempfield 62, Greensburg Salem 38

Jeannette 74, Yough 31

Hampton Tournament

Bethel Park 57, Hampton 44

Mars 83, North Hills 55

Hickory Tournament

Shenango 60, Eden Christian 49

Holiday Bash (at North Allegheny)

Butler 66, Allderdice 60

North Allegheny 52, Bishop Canevin 44

Sewickley Academy 57, Laurel Highlands 50 (OT)

Mercer Tournament

Ellwood City 74, Kennedy Catholic 41

Monessen Tournament

Beaver County Christian 52, Westinghouse 40

Monessen 52, California 29

Neshannock Tournament

Grove City 41, Neshannock 40

Union 48, Burrell 45

Peter Sauer Memorial (at Shady Side Academy)

McKeesport 65, Shady Side Academy 63

Neighborhood Academy 60, Fox Chapel 52

Plum Tournament

Seneca Valley 51, Plum 25

Shaler 69, Highlands 55

Sharon Tournament

Mohawk 67, Sharon 64

Shenandoah (Ind.) Raider Classic

Latrobe 56, Shenandoah, Ind., 50

Snowball Tournament (at Southern Garrett, Md.)

Southern Garrett, Md., 57, Armstrong 55

South Allegheny Tournament

Elizabeth Forward 52, Franklin Regional 47

Norwin 61, South Fayette 49

South Allegheny 79, West Mifflin 44

South Side Tournament

South Side 91, Brentwood 70

Western Beaver 79, Cornell 34

St. Joseph Tournament

Cheswick Christian 68, Propel Braddock Hills 58

Tampa Bay (Fla.) Invitational

Montour 58, Luella, Ga., 44

Trinity Tournament

Albert Gallatin 59, Washington 46

Trinity 65, Canon-McMillan 52

West Allegheny Tournament

McDowell 64, Seton LaSalle 27

Peters Township 72, West Allegheny 37

Wilmington Christmas Shootout

Laurel 87, Urban Academy 23

Non-section

Quaker Valley 66, Farrell 52

Girls scores

All About The Girls Tournament (at Baltimore Western, Md.)

Chartiers Valley 58, Parkdale, Md., 31

Apollo-Ridge Tournament

Burrell 57, Apollo-Ridge 22

River Valley 70, Deer Lakes 20

Bentworth Tournament

Ringgold 55, Bentworth 38

Springdale 56, Propel Montour 20

Beth-Center Tournament

Albert Gallatin 59, Beth-Center 20

Fairmont, W.Va., 53, Charleroi 18

Betsy Invitational (at Elizabeth Forward)

Elizabeth Forward 54, Baldwin 51

Seton LaSalle 61, Gateway 18

Burgettstown Tournament

Aliquippa 66, Burgettstown 31

Freedom 59, Monessen 26

Butler Tournament

Altoona 68, Butler 41

Moon 40, Armstrong 31

Carmichaels King Coal Lions Tournament

Jefferson-Morgan 35, Carmichaels 24

Waynesburg 37, Uniontown 32

Carolina Invitational (at Charleston, S.C.)

Mars 35, Oceanside Collegiate Academy, S.C., 24

Central Valley Roundball Classic (at Geneva College)

Keystone Oaks 54, Central Valley 41

Rochester 58, Northgate 17

Deep Creek Lake (Md.) Classic

Avonworth 57, Millbrook, Va., 48

Blackhawk 50, Walkersville, Md., 23

Mountain Ridge, Md., 49, Trinity 45

South Park 56, East Fairmont, W.Va., 49

Hickory Tournament

Neshannock 74, Hickory 19

Holiday Bash (at North Allegheny)

Oakland Catholic 60, North Allegheny 44

Peters Township 60, Bishop Guilfoyle 43

Latrobe Tournament

Indiana 27, Laurel Highlands 24

Latrobe 52, Hempfield 41

Mapletown Tournament

California 51, Carlynton 23

Mount Pleasant Tournament

Connellsville 57, West Mifflin 49

Greensburg Salem 44, Mount Pleasanat 33

Neighborhood Academy Tournament

Ellis School 47, Propel Braddock Hills 23

Neighborhood Academy 29, Westinghouse 25

Peter Sauer Memorial (at Shady Side Academy)

Mt. Lebanon 60, Woodland Hills 22

Seneca Valley 71, Plum 65

Shady Side Academy 60, Pine-Richland 40

Shenango Tournament

Ellwood City 59, Shenango 23

Riverside 44, Laurel 41

South Allegheny Tournament

Trinity Christian 38, South Allegheny 32

Winchester Thurston 54, Jeannette 11

South Range (Ohio) Tournament

Beaver 44, Boardman, Ohio, 41

South Side Tournament

Mohawk 34, Brentwood 17

Union 51, South Side 42

St. Joseph Tournament

Fox Chapel 72, St. Joseph 42

Freeport 72, Valley 54

Tampa Bay (Fla.) Invitational

St. Mary’s, N.Y., 65, South Fayette 27

Non-section

North Hills 64, Hampton 31