Friday basketball rundown: Rowan Carmichael (35 points) shines again as Avonworth rolls past Quaker Valley; New Castle, Baldwin handed first losses this season

The “Rowan Carmichael Show” made a stop Friday night at Quaker Valley.

Quaker Valley has one of the smallest gyms in the WPIAL, but no matter the size of the court or the gym, no team has been able to slow down Avonworth’s outstanding senior this season.

“It really doesn’t matter,” Avonworth coach Joe Frank said. “The hoops are always 10 feet high, so he’s comfortable with those.”

Carmichael’s latest high-scoring performance led Avonworth to a surprisingly comfortable win.

Carmichael, the WPIAL’s scoring leader, matched his season average by pouring in 35 points while leading Avonworth to a 67-42 mercy rule win against Quaker Valley in Class 4A Section 2.

It was the seventh consecutive win for Avonworth, which improved to 8-1 overall, 2-0 in section. Meanwhile, Quaker Valley (6-2, 1-1) saw its five-game win streak come to an end.

Carmichael was electric, scoring inside and out. A 5-foot-11 guard and the school’s all-time leading scorer, Carmichael was extremely efficient, finishing 11 of 16 from the field, 6 of 8 from 3-point range and 7 of 7 from the free-throw line. He even threw down a few dunks. All of his points came in the first three quarters. He attempted only one shot in the fourth quarter before being removed from the game. Carmichael has scored at least 30 points in every game this season.

“It’s incredible,” Frank said of Carmichael’s torrid start. “I’ve been around high school basketball for 20 years, and he’s as good as any player that I’ve come across. And we game planned against the Ethan Mortons and Royce Parhams of the world. Big Power Five [conference] kids.”

Carmichael was especially good in the second quarter when Avonworth outscored Quaker Valley, 23-9, to take a 39-19 halftime lead. Carmichael scored 18 of Avonworth’s 23 points in the quarter. The Antelopes closed the half on a 15-0 run, with Carmichael accounting for the final 10 points.

Avonworth made 13 3-pointers in the game. Noah Goetz connected on two of them and was the only other Antelopes player to score in double figures with 12 points.

Sam Chapman led Quaker Valley with 14 points.

Other boys games

• Andrew Omasits scored a team-high 19 points to help Seneca Valley (6-6, 3-1) hand host New Castle (8-1, 3-1) its first loss this season, 57-54, in Class 6A Section 1. Seneca Valley led, 39-29, after three quarters before New Castle outscored the Raiders, 25-18, in the fourth. The Raiders have won five in a row. Freshman Kai Cox led New Castle with 20 points.

• Chris McKnight’s 21 points helped Norwin (6-5, 2-2) earn a 51-49 overtime win against visiting Mt. Lebanon (5-4, 1-2) in Class 6A Section 2. Norwin outscored Mt. Lebanon, 7-5, in overtime after the score was tied, 44-44, at the end of regulation. Freshman Jacob Zaber scored 13 points to lead Mt. Lebanon.

• Amon Hawthorne scored 27 points and Calix Clark had 19 to help Penn Hills (4-6, 4-0) stay perfect in Class 5A Section 2 courtesy of an 82-70 win at Shaler (5-6, 2-1). Penn Hills, which had dropped three consecutive games, closed strong by outscoring Shaler, 22-14, in the fourth quarter.

• South Fayette (7-3, 4-0) snapped a three-game losing streak by dealing visiting Baldwin (9-1, 2-1) its first defeat of this season, 37-32, in Class 5A Section 3. Stefano Vezio scored a team-high 13 points for South Fayette, which outscored Baldwin, 15-7, in the first quarter and held a 22-13 halftime lead. Nate Wesling paced Baldwin with 21 points.

• Jayden Davis scored a game-high 18 points and Chartiers Valley (10-1, 3-1) won its fourth in a row, 78-38, against visiting Lincoln Park (2-7, 0-3) in Class 5A Section 4. The Colts led, 40-24, at the half before outscoring Lincoln Park, 25-4, in the third quarter. Aaron Wehner led the Leopards with 11 points and Mason Rowan added 10.

• Drew Wrona drilled five 3-pointers among his 23 points and Mohawk (9-2, 3-0) captured its seventh consecutive win by claiming a 70-50 triumph at Ellwood City (7-5, 3-1) in Class 3A Section 1. Joey Nail added 18 points for Mohawk, while Aaron Lake led Ellwood City with 24.

• Jefferson-Morgan (8-2, 4-0) strengthened its grip on the lead in Class 2A Section 3 courtesy of a 50-35 win against visiting West Greene (5-5, 3-1). Houston Guesman scored 13 points and Jeremiah Robertson added 12 for West Greene, which won its seventh in a row. Lane Allison paced West Greene with 12 points.

• Tony Perrotta scored 19 points and Neshannock (8-1, 4-0) bounced back from its first loss with a 63-23 home win against South Side (7-4, 2-2) in Class 2A Section 4. Neshannock led, 27-7, after one quarter. A.C. Corfield tallied 13 points for South Side, which had won four in a row.

• Serra Catholic (9-1, 2-0) raced to a 13-point lead after one quarter and went on to claim a 63-50 win at Monessen (5-4, 0-2) in Class 1A Section 2. Owen Dumbroski scored 26 points for the Eagles, whose only loss was to Class 3A South Allegheny. Devonte Robinson scored 15 points to lead Monessen.

• Four-time defending City League champion Allderdice (3-7, 1-0) opened league play with an 80-19 win against visiting Perry (0-7, 0-1). Lukas Stead scored 18 points and Matt Kossis added 15 points for the Dragons, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

Girls games

• Meredith Huzjak converted five 3-pointers among her team-high 16 points to lead Upper St. Clair (7-2, 2-0) to a 63-53 win at Norwin (4-5, 1-1) in Class 6A Section 2. Olivia Terlecki added four 3s and 12 points for the Panthers, who held a 13-point lead at the half. Kendall Berger led Norwin with 19 points.

• Erica Gribble poured in 34 points to lead Greensburg Central Catholic (7-2, 3-0) to its fifth consecutive win, 63-39, against visiting Avonworth (5-5, 2-2) in Class 3A Section 2. The Centurions led, 37-23, at the half. Emma Obersteiner paced Avonworth with 17 points.

Three stars

*** — Izzy Bobitski, Canon-McMillan. Just a freshman, Bobitski connected on a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left to give Canon-McMillan (6-5, 1-1) a 54-51 win against visiting Mt. Lebanon (6-4, 1-1) in Class 6A Section 2.

**— Joseph Colton, Keystone Oaks. Colton’s triple-double of 14 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists propelled host Keystone Oaks (9-2, 2-0) to a 56-45 win against Washington (2-7, 0-2) in Class 3A Section 2.

* — Jude Rottmann, North Catholic. Rottmann converted six 3-pointers and finished with 26 points to lead North Catholic (7-4, 3-0) to a 66-44 win at Burrell (4-7, 1-3) in Class 4A Section 1.

Hot from deep

Players with 3 or more 3-pointers: Jude Rottmann, North Catholic, 6; Ainsley Baker, Beaver, 5; Sam Miller, Canon-McMillan, 5; Drew Wrona, Mohawk, 5; Meredith Huzjak, Upper St. Clair, 5; Junior Marino, Beaver, 4; Jonas Cupps, Hampton, 4; Kendall Berger, Norwin, 4; Olivia Terlecki, Upper St. Clair, 4; Kylie Fruehstorfer, Union, 4; Jeremiah Pratt, Aliquippa, 3; Qualil Goode, Aliquippa, 3; Emerson Connelly, Beaver, 3; Isaiah Jeter, Central Valley, 3; Asher White, Fox Chapel, 3; Payton Collins, Mt. Lebanon, 3; Talan Anderton, Neshannock, 3; Jon Jubec, North Allegheny, 3.

Scoreboard

Boys scores

WPIAL Class 6A

Section 1

Fox Chapel 53, North Allegheny 39

Pine-Richland 70, North Hills 54

Seneca Valley 57, New Castle 54

Section 2

Central Catholic 67, Canon-McMillan 13

Norwin 51, Mt. Lebanon 49 (OT)

Upper St. Clair 70, Connellsville 15

WPIAL Class 5A

Section 1

Franklin Regional 59, Laurel Highlands 45

Gateway 60, Albert Gallatin 42

Uniontown 75, McKeesport 36

Section 2

Hampton 66, Indiana 50

Kiski Area 64, Armstrong 39

Penn Hills 82, Shaler 70

Section 3 

Peters Township 59, Trinity 52

South Fayette 37, Baldwin 32

Section 4 

Chartiers Valley 78, Lincoln Park 38

Moon 79, Blackhawk 36

WPIAL Class 4A

Section 1

Deer Lakes 63, Highlands 60 (OT)

North Catholic 64, Burrell 44

Section 2

Avonworth 67, Quaker Valley 42

Beaver 65, Hopewell 50

Central Valley 59, Ambridge 35

Section 3

Belle Vernon 63, Elizabeth Forward 59

Derry 76, West Mifflin 57

Greensburg Salem 56, East Allegheny 44

WPIAL Class 3A

Section 1

Aliquippa 80, Riverside 18

Mohawk 70, Ellwood City 50

New Brighton 70, Beaver Falls 61

Section 2

Bishop Canevin 60, McGuffey 44

Carlynton 75, Sto-Rox 49

Keystone Oaks 56, Washington 45

Section 3

South Allegheny 82, Apollo-Ridge 41

Seton LaSalle 60, Steel Valley 43

Section 4

Brownsville 61, Mount Pleasant 60

WPIAL Class 2A

Section 1

Clairton 63, California 41

Greensburg Central Catholic 67, Bentworth 29

Jeannette 73, Frazier 33

Riverview 44, Springdale 39

Section 2

Eden Christian 61, Leechburg 50

Section 3

Beth-Center 66, Carmichaels 34

Chartiers-Houston 71, Burgettstown 40

Fort Cherry 73, Mapletown 36

Jefferson-Morgan 50, West Greene 35

Section 4

Laurel 46, Rochester 37

Neshannock 63, South Side 23

Union 69, Shenango 57

WPIAL Class 1A

Section 1

Aquinas Academy 64, Cornell 20

Nazareth Prep 53, Beaver County Christian 19

Section 2

Geibel Catholic 70, St. Joseph 57

Neighborhood Academy 65, Environmental Charter 29

Serra Catholic 63, Monessen 50

City League

Allderdice 80, Perry 19

Carrick 73, Westinghouse 49

Obama Academy 62, Brashear 45

Non-section

Plum 67, Bethel Park 62

Girls scores

WPIAL Class 6A

Section 1

Pine-Richland 34, North Allegheny 25

Seneca Valley 54, North Hills 25

Section 2

Canon-McMillan 54, Mt. Lebanon 51

Upper St. Clair 63, Norwin 53

WPIAL Class 5A

Section 1

Shaler 49, Penn Hills 10

Section 3

Chartiers Valley 51, New Castle 23

Section 4

Peters Township 51, Trinity 33

WPIAL Class 4A

Section 1

Oakland Catholic 47, Knoch 16

Section 2

Beaver 59, Hopewell 36

WPIAL Class 3A

Section 2

Greensburg Central Catholic 63, Avonworth 39

Section 3

Seton LaSalle 49, Waynesburg 34

WPIAL Class 2A

Section 3

Bentworth 39, Carmichaels 26

Section 4

Ellis School 52, Jeannette 26

WPIAL Class 1A

Section 1

Union 58, Springdale 11

City League

Allderdice 79, Perry 35

Obama Academy 58, Brashear 21