For an ultra-talented scorer like Clairton’s Iyanna Wade, a 32-point performance was well below her lofty standard — but it was more than enough for Wade to make history on Thursday night.

Despite playing through an illness in a Class 1A Section 2 clash against West Greene, Wade still did enough to lead her team to a 63-52 win over the Pioneers. In the process, she surpassed former Bears star Kamela Gissendanner’s school record of 2,703 points — not to mention WNBA legend and McKeesport grad Swin Cash and her 2,678 career points — while moving into fifth place on the WPIAL’s all-time scoring leaderboard.

“It’s a relief. I’m glad it’s over with,” said Clairton coach Carlton Wade. “I honestly never thought anybody would break Kam’s record. Going into her sophomore and junior year, with the points [Wade] was scoring, we thought it was possible, and she made it possible today. It’s an awesome feeling.

“A couple tears came from my eyes, knowing what she went through. Just today how she’s feeling, and how she sucked it up and got it done.”

After joining Cali Konek as the second girl in WPIAL history to average 40 points per game on her way to PUP first-team all-star honors as a junior, Wade has become more even productive as a senior. Despite fighting through constant double teams night in and night out, the 5-4 point guard found herself averaging a whopping 44.5 points per game going into Thursday’s contest — nearly 20 ppg ahead of her nearest competitor.

Already a two-time WPIAL scoring champion, a third consecutive scoring title for Wade is already a foregone conclusion. The only question now is how high she can climb on the all-time list before she graduates — and it will largely depend on how far she can take the Bears (10-3, 8-1) into the postseason.

“If you talk about going from her freshman to her senior year, and not just being healthy, but every single night, having two people on you or three people on you — that right there is a testament to her strong will and dedication,” Carlton Wade said. “If you just look at that alone, going through all those games and having somebody on you, the best defender on each team, plus somebody behind them guarding you — I find that pretty amazing.”

With Clairton holding a comfortable 24-point lead over West Greene (9-5, 3-5) with 4:43 remaining in the third quarter, Wade buried a mid-range jumper to give herself 2,704 career points. The game was paused to commemorate the moment, as Wade posed for pictures with her coaches, teammates, and even Gissendanner, who has become a mentor to Wade. Wade’s father then pulled her for the remainder of the game in order to keep her fresh for Saturday’s game against Serra Catholic.

“Kam is like a big sister to her,” Carlton Wade said. “She is always giving her information. She called her a couple times over the summer to come work out. Kam has been great. She has been rooting for her. She knows talent.”

Now with 2,709 career points, Wade will next set her sights on Steel Valley’s Jess Strom, who ranks fourth in WPIAL history with 2,840 points. Only three girls have reached the 3,000-point plateau, with Monessen’s Gina Naccarato holding the all-time record of 3,364.

In order to make a serious run at the record, Wade likely will need the Bears to make a deep run in the WPIAL playoffs, as well as the state playoffs. But according to her father, she got the record she really wanted on Thursday night — and now, the goal is simply to win.

“Now that that’s over with, we’re just looking to win games,” Carlton Wade said. “Whatever comes after this would be great. … If she gets 3,000 [points], that would be great. If she gets 3,500 [points], that would be great. We’re trying to win games now.”

Clairton’s Iyanna Wade poses with former Bears greats Kamela Gissendanner, left, and Kameico Robison after breaking Gissendanner’s school record for career points in a 63-52 win over West Greene on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. Robison was the record holder before Gissendanner. (Submitted photo)

Other girls games

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart moved one step closer to securing a Class 3A Section 1 title, dominating in a 62-25 win at Quaker Valley to extend its winning streak to six. Claudia Ierullo scored a game-high 21 points for the Chargers (15-2, 10-0) and Lola Garner finished with 12, while newly minted 1,000-point scorer Mimi Thiero led the Quakers (8-8, 6-4) with 13 points.

Thomas Jefferson‘s talented tandem of transfer guards turned in another terrific performance in a 71-37 triumph at Albert Gallatin in Class 5A Section 4. Sophomore Kaylee DeAngelo led all scorers with 17 points on four 3-pointers, while junior Maggie Spell chipped in with 16 points for the Jaguars (15-2, 7-1). Mya Glisan scored a team-leading 12 points for the Colonials (7-8, 1-7) along with 11 from Mikayla Shea.

North Catholic erupted for 55 points in the first half, as four players reached double figures for the Trojanettes (14-2, 8-0) in a 74-34 win against Valley in Class 4A Section 1. Sam Weir scored 15 points while finishing 7-of-7 from the field, and Brady Wehner tacked on 14 to go with 12 from Lauren Reitz and 11 from Kate Vislosky. Janelle Norman and Trinity Ingram finished with 10 points apiece for the Vikings (2-14, 1-8).

• Addie Nogay drained a trio of 3-pointers on her way to a team-high 13 points for two-time defending WPIAL champion Union (16-0, 9-0), helping the Scotties stay undefeated with a 67-19 home win against Sewickley Academy in Class 1A Section 1. Kylie Fruehstorfer finished with 12 points in the win to go with 10 from Olivia Benedict, while Grace Jardini led all scorers with 15 points for Sewickley (4-10, 3-7).

• Erica Gribble poured in a game-high 25 points for Greensburg Central Catholic (9-3, 5-1), as the Centurions rolled to a 59-17 victory against South Allegheny in Class 3A Section 2. Jayla Peterson tacked on 12 points for Greensburg Central, which opened up a 36-point halftime lead. Ella Lotz finished with a team-leading 9 points for the Gladiators (2-12, 2-5).

• Four players reached double figures for Neshannock in a lopsided 65-19 win at Laurel in Class 2A Section 1, led by a double-double from Peyton Newman with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Sophia Bonner and Jaidon Nogay had 12 points each for the Lancers (15-2, 5-1) to go with 10 from Anna Measel. Macey Cwynar led the Spartans (6-12, 2-4) with 6 points.

• Greta O’Brien led all scorers with 23 points for Avonworth, outscoring Deer Lakes by herself in a 53-22 home win in Class 3A Section 2. Emma Obersteiner contributed 10 points for the Antelopes (9-5, 6-2), while Sophia Laurenza led the Lancers (11-6, 6-4) with 8 points.

• Payton Collins paced a trio of double-digit scorers for Mt. Lebanon (10-7, 3-3) with 20 points in a 56-47 win at Hempfield (8-8, 1-5) in Class 6A Section 2, followed by 11 from Cali Green and 10 from Anessa Donoghue. Allie Cervola led the Spartans with 19 points along with 10 from Ava Shipman.

Serra Catholic stormed to a 35-point halftime lead at Avella, then cruised to a 62-21 victory in Class 1A Section 2. Freshman Bella Dumbroski tallied a game-high 29 points for Serra (9-6, 7-2), aided by 15 from Abby Genes. Sydney Strope finished with 10 points for Avella (7-9, 2-6).

Quaker Valley’s Mimi Thiero grabs a rebound against Our Lady of the Sacred Heart on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at Quaker Valley High School. Thiero scored 13 points, but OLSH won, 62-25. (Emily Matthews/Pittsburgh Union Progress)

Boys game

• Jeremiah Robertson led three players in double figures for Jefferson-Morgan with 25 points in a 72-40 blowout of visiting Beth-Center in Class 2A Section 3. Jase Bedillion scored 16 for the Rockets (11-5, 7-2) to go with 13 from Houston Guesman, while Brayden Hull scored 12 points for the Bulldogs (8-8, 5-4) along with 10 from Jason Zellie.

Three stars

*** — Cassie Sauer, Shady Side Academy. The junior forward tallied a game-high 26 points for the reigning WPIAL champions in a 74-23 rout at Ligonier Valley in Class 3A Section 2.

** — Emma Larkin, Geibel Catholic. The second-leading scorer in the WPIAL, Larkin’s 33-point outburst led Geibel to a 67-47 win at Bishop Canevin in Class 1A Section 2.

* — Delaney Sturgeon, Ellwood City. In a 75-15 home win against New Brighton, Sturgeon converted 9-of-11 field goal attempts while racking up 18 points, 10 steals, 7 assists and 6 rebounds.

Hot from deep

Players with 3 or more 3-pointers: Isabel Chaparro, Riverview, 4; Kaylee DeAngelo, Thomas Jefferson, 4; Olivia Gieraltowski, Shaler, 4; Erica Gribble, Greensburg C.C., 4; Payton Collins, Mt. Lebanon, 3; Kayla Jones, Ellwood City, 3; Addie Nogay, Union, 3; Katerina Tsambis, Riverview, 3.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart coach Don Eckerle talks to his team prior to a 62-25 win against Quaker Valley on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at Quaker Valley High School. (Emily Matthews/Pittsburgh Union Progress)

Scoreboard

Boys scores

WPIAL Class 2A

Section 2

Northgate 62, Leechburg 36

Section 3

Jefferson-Morgan 72, Beth-Center 40

West Greene 61, Mapletown 33

Girls scores

WPIAL Class 6A

Section 2

Mt. Lebanon 56, Hempfield 47

Norwin 56, Connellsville 26

WPIAL Class 5A

Section 1

Franklin Regional 68, Gateway 24

Shaler 55, Plum 25

Section 2

Greensburg Salem 47, Kiski Area 31

Latrobe 63, McKeesport 44

Penn-Trafford 56, West Mifflin 25

Section 4

Baldwin 56, Trinity 36

Bethel Park 61, Uniontown 34

Thomas Jefferosn 71, Albert Gallatin 37

WPIAL Class 4A

Section 1

Burrell 50, Derry 18

Knoch 39, Highlands 33

North Catholic 74, Valley 34

Oakland Catholic 58, Freeport 11

Section 2

Beaver 56, Ambridge 10

Blackhawk 41, Hopewell 24

Central Valley 47, Hampton 24

Section 3

Elizabeth Forward 57, Mount Pleasant 35

Laurel Highlands 81, Southmoreland 17

South Park 47, Belle Vernon 27

Yough 30, Ringgold 26

WPIAL Class 3A

Section 1

Ellwood City 75, New Brighton 15

Mohawk 49, Sto-Rox 24

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 62, Quaker Valley 25

Riverside 54, Beaver Falls 46

Section 2

Avonworth 53, Deer Lakes 22

Greensburg C.C. 59, South Allegheny 17

Shady Side Academy 74, Ligonier Valley 23

Steel Valley 59, East Allegheny 33

Section 3

McGuffey 67, Charleroi 21

Seton LaSalle 60, Brownsville 50

Washington 50, Waynesburg 46

WPIAL Class 2A

Section 1

Aliquippa 43, Shenango 12

Neshannock 65, Laurel 19

Rochester 53, Freedom 36

Section 2

Burgettstown 59, Northgate 14

Fort Cherry 67, Carlynton 22

South Side 55, Brentwood 38

Section 3

Bentworth 42, Jefferson-Morgan 32

California 55, Carmichaels 38

Chartiers-Houston 48, Beth-Center 22

Section 4

Ellis School 59, Frazier 28

Riverview 52, Jeannette 36

Winchester Thurston 54, Apollo-Ridge 24

WPIAL Class 1A

Section 1

Aquinas Academy 41, Springdale 24

Leechburg 45, Western Beaver 39

St. Joseph 57, Eden Christian 34

Union 67, Sewickley Academy 19

Section 2

Clairton 63, West Greene 52

Geibel Catholic 67, Bishop Canevin 47

Mapletown 39, Monessen 28

Serra Catholic 62, Avella 21

Steve is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at srotstein@unionprogress.com.

Steve Rotstein

Steve is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at srotstein@unionprogress.com.