After spending the past two seasons in Class 3A, Neshannock is back to reclaim the championship belt it never relinquished after capturing back-to-back WPIAL crowns in 2021-22.
The Lancers received a rude welcome back to Class 2A Section 1 from Aliquippa in the first meeting between the teams, when the Quips eked out an overtime victory at home on Jan. 2. The rematch between the section rivals required no extra period on Monday night as Neshannock built up a 15-point halftime lead, then pulled away after the break for a convincing 69-39 home win.
“They never thought we should have lost there,” Lancers coach Luann Grybowski said about the first matchup. “They knew if they followed the game plan that we could beat them. That doesn’t take anything away from [Aliquippa], because they are very good. They have two very good guards. They have a nice post player. We just played exceptionally well.”
Junior forward Payton Newman has been a double-double machine all year long for Neshannock (16-2, 6-1) — and Monday’s game was no different, as she led the Lancers with 19 points and 12 rebounds in the victory.
“She can shoot it, she can handle the ball, she can play with her back to the basket,” Grybowski said. “She does a lot of good things.”
Newman was one of four players in double figures for Neshannock on the evening, with Ainsley Allison adding 16 points to go with 13 from Sophia Bonner and 10 from Lily Rowe. Aunesty Johnson led Aliquippa (12-3, 6-1) with 12 points in the loss while Denim Odom finished with 10.
“We only had 10 turnovers, which was our low for the year,” Grybowski said. “We matched them on the boards better than we did at their place, and our defense was stellar.”
Neshannock won three WPIAL Class 2A titles in a four-year stretch from 2019-22 before bumping up to Class 3A for the previous two-year cycle. The Lancers were still extremely competitive, but couldn’t quite bring home another title after graduating star players like Neleh Nogay and Mairan Haggerty.
Now, with a young, balanced core that continues to gain valuable experience while rounding into form as a cohesive unit, it looks like Neshannock could be ready to add to its well-stocked trophy case in the near future.
“I think we are growing, finally. We are doing some really, really good things. I can see it,” Grybowski said. “The potential is there. I just see them growing and learning the game. Those are the things that are getting better, the little things that have to get better. Making the right pass. Not forcing a pass. Handling pressure. … Everybody is growing.
“We’ll take it one step at a time. Taking care of business tonight puts us in position to win the section.”
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Other girls games
• Kent State recruit and former PUP first-team all-star Rylee Kalocay led all scorers with 19 points for Upper St. Clair (12-5, 5-2), but defending WPIAL champion Norwin came back from a four-point halftime deficit to emerge with a 56-47 road win. Standout senior Kendall Berger scored a team-high 17 points for the Knights (10-6, 6-1), who avenged a loss in the first matchup on Jan. 3 and took over the top spot in Class 6A Section 2 with the victory.
• In the second meeting this season between two of the top teams in Class 3A, Greensburg Central Catholic swept the season series against Avonworth (9-7, 6-4) with a 59-40 road win. Richmond recruit Erica Gribble led all scorers with 25 points in the win while Jayla Peterson tacked on 15 for the Centurions (12-3, 7-1). Greta O’Brien finished with 14 points to lead the way for the Antelopes, followed by 12 from Emma Obersteiner.
• Blackhawk guard-forward Aubree Hupp put her well-rounded skills on full display, racking up a game-high 28 points for the defending PIAA champion Cougars in a 55-43 win at Central Valley in Class 4A Section 2. Blackhawk (16-2, 10-0) built a 19-point lead going into the final quarter before withstanding a fourth-quarter rally by the Warriors (12-6, 6-3), who were led by 13 points from Dominique Douglas and 10 from Izzy Miller.
• Three-time defending WPIAL champion North Catholic stretched its section winning streak to 112 consecutive games with a 52-28 win on senior night against Burrell. Brady Wehner and Sam Weir each scored 14 points for the scorching-hot Trojanettes (15-2, 9-0), who have won 15 games in a row following an 0-2 start. Jules Fisher finished with a team-high 11 points in the defeat for the visiting Buccaneers (11-7, 6-5).
• Kaylee DeAngelo and Maggie Spell scored 19 points apiece to lead the way for Thomas Jefferson in a 73-23 win against Uniontown in Class 5A Section 4. Riley McCabe chipped in 13 for the Jaguars (16-2, 8-1), while Lyric McLee and Emily Myers each finished with 8 points for the Red Raiders (5-13, 1-8).
• One of three undefeated teams left in the WPIAL, Penn-Trafford kept its perfect record intact with a 65-26 non-section win over Plum (5-11). Lauren Marton led all scorers with 19 points for the Warriors (18-0), while Riley Stephans led the visiting Mustangs with 11 points in the loss.
• Kylie Fruehstorfer knocked down six 3-pointers on her way to a game-high 23 points for two-time defending WPIAL champion Union (17-0, 10-0), which remained unbeaten with a 54-16 rout at Springdale (7-10, 4-5) in Class 1A Section 1. Mia Preuhs finished with 8 points and 8 rebounds for the Scotties while going 6 of 6 from the free-throw line.
• Four players finished in double-figures for Keystone Oaks (14-1, 7-1), which rolled to its 11th consecutive win with a 61-21 triumph against visiting Charleroi (0-18, 0-9) in Class 3A Section 3. Neena Deweese led the Golden Eagles with 16 points, followed by 13 points from Alayna Wagner and 10 points apiece from Payton Hamilton and Hannah York.
• Abby Cleary knocked down four 3-pointers on her way to a game-high 22 points for Montour (8-10, 3-7), leading the Spartans to a narrow 57-53 win against Mars in Class 5A Section 3. Tiffany Miller tacked on 21 points in the win to go with 10 from Addyson Kranak, while Cecilia Christy and Vita Vargo led the visiting Planets (10-8, 4-5) with 17 points each.
• Caitlyn Kreitzer led a trio of double-digit scorers for Ellwood City with 21 points in a 59-37 win at Mohawk in Class 3A Section 1. Elsie Sturgeon added 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Wolverines (10-7, 6-5) to go with 10 from Kayla Jones, while Gianna Pezzuolo finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds in the loss for the Warriors (6-12, 4-7).
• Tyarah Woody tallied a game-high 22 points for Highlands (5-12, 4-7) to go with 19 points from Bella Bonnett, helping the Golden Rams cruise to a 51-25 win at Derry in Class 4A Section 1. Jane Huss finished with a team-leading 12 points for the Trojans (3-13, 1-10).
• Haylee Bennett scored a game-high 23 points and Ava D’Agostino added 15 for South Park (12-4, 9-2) in a lopsided 81-33 win over visiting Ringgold in Class 4A Section 3. Jada Gernot led the Rams (7-9, 1-7) with 13 points along with 12 from Rhianna Fordham.
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Boys games
• Neighborhood Academy put on a scoring clinic in a 104-24 blowout against visiting Environmental Charter (0-12, 0-7) in Class 1A Section 2. Yale recruit Courtney Wallace posted another triple-double with 24 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists, and he also tallied 7 steals in the win. Kedron Gilmore added 21 points with 6 assists and 6 steals, and four other players reached double figures for the Bulldogs (18-1, 7-0) — Junior Onwubiko (12 points), Shamar Simpson (11 points), Dante Wright (11 points) and Dre’Air Mack (10 points).
• Leon Harrison led three double-digit scorers for Nazareth Prep in a 64-30 win at Beaver County Christian (10-6, 3-4) in Class 1A Section 1. Mikey Keyes added 15 for the Saints (12-4, 7-0) to go with 13 from Will Evans, and Hunter Mozley led Beaver County Christian with 7 points in the loss.
• Max Grice scored a game-high 26 points for Plum, but host Franklin Regional (8-9) pulled out a 65-54 non-section win thanks to 25 points from Connor Crossey and 14 from Anthony Mitchell. Owen Proskin added 10 points in the defeat for the Mustangs (7-8).
Three stars
*** — Callie Dorsey, Beth-Center. The senior point guard outscored Jefferson-Morgan by herself with a game-high 29 points for the Bulldogs in a 51-27 road win over the Rockets in Class 2A Section 3.
** — Cassie Sauer, Shady Side Academy. Sauer continued her recent scoring surge for Shady Side, helping the reigning WPIAL champion Bulldogs remain undefeated with 30 points in a 78-20 rout at Steel Valley in Class 3A Section 2.
* — Sadie Orie, Bethel Park. The twin sister of Black Hawks lineman and 2024 PUP football all-star Clancy Orie, the senior guard continued to make her case as the best athlete in the family with a 35-point outburst in a 72-61 non-section win at West Allegheny.
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Hot from deep
Players with 3 or more 3-pointers: Abby Cleary, Montour, 4; Katerina Tsambis, Riverview, 4; Courtney Wallace, Neighborhood Academy, 4; Dominique Douglas, Central Valley, 3; Maelee Hill, Laurel, 3; Aubree Hupp, Blackhawk, 3; Andrea Kinger, Blackhawk, 3; Riley Stephans, Plum, 3; Dante Wright, Neighborhood Academy, 3.
Scoreboard
Boys scores
WPIAL CLASS 4A
Section 1
North Catholic 80, Freeport 51
WPIAL CLASS 1A
Section 1
Nazareth Prep 64, Beaver County Christian 30
Section 2
Neighborhood Academy 104, Environmental Charter 24
Non-section
Carrick 93, Aquinas Academy 83
Franklin Regional 65, Plum 54
Winchester Thurston 61, Freedom 50
Girls scores
CLASS 6A
Section 1
Butler 60, Woodland Hills 43
Pine-Richland 38, North Allegheny 33
Seneca Valley 60, North Hills 44
Section 2
Hempfield 58, Connellsville 36
Mt. Lebanon 33, Canon-McMillan 25
Norwin 56, Upper St. Clair 47
CLASS 5A
Section 1
Armstrong 47, Gateway 12
Section 2
Indiana 36, Greensburg Salem 28
McKeesport 46, West Mifflin 31
Section 3
Chartiers Valley 54, New Castle 14
Montour 57, Mars 53
South Fayette 51, Moon 24
Section 4
Thomas Jefferson 73, Uniontown 23
CLASS 4A
Section 1
Freeport 55, Valley 38
Highlands 51, Derry 25
North Catholic 52, Burrell 28
Oakland Catholic 55, Knoch 32
Section 2
Beaver 56, Hopewell 42
Blackhawk 55, Central Valley 43
Hampton 37, Lincoln Park 27
Section 3
Elizabeth Forward 59, Belle Vernon 26
Laurel Highlands 59, Mount Pleasant 10
South Park 81, Ringgold 33
Yough 50, Southmoreland 37
CLASS 3A
Section 1
Beaver Falls 73, New Brighton 18
Ellwood City 59, Mohawk 37
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 58, Sto-Rox 17
Quaker Valley 47, Riverside 32
Section 2
Deer Lakes 36, Ligonier Valley 19
Greensburg C.C. 59, Avonworth 40
Shady Side Academy 78, Steel Valley 20
South Allegheny 43, East Allegheny 28
Section 3
Brownsville 63, McGuffey 46
Keystone Oaks 61, Charleroi 21
Seton LaSalle 55, Waynesburg 29
CLASS 2A
Section 1
Freedom 47, Shenango 34
Laurel 60, Rochester 49
Neshannock 69, Aliquippa 39
Section 2
Carlynton 41, Northgate 22
Fort Cherry 63, Brentwood 23
Sourth Side 46, Burgettstown 22
Section 3
Beth-Center 51, Jefferson-Morgan 27
Chartiers-Houston 60, California 25
Section 4
Riverview 51, Apollo-Ridge 33
Winchester Thurston 64, Frazier 27
CLASS 1A
Section 1
Leechburg 35, Eden Christian 34
St. Joseph 60, Aquinas Academy 54
Western Beaver 34, Sewickley Academy 27
Union 54, Springdale 16
Section 2
Clairton 60, Bishop Canevin 35
Geibel Catholic 61, Avella 36
Serra Catholic 59, Mapletown 19
West Greene 58, Monessen 13
Non-section
Bethel Park 72, West Allegheny 61
Penn-Trafford 65, Plum 26
Steve is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at srotstein@unionprogress.com.