Greensburg Salem (7-3) has been playing in the Mount Pleasant Tournament for about six years, and every year, the Lions meet up with the host team.
According to Greensburg Salem girls basketball coach Rick Klimchock, it’s always a highly contested game. This year, Greensburg Salem came out on top against Mount Pleasant (0-9), 44-33, on Saturday.
“It was a good game,” he said. “Every time we play Mount Pleasant, it’s a tough, physical, competitive game. Today was no different. It was an evenly contested game.”
Lions junior guard Mya Heasley had a 20-point performance, with five converted 3-pointers. Klimchock called her outing against Mount Pleasant “terrific.”
“She made clutch, important 3s in both halves,” Klimchock said. “She had a sparkling performance. She’s one of the top 3-point shooters in the WPIAL.”
Klimchock said that the tournament – where Greensburg Salem won both of its games, including a Thursday victory against Connellsville – gave his side plenty to learn from as the team heads back to Class 5A Section 2 play.
“We saw some things we need to clean up and fix. We are still trying to figure out playing roles for all our players, and our style of play – do we want to press more, do we want to run it or walk it up,” Klimchock said. “This tournament gave us a little better of an idea. I was pleased that the girls competed hard both nights. We’re in the middle of the holidays; it’s a sacrifice for the kids. They’re missing evenings with their friends and family to do basketball, so I appreciate the girls have been committed.”
Other games
• Four double-digit scorers propelled Oakland Catholic (5-2) to a 60-44 victory against Holiday Bash Tournament hosts North Allegheny (2-6). Junior guard Zephaniah Troxler-Scott led the way with 16 points, while Savannah Daye added 13, Madison Pullen knocked down 11 and Makayla Canty went for 10. Defense was on full display for Oakland Catholic as the Eagles held the Tigers to nine points in the first quarter and four points in the fourth quarter.
• Keystone Oaks (7-1) continued an impressive run in the Central Valley Roundball Classic, taking down the host team, Central Valley Warriors (5-2), 54-41. Alayna Wagner led the Golden Eagles with 21 points while Natalie Tortorella added 12. Wagner converted two 3-pointers and hit 9 of 10 from the foul line. Tortorella was perfect from the spot going 6 for 6.
• Moon Area (5-3) capitalized on a slow start and lagging finish from Armstrong (1-8) to win 40-31 in the Butler Tournament. Moon outscored Armstrong, 12-5, in the first quarter and 13-4 in the fourth quarter. Jayla Brown led the Tigers with 16 points while Maria Depner added 10. For Armstrong, Isabella Yancy produced 17.
• Freedom Area (2-6) bounced back in the Burgettstown Tournament with a big 59-26 win against Monessen (3-4). Seniors carried the Bulldogs, as Olivia Henderson led with 21 points, including two converted 3-pointers, while Riley Tokar added 13 and Annabelle Komlos provided 10. Madison Johnson led the Monessen Greyhounds with 16 points while Na’jaziah Carter went for 10.
• Seneca Valley (6-4) and Plum (2-7) battled in the first game of the Peter Sauer Memorial Tournament at Shady Side Academy. The Raiders clinched a narrow 71-65 victory against the Mustangs. Junior guard Natalie Hambly recorded 23 points while freshman forward Reece McFadden added 21 to lead the Raiders. The loss was Plum’s third consecutive.
• Maelee Hill was the game’s highest scorer, with 16 points, in Laurel’s clash with Riverside in the Shenango Tournament. Laurel (4-6) was four points away from a class-upset game, as the Spartans sit in Class 2A while the Panthers are in Class 3A. However, Riverside (7-4) came on top, winning 44-41, thanks to a 13-point performance from Emma Meyer and 10 from Danielle Rosenberger.
• North Hills (3-6) earned a much-needed win against Hampton (7-3), 64-31, before teams head back to section play next week. The Indians snapped a five-game losing streak, thanks to Gia Minto’s 20 points and Delaney Amato’s 19.
First Published: December 28, 2024, 11:48 p.m.
