Trevor Kovatch connected on 5 of 6 free throws in the final 22 seconds to rally Belle Vernon from a 59-58 deficit to a 63-59 victory against Elizabeth Forward in a Class 4A Section 3 game played Friday at Belle Vernon.
The victory earned Belle Vernon coach Joe Salvino his 731st victory, which moves him to second on the all-time WPIAL basketball coaches list, ahead of Ken Misiak, who had 730 while coaching at Geibel and Immaculate Conception from 1969-2008. Salvino coached 34 years at Monessen and is now in his seventh season at Belle Vernon. His record is 731-313.
Belle Vernon improved its record to 8-4 and 3-1 in the section, while Elizabeth Forward falls to 8-3 overall and 2-1 in the section.
Zion Moore played for the first time after missing the past two-plus weeks because of disciplinary reasons. He topped Belle Vernon with 22 points, while Kovatch had 19 points and three 3's. Tyler Basic scored 16 points for the Warriors and connected on five 3's, while Daniel Spence added 15 points.
Other top boys games
• Andrew Omasits scored 19 points, including 13 in the first half, to lead Seneca Valley (6-6, 3-1) to a 57-54 road upset of Class 6A No. 2 New Castle (8-1, 3-1) in Section 1, which knocks the Hurricanes from the ranks of the unbeaten. Also scoring in double figures for the Raiders were: Owen Congdon (12), Tyler Pepin (11) and Nicodemus Santapau (11). New Castle's Kai Cox topped all scorers with 20 points, including 13 in the second half, and Ralphie Blundo added 11.
• Stefano Vezio scored 12 points and Tyson Wright added 10 as South Fayette (7-3, 4-0) knocked Class 5A No. 1 Baldwin (9-1, 2-1) from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 37-32 victory in a Section 3 showdown at South Fayette. Baldwin's Nate Wesling topped all scorers with 21 points.
• Jude Rottmann scored 26 points and connected on six 3's to lead North Catholic (7-4, 3-0) to a 66-44 win against host Burrell (4-7, 1-3) in Class 4A Section 1. The Trojans outscored the Buccaneers 22-3 in the second quarter to break open a close game. Owen Maddalon added 16 points for North Catholic. Tucker Bitar topped Burrell with 13 points.
• Caden Kaiser recorded 17 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists as Class 6A No. 5 Fox Chapel (9-2, 4-0) remains unbeaten in Section 1 with a 53-39 win against host North Allegheny (5-5, 1-3). Asher White added 15 points and 8 rebounds for the Foxes. Carter Melzer topped North Allegheny with 13 points and Jon Jubeck had 11.
• Drew Wrona scored 23 points and hit five 3's, while Joey Nail added 18 points, as Class 3A No. 3 Mohawk (9-2, 3-0) remained unbeaten in Section 1 with a 70-50 road victory against Ellwood City (6-5, 3-1). Blake Logan (12) and Bobby Fadden (11) also scored in double figures for the Warriors. Ellwood City's Kaleb Servick topped all scorers with 24 points.
• Erond Jakupi poured in 26 points to lead Class 3A No. 5 Keystone Oaks (9-2, 2-0) to a 56-45 win against visiting Washington (2-7, 0-2) in Section 2. Joseph Colton had a triple-double for the Golden Eagles with 14 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists. Vincent Johnson had 12 points for the Little Prexies. Keystone Oaks outscored Washington 18-8 in the final quarter.
Top girls games
• Izzy Bobitski hit a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left to lead Canon-McMillan (6-5, 1-1) to a 54-51 upset of Class 6A No. 2 Mt. Lebanon (6-4, 1-1) in a Section 2 game played at Canon-McMillan. Samantha Miller topped the Big Macs with 18 points and five 3's, while Lauren Borella and Madison Clair added 13 and 11 points respectively. Cali Green topped Mt. Lebanon with 17 points, while Payton Collins and Riley Collins each had 13.
• Natalie Wetzel scored 14 points and Mara Radulovich added 10 as Peters Township (10-1, 3-0) posted a 51-33 win against Trinity (6-4, 1-3) in Class 5A Section 4. Sutton Williamson had 10 points for Trinity. The Indians led 24-12 at halftime.
• Gracie Cato scored 19 points to lead Class 6A No. 5 Seneca Valley (7-4, 2-0) to a 54-25 domination of host North Hills (3-7, 0-2) in Section 1. Brooke Dufford added 12 points for the Raiders.
First Published: January 4, 2025, 3:41 a.m.
Updated: January 4, 2025, 3:48 a.m.
