Imani Christian became the first team this season to score 60 or more points on the Upper St. Clair boys basketball team. But the Saints did more than get offensive against the Panthers.
Imani Christian won.
In one of the biggest upsets in the WPIAL this season, Imani Christian defeated Upper St. Clair, 63-58, in a WPIAL Class 6A Section 2 game Thursday night at Community College of Allegheny County.
It was only the second loss of the year for Upper St. Clair (17-2 overall, 11-1 in section), the Post-Gazette's No. 1-ranked Class 6A team. The other was to Montour, the No. 1 team in 5A. Imani Christian is now 12-6 and 10-2.
Upper St. Clair came in allowing only 38 points a game. But Imani Christian nearly reached that by halftime as it took a 37-30 lead. Imani Christian extended its advantage to 54-44 after three quarters.
The first time the two teams met, Upper St. Clair dominated the Saints, 74-32.
Other top boys game
• Jacob Dunkle scored 21 points and reached the 1,000-career point plateau as Trinity (9-8) posted a 53-46 win against Hampton (10-9) in a non-section game played at Hampton. Jonah Williamson chipped in 16 points for the Hillers. Griffin Jarrell led Hampton with 21 points and five 3s, while Gavin Guinn added 14.
Top girls games
• Norwin rallied from a 21-18 halftime deficit to record a 52-43 win against Mt. Lebanon in a Class 6A Section 2 showdown that featured two ranked teams. The top-ranked Knights (11-6, 7-1) outscored the No. 4 ranked Blue Devils (11-8, 4-4), 34-22, in the second half in a game played at Norwin. Ava Christopher led Norwin with 15 points, while Kendall Berger and Averi Brozeski added 14 and 11 respectively. Mt. Lebanon's Payton Collins led all scorers with 17 points.
• Emily Betsinger and Addy Hutton each scored 17 points to lead Indiana (15-3, 9-1) to a 62-57 overtime victory against host at Latrobe (10-8, 6-4) in Class 5A Section 2. Julia Antonacci added 11 points for the Little Indians. Maggie Maiers topped Latrobe with 17 points, while Carley Berk had 16. Indiana outscored the Wildcats 9-4 in the overtime period.
• In a battle of Class 1A ranked teams, top-ranked Union (18-0, 11-0) clinched the Section 1 title with a 50-31 home victory against No. 5 St. Joseph (12-5, 8-2). Kylie Fruehstorfer led the Scotties with 18 points, four 3s and four assists, while Olivia Benedict tallied 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Gia Richter topped the Spartans with 11 points.
• Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (17-2, 12-0), ranked No. 2 in Class 3A, remained unbeaten in Section 1 with a 56-40 win against visiting Riverside (12-8, 7-5). Leah Parker (14), Lola Garner (13) and Claudia Ierullo (12) scored in double figures for the Chargers. Delana Fox topped Riverside with 13 points, while Emma Meyer contributed 12.
• Annsley Baker (20), Ava Wright (16), Emerson Connelly (14) and Bridget Mayo (10) scored in double figures as Class 4A No. 5 Beaver (14-4, 8-2) recorded a 67-63 overtime victory against visiting Central Valley (12-7, 6-4) in Section 2.
• Tiara Curry scored 21 points for Seton LaSalle, while Libby Michalski chipped in 12.as the Rebels (13-5, 9-1) remained tied for first place in Class 3A Section 3 with a 58-51 road victory against Washington (7-11, 4-6). Olivia Woods scored 21 points, and Kyndra Wynn added 13 points for the Little Prexies.
• Karis Thomas and Cassie Sauer combined for 47 points as Class 3A No. 1 Shady Side Academy (19-0, 12-0) remained unbeaten with a 71-31 domination of visiting Deer Lakes (12-7, 7-5) in Section 2. Thomas had 24 points, including 13 in the first half. Sauer had 23, including 17 in the first half. Anna Clark topped Deer Lakes with 14 points.
• Jazlyn Martino scored 16 points as Class 2A No. 2 Fort Cherry (16-2, 8-0) remained unbeaten in Section 2 with a 53-33 win against host Burgettstown (7-12, 3-5). Also scoring in double figures for the Rangers were: Brooke Cornali (13) and Olivia Kemp (10). The Blue Devils were led by Paige Klodowski (15) and Savanna Rush (12).
• Serra Catholic's Bella Dumbroski scored 31 points and Monessen's Madison Johnson countered with 27, but the Class No. 3 ranked Eagles (13-6, 11-2) came away with a 61-45 Section 2 win against host Greyhounds (4-13, 2-11). Abby Genes added 17 points for Serra, while Na’Jaziah Carter had 14 for Monessen.
• Laney Wagner scored 20 points and Hannah York added 13 to lead 3A No. 4 Keystone Oaks (15-1, 8-1) to a 45-34 road victory against Brownsville (11-8, 4-6) in Section 3. Skyler Gates tallied 16 points for the Falcons.
• Lynsey Bernotas scored 19 points and Mary Vargo added 13 as Baldwin (11-8, 6-4) clinched a WPIAL playoff berth with a 63-23 win against host Uniontown (5-13, 1-8) in Class 5A Section 4. The Fighting Highlanders led 44-10 at halftime. Charley Murtha led Uniontown with 13 points.
• Torrie DeStefano recorded 12 points and 10 steals as 5A No. 3 Penn-Trafford (19-0, 10-0) remained unbeaten with a 63-23 win against visiting McKeesport (5-15, 2-9) in Section 2. Kam Pieper added 11 points for the Warriors, who opened the game with a 17-0 run. Emily Eisenberg led the Tigers with 8 points.
• Addison Musto (14), Alyssa Bridges (10), and Anna Novelli (10) scored in double figures to lead Franklin Regional (14-5) to a 52-37 win against visiting Hampton (9-8) in a non-section game. Hampton's Harper Gibbons led all scorers with 15 points.
First Published: January 31, 2025, 4:18 a.m.
Updated: January 31, 2025, 4:19 a.m.