The first game of Friday’s season-opening Moon Tournament featured two teams that played in the WPIAL girls basketball finals last season. And both teams entered the 2022-23 season ranked No. 1 in their class by the Post-Gazette.
South Fayette, the defending WPIAL Class 5A champion, posted a 45-39 victory against Upper St. Clair, last season’s WPIAL Class 6A runner-up.
Ava Leroux led the Lions with 15 points, while teammate Maddie Webber contributed 10.
Other girls games
* Shaye Bailey scored 12 of her 15 points in the first half, while teammate Julie Mohrbacher tallied nine of her 11 points in the second half to lead Class 2A No. 1 Freedom to a 46-44 win against Hopewell in the South Side Beaver Tournament. The Bulldogs rallied from a 27-20 halftime deficit by outscoring the Vikings 26-17 in the second half. Lauryn Speicher had 14 points for Hopewell.
* Coach Mike Semplice had a successful debut for Chartiers Valley as the Colts dominated Elizabeth Forward, 67-36, at the Keystone Oaks Tournament. Ella Cupka tallied 23 points for the Colts, while teammate Lilah Turnbull added 15. Alyssa Terza led the Warriors with 15 points.
* Kiski Area outscored Class 4A No. 3 Knoch 32-13 in the second half to rally from a seven-point halftime deficit and defeat the Knights 50-38 in the Armstrong Tournament. Abbie Johns and Lexiann Colaianni each had 15 points for the Cavaliers, while Megan Vasas tallied 12 points for the Knights.
* Class 5A No. 4 Oakland Catholic, with new coach Eddie Benton at the helm, opened the season with a 66-40 win against visiting Bethel Park in a non-section game. The Eagles had four players score in double figures: Halena Hill (15), London Creech (13), Rachel Haver (11) and Alexa Washington (11). Mary Boff had 13 for the Black Hawks.
* Bishop Canevin, ranked No. 1 in Class 1A, faced Lincoln Park, a Class 4A school, in the Fort Cherry Tip-Off Tournament and was defeated 59-38. Lincoln Park had three players score in double figures: Aizlyn Thompson (15), Maddie Syka (13) and J’La Kizart (12).
* Coach Shawn Bennis picked up his first win as Class 4A No. 4 Highlands defeated Fox Chapel, 36-29, in the Freeport Tip-Off Tournament. Kalleigh Nerone and Zoey Celko led the Golden Rams with eight points each. Skye Byrnes had 10 points for the Foxes.
* Riley Stephens hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Plum a 49-48 win against Freeport at the Freeport Tournament. The Mustangs rallied from a 33-22 halftime deficit. Megan Marston led Plum with 16 points. Freeport’s Ava Soilis led all scorers with 19 points.
* Mairan Haggerty scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while teammate Megan Pallerino tallied 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead Class 3A No. 1 Neshannock to a 47-24 win against Wilmington at the Karns City Tournament. Lia Krarup led Wilmington with 12 points.
* Gemma Walker scored 23 points and Natalie Wetzel tallied 16 for Class 6A No. 4 Peters Township in a 65-49 win against Thomas Jefferson at the Baldwin/Peters Township Tournament. Thomas Jefferson’s Layken Flinn led all scorers with 27 points.
Stars of the Night
* Iyanna Wade scored a career high 49 points, all but three points for Clairton in a 52-30 win against Westinghouse in the Play 4 Mae Tournament at Woodland Hills. DeAsia Boyd led Westinghouse with 12 points.
* Haley Kostorick connected on eight 3-pointers and finished with 31 points to lead Shaler to a 70-49 win against Seton LaSalle at the Play 4 Mae Tournament at Woodland Hills. Hanna DeJidas added 13 points for the Titans. Mallory Daly led the Rebels with 18 points.
* Julie Spinelli tallied 29 points to lead Class 1A No. 3 St. Joseph’s to a 54-48 win against Class 4A No. 5 Belle Vernon at the Play 4 Mae Tournament at Woodland Hills. Belle Vernon’s Kenzi Seliga scored 32 points.
First Published: December 3, 2022, 3:36 a.m.
Updated: December 3, 2022, 3:54 a.m.
