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GIRLS BASKETBALL

6A GIRLS QUARTERFINALS

Oakland Catholic 63, Mars 42

Oakland Catholic (21-3) couldn’t have scripted a better start and rolled into the semifinals with a 63-42 win over Mars (16-7) Friday night at North Allegheny High School.

Oakland Catholic could not miss in the first quarter and they’re defense was great as well creating multiple turnovers with their full court press as they scored the first 16 points in the game. They led 25-4 after a quarter of play and 36-13 at the half.

Oakland Catholic got the lead up to 30 in the second half triggering the running clock. Mars made a push in the fourth quarter outscoring Oakland Catholic 16-9 but it was too late as Oakland Catholic won the game 63-42.

Alexa Washington had 19 points for Oakland Catholic while Rachel Haver had 13 points. Olivia Donnelly led Mars with 19 points while Vita Vargo added 10 points.

Oakland Catholic advances to the WPIAL 5A Girls Semifinals where they will take on McKeesport on Tuesday at a site and time to be determined. Oakland Catholic swept the regular season series.

Woodland Hills 51, Trinity 40

The Cinderella story continues for 12^th-seeded Woodland Hills (13-11) as they pulled off another upset 51-40 over 4^th-seeded Trinity (16-7) on Friday night at Mt. Lebanon High School.

Woodland Hills started the season 1-6 but finished the season winners of eight of their last 10 contests. After trailing by 13 points in the first round game against Armstrong, the Wolverines found themselves down double figures once again as they trailed 17-7 in the second quarter. They were able to pull within four at 25-21 at half, and get some momentum going into the locker room.

From there, Woodland Hills would dominate the second half outscoring Trinity 10-3 in the third quarter and 20-12 in the fourth quarter en route to a 51-40 quarterfinal victory.

Cierra Guest had 12 points and 11 rebounds for Woodland Hills. Hope Hawkins and Jhalynn Wilson each had 12 points as well. Carmen Vasquez added 10 points. Eden Williamson led Trinity with 19 points while Macie Justice had 10 points.

Woodland Hills advances to the WPIAL 5A Girls Semifinals where they will take on top-seeded South Fayette on Tuesday at a site and time to be determined.

South Fayette 70, Penn-Trafford 49

Same old story for top-seeded South Fayette (22-2) as they jumped all over Penn-Trafford (16-8) in the first quarter getting out to a 16-8 lead and never looked back as they methodically just continued to separate from Penn-Trafford, and coasted to a 70-49 win Friday night at Peters Township High School.

Maddie Webber had 39 points for South Fayette while Ava Leroux netted 11 points. Olivia Pepple had 22 points for Penn-Trafford. Lauren Marton pitched in 17 points.

South Fayette advances to the WPIAL 5A Girls Semifinals where they will take on Cinderella story Woodland Hills on Tuesday at a site and time to be determined.

McKeesport 55, Hampton 44

McKeesport (20-4) trailed by 10 in the third quarter but after a timeout, came out of the huddle a completely different team and outscored Hampton (15-9) by 21 the rest of the way for a 55-44 win on Friday night at Fox Chapel Hight School.

Both teams seemed to be feeling each other out in the first quarter as we were tied 14-14 after one. A 9-0 run by Hampton in the second quarter gave them a 24-18 lead with about four minutes remaining in the second quarter. Hampton got the lead all the way up to double digits at 32-22 in the third quarter, but McKeesport would immediately respond with a 14-2 run that would give them the 36-34 lead. Hampton’s Claire Rodgers hit a buzzer-beater the end the third quarter and it was 36-36 heading into the final frame.

McKeesport’s defense would take it from here as they held Hampton to 18% shooting in the fourth quarter. Hampton hung around though and even took the lead back at 44-43 with three minutes to go in the game. The offense woke back up for McKeesport as they would go on a 12-0 run to finish the game and come away with the 55-44 victory.

Kaylee Charles had 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead McKeesport. Rachael Manfredo added 16 points. Meghan Murray had 20 points for Hampton including her 1,000^th career point. Claire Rodgers netted 10.

McKeesport advances to the WPIAL Girls 5A Semifinals for the second straight year where they will take on Oakland Catholic on Tuesday at a site and time to be determined. Oakland Catholic swept the regular season series.