Monday basketball rundown: Upper St. Clair girls surge to comeback win at Chartiers Valley

With his team trailing at halftime of a pivotal Class 6A Section 2 clash against Chartiers Valley, Upper St. Clair girls coach Pete Serio didn’t panic.

After all, with a battle-tested and veteran group in his locker room that knows how to win big games, why should Serio worry about a little halftime deficit?

Despite a quiet game from standout forward Kate Robbins, the Panthers (9-2, 4-0) stormed back in the second half to pick up a crucial 65-53 road win. Sophomore Rylee Kalocay led all scorers with 21 points, while Mia Brown finished with 19 and Samantha Prunzik added 16.

“We had to really regroup and come out and fight and show our character, because Chartiers Valley played really well. They shot it well and they’re a well-rounded basketball team,” Serio said. “We just had to regroup and refocus and bring some toughness in the second half.”

Ella Cupka and Ava Shazer each scored 11 points to go with 10 apiece from Emma Reynolds and Lilah Turnbull, but it wasn’t enough for the Colts (6-4, 2-2) to hold off the surging Panthers. Upper St. Clair now has won each of its past three games by at least 12 points, with all three wins coming against section rivals Peters Township, Mt. Lebanon and Chartiers Valley — not to mention two of the three wins coming on the road.

“Our section is really difficult. If you don’t come ready to play, somebody is going to come get you,” Serio said. “Everybody is coming at us. To play Peters, Lebo and Char Valley three in a row, I’m happy with where we are.”

Other girls games

• Elsewhere in Class 6A Section 2, Payton Collins and Anna Streiff scored a team-leading 12 points apiece and Jenny Smith chipped in 10 to lead Mt. Lebanon (8-4, 4-1) to a 55-50 win against Peters Township. Natalie Walker led all scorers with 25 points for the Indians (8-5, 2-2) to go with 18 from Gemma Walker.

• Cate Clark led a balanced attack for Serra Catholic (6-1, 3-1) that saw five players score 8-plus points in a 60-22 win against Clairton (5-2, 3-1). Clarke scored 20 points to lead the Eagles along with 14 from Ashley German. Iyanna Wade scored all 22 points for the Bears.

• Mya Morgan paced four players in double figures for Greensburg Central Catholic (11-2, 4-0) with a game-high 16 points in a 59-37 win against Berlin Brothersvalley. Erica Gribble added 13 points, Avery Davis contributed 12 and Cara Dupilka finished with 10 for the Centurions.

Three stars

*** — Rakiyah Porter had 23 points to lead all scorers in a 57-28 home win for California against Bentworth.

** — Mallory Daly finished with 27 points to help Seton LaSalle break open a 41-41 tie in the fourth quarter en route to a 54-46 victory at South Allegheny.

* — Angel Henry scored a game-high 32 points for Aliquippa to guide the Quips to a 51-46 victory against host Rochester.

Hot from deep

Players with 3 or more 3-pointers: Addison Blair, Waynesburg, 4; Elle Snyder, Latrobe, 4; Mya Glisan, Albert Gallatin, 3.

Boys scores

Berlin Brothersvalley 75, Greensburg Central Catholic 55

Propel Andrew Street 51, Beaver County Christian 45

Slippery Rock 64, Ellwood City 22

Girls scores

Aliquippa 51, Rochester 46

Apollo-Ridge 50, Deer Lakes 43

Armstrong 52, Hampton 32

Baldwin 44, Canon-McMillan 42

Beaver 38, Central Valley 29

Belle Vernon 56, Laurel Highlands 41

Bishop Canevin 49, Eden Christian 38

Blackhawk 87, Ambridge 14

Brentwood 39, Carlynton 33

Burgettstown 43, Fort Cherry 36

Burrell 55, Ligonier Valley 33

California 57, Bentworth 28

Charleroi 70, South Park 60

Chartiers-Houston 51, Frazier 26

Elizabeth Forward 54, River Valley 53

Ellis School 40, Steel Valley 23

Geibel Catholic 28, Mapletown 25

Greensburg Central Catholic 59, Berlin Brothersvalley 37

Highlands 57, Derry 22

Indiana 51, Franklin Regional 27

Keystone Oaks 55, Avonworth 48

Knoch 46, Greensburg Salem 41

Latrobe 51, Albert Gallatin 44

Laurel 47, Beaver Falls 40

Lincoln Park 58, Moon 25

Mars 35, Shaler 34

McGuffey 57, Brownsville 13

Mohawk 62, Ellwood City 43

Mt. Lebanon 55, Peters Township 50

Neshannock 60, Riverside 16

New Castle 55, North Hills 53

North Catholic 74, Valley 27

Norwin 53, Hempfield 29

Our Lady of Sacred Heart 54, East Allegheny 7

Pine-Richland 50, Seneca Valley 41

Propel Montour 65, Calvary Chapel Christian 16

Quaker Valley 50, Hopewell 24

Ringgold 50, Uniontown 49

Riverview 42, Jeannette 25

Serra Catholic 60, Clairton 22

Seton LaSalle 54, South Allegheny 46

Sewickley Academy 44, New Brighton 15

Shady Side Academy 67, Mount Pleasant 34

Shenango 49, South Side 23

South Fayette 66, Montour 40

Sto-Rox 65, Northgate 30

Trinity 58, West Allegheny 34

Union 54, Sharpsville 36

Upper St. Clair 65, Chartiers Valley 53

Washington 54, Carmichaels 37

West Mifflin 71, Southmoreland 49

Winchester Thurston 52, Springdale 18

Yough 44, Waynesburg 38