New Castle certainly took its move up to Class 6A in stride, winning its first 10 games in to start the season — but the Red Hurricanes finally met their match Tuesday night.
Shaking off a slow start to a season that came with gaudy expectations, Central Catholic (5-5, 2-1) used its stifling defense to control the game from start to finish on its way to a 56-45 win at historic New Castle Field House.
The Vikings received big-time performances from Debaba Tshiebwe (18 points) and Tommy Kristian (17 points), while New Castle (10-1, 2-1) struggled to overcome an injury to leading scorer Isaiah Boice, whose foot was broken Friday night against Butler.
“I told the guys, ‘You have to believe in your ability to play defense. We are a defensive-minded team. That’s our identity,” said Central Catholic coach Brian Urso. “We understand the tradition [at New Castle], the program, the success. … They accepted the challenge, and we just had a look in the locker room that we’re here to compete.”
After taking a 27-16 lead into the break, the Vikings padded their lead with a barrage of 3-pointers in the third quarter. At one point the Vikings stretched their lead to 18. Urso pointed to Payton Wehner as another player who gave Central Catholic a much-needed spark in a game when leading scorer Dante DePante took a backseat to some of his teammates.
“We told our guys that this game here can mean a lot more than a big section win,” Urso said. “To go and do that will just give us that burst of confidence and belief. … The atmosphere was exceptional, a packed house, which we expected.
“We just knew it was going to be a fight, and our guys were ready for the challenge.”
Other boys games
• The final unbeaten team in Class 5A also met the same fate as New Castle as Moon (6-4, 2-1) handed visiting Chartiers Valley its first loss, 54-46. Elijah Guillory led three players in double figures for the Tigers with 20 points, while Jayden Davis scored a game-high 24 for the Colts (12-1, 2-1).
• In a thrilling matchup that required two overtime periods between heated rivals, Mt. Lebanon outlasted visiting Upper St. Clair (7-6, 2-1) for a 74-69 win. Michael Pfeuffer converted six 3-pointers and scored a game-high 24 points for the Blue Devils (8-4, 3-0), who also got points 15 from Tanner Donati and 14 from Nate Girod. Matthew Gaither led four double-digit scorers for the Panthers with 20 points.
• Emory Moye scored a game-high 25 points and Owen Luellen added 14 to snap a five-game losing streak for Pine-Richland (3-8, 1-2) in a dramatic 59-58 victory against Seneca Valley (4-7, 1-2). One of three players to reach double figures for the Raiders, Luke Lawson finished with a team-high 18 points to go with 17 from Andrew Roy and 15 from Connor Oros.
• Joe DeMoss finished with a game-high 26 points and Isiah Petty contributed 21 for Serra Catholic in a back-and-forth 82-79 win against Riverview. The Eagles (6-6, 3-2) trailed at halftime, 38-24, before scoring 29 points in both the third and fourth quarters to storm back for the win. Nate Sprajcar scored a team-leading 24 points and Amberson Bauer added 21 for the Raiders (9-3, 2-2), who had five players reach double figures.
Girls games
• Halena Hill scored a game-high 22 points, Jill Gallo added 18 and Alexa Washington chipped in with 12 in a 61-43 win for Oakland Catholic (11-2, 5-0) against Penn-Trafford. Olivia Pepple and Torrie Destefano finished with 10 points apiece for the Warriors (9-2, 3-1).
• Avi Menifee and Maddy Hertzler scored 13 points apiece and Rachael Manfredo tacked on 10 for McKeesport (11-1, 4-0) in a 71-47 home win against Thomas Jefferson. Laekyn Flinn led all scorers with 15 points for the Jaguars (6-6, 1-3).
Three stars
*** — Terek Crosby kept up his stellar scoring pace with a 34-point effort for Yough, leading the Cougars to a 75-40 win against Mount Pleasant.
** — Shea Champine outdueled Giontae Clemmons (33 points) of Propel Braddock Hills with 40 points, including five 3-pointers, to lead Bishop Canevin to a 67-62 road win.
* — Makhai Valentine is already having a season for the ages for Steel Valley, and the star senior turned in his most memorable performance to date with a career-high 51 points in an 86-47 win against Sto-Rox.
Hot from deep
Players with 3 or more 3-pointers: Michael Pfeuffer, Mt. Lebanon, 6; Shea Champine, Bishop Canevin, 5; Donovan Carney, Butler, 3; Giontae Clemmons, Propel Braddock Hills, 3; Joshua Gimbel, Pine-Richland, 3; Connor Oros, Seneca Valley, 3; Michael Vaughn, Bishop Canevin, 3.
Boys scores
Aliquippa 62, Northgate 51
Allderdice 75, Perry 32
Armstrong 41, Fox Chapel 39
Avella 51, Cornell 31
Baldwin 72, Norwin 48
Beaver Falls 64, Freedom 27
Bethel Park 81, Connellsville 57
Bishop Canevin 67, Propel Braddock Hills 62
Blackhawk 66, Ambridge 53
Brashear 51, Obama 47
Burgettstown 73, Bentworth 58
Butler 63, North Allegheny 50
Carlynton 65, Rochester 47
Carmichaels 77, Frazier 59
Carrick 57, Westinghouse 55
Central Catholic 56, New Castle 45
Charleroi 72, Beth-Center 33
Deer Lakes 87, Apollo-Ridge 33
Derry 47, Valley 38
Eden Christian 69, Propel Montour 10
Elizabeth Forward 82, Albert Gallatin 73
Fort Cherry 54, Chartiers-Houston 48
Franklin Regional 52, Latrobe 39
Gateway 65, Kiski Area 43
Geibel Catholic 93, Mapletown 66
Hampton 63, Freeport 35
Hempfield 46, Canon-McMillan 44
Highlands 95, Greensburg Salem 28
Imani Christian 110, Aquinas Academy 77
Jeannette 39, Clairton 34
Jefferson-Morgan 60, California 52
Knoch 62, Indiana 59
Laurel 44, Sewickley Academy 42
Laurel Highlands 69, Belle Vernon 64
Lincoln Park 84, Hopewell 62
Mars 49, South Fayette 48
McGuffey 42, Brownsville 36
McKeesport 65, Penn-Trafford 59
Mohawk 66, Riverside 31
Monessen 74, West Greene 47
Moon 54, Chartiers Valley 46
Mt. Lebanon 74, Upper St. Clair 69 (2OT)
Nazareth Prep 37, Winchester Thurston 32
Neshannock 79, New Brighton 34
North Catholic 74, Central Valley 63
North Hills 77, West Allegheny 45
Our Lady of Sacred Heart 53, South Park 26
Penn Hills 54, Shaler 46
Pine-Richland 59, Seneca Valley 58
Plum 58, Woodland Hills 52
Quaker Valley 59, Avonworth 39
Serra Catholic 82, Riverview 79
Seton LaSalle 64, Brentwood 55
Shady Side Academy 78, Ligonier Valley 52
Shenango 70, South Side 44
South Allegheny 61, West Mifflin 47
Springdale 69, Leechburg 65
Steel Valley 86, Sto-Rox 47
Summit Academy 66, St. Joseph 65
Thomas Jefferson 61, Trinity 59
Union 72, Western Beaver 38
Uniontown 85, Southmoreland 40
Washington 65, Waynesburg 21
Yough 75, Mount Pleasant 40
Girls scores
Allderdice 63, Perry 49
Beth-Center 58, Jefferson-Morgan 37
Brentwood 54, Sto-Rox 42
Connellsville 64, Southmoreland 25
Fox Chapel 60, Elizabeth Forward 50
McKeesport 71, Thomas Jefferson 47
North Allegheny 64, Butler 47
Oakland Catholic 61, Penn-Trafford 43
Obama 58, Brashear 21
Penn Hills 43, Plum 42
Portersville Christian 35, Ellwood City 34
Westinghouse 38, Carrick 17
Woodland Hills 61, Kiski Area 48
Steve is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at srotstein@unionprogress.com.
