South Allegheny recorded its 12th consecutive win to start the season Friday, the same night its star player made history by breaking the program’s long-standing career scoring record.
Bryce Epps poured in 31 points to lead South Allegheny to a 68-42 win against visiting Quaker Valley in Class 4A Section 4.
A senior guard, Epps’ basket with 1:18 left broke a 40-year-old record held by Mike Kurka. Epps (1,632 points) now has one more point than Kurka, a 1983 graduate. Kurka was at the game and posed for photos with Epps afterward. Epps is averaging 23 points a game.
South Allegheny (12-0, 4-0) is one of only three remaining unbeaten teams in the WPIAL. Lincoln Park and Union are the others. Quaker Valley dropped to 7-4 overall, 3-1 in section play.
Other boys games
• Central Catholic (6-5, 3-1) picked up its second big win in a row, 55-33 against visiting Butler (10-3, 2-2) in Class 6A Section 1. Cole Sullivan scored a team-high 16 points for the Vikings, who handed New Castle its first loss on Tuesday. Braylon Littlejohn led Butler with 10 points. Butler shot just 23% from the field (10 of 42).
• Eden Christian (10-2, 4-0) took over first place in Class 2A Section 2 after dealing Bishop Canevin (10-1, 3-1) its first loss of the season, 66-44. The host Warriors outscored Canevin, 31-15, in the first quarter. Ryan Merrick led the Warriors with 17 points, while Shea Champine paced Canevin with 25.
• Royce Parham made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give North Hills (10-2, 4-0) a 62-61 win against visiting South Fayette (6-6, 0-4) in Class 5A Section 4. It was another big night for Parham, who finished with 34 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks. Michael Plasko led South Fayette with 29 points.
• Brandon Bell hit the winning 3-pointer with three seconds left to give West Allegheny (6-8, 1-3) a thrilling 53-50 overtime win against visiting Moon (6-5, 2-2) in Class 5A Section 4. Bell finished with a game-high 18 points. Aiden Reesman led Moon with 13 points.
• Also in Class 5A Section 4, Tasso Sfanos poured in 31 points to lead Mars (9-2, 3-1) to a surprising 71-34 home rout of Chartiers Valley (12-2, 2-2). Ryan Ceh added 17 points for the Planets, while Drew Sleva led Chartiers Valley with 14 points. The Colts have dropped two straight.
• Bethel Park (9-3, 4-0) claimed sole possession of first place in Class 5A Section 1 by defeating visiting Thomas Jefferson (7-5, 3-1), 82-71. Shawn Davis led the Black Hawks with 24 points and Ben Guffey and Michael Mathias added 18 points apiece.
• Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (11-2, 5-0) rolled to an 80-52 home win against Seton LaSalle (3-8, 2-3) in Class 3A Section 2. Rocco Spadafora led the Chargers with 30 points and Bryson Kirschner added 12. Connor Spratt scored 16 for Seton LaSalle.
Girls games
• Malina Boord’s six 3-pointers and 20 points helped McKeesport (12-1, 5-0) win its 10th game in a row following a 59-35 win at Penn-Trafford (9-3, 3-2) in Class 5A Section 3. Rachael Manfredo added 15 points for the Tigers, while Olive Pepple paced Penn-Trafford with 15.
• Chartiers Valley (7-4, 3-2) handed host Peters Township (8-6, 2-3) its fourth consecutive loss, 56-54, in Class 6A Section 2. Emma Reynolds paced the Colts with 18 points and Ella Cupka added 15. Natalie Wetzel scored 23 for Peters Township.
• Emily Beaumont’s 20 points helped South Allegheny (6-7) defeat Clairton (5-4), 52-40, in the MVI Shootout at California University. Iyanna Wade scored 32 points for Clairton, including all 26 of the Bears’ points in the second half.
Three stars
*** — Landon Butler, Latrobe. Butler scored 17 points, including the 1,000th of his career, while helping Latrobe capture a 66-63 win at Penn-Trafford. Butler joins brothers Austin and Bryce as 1,000-point scorers.
** — Eli Teslovich, Shady Side Academy. Teslovich scored the go-ahead basket with 18 seconds left and finished with a game-high 23 points in a 66-63 win against Derry.
* — Kevin Mickens, Nazareth Prep. Mickens scored a game-high 34 points to propel Nazareth Prep past Propel Braddock Hills, 69-66, in double overtime.
Hot from deep
Players with 3 or more 3-pointers: Malina Boord, McKeesport, 6; Lucas Garofoli, Mt. Lebanon, 5; Yukon Daniels, Mount Pleasant, 5; Sophia Nath, Bethel Park, 4; Anthony Sciote, North Allegheny, 4; Julian Vizzoca, Shaler, 4; Jack Valasek, Armstrong, 3; Jason Zellie, Beth-Center, 3; Aiden Reesman, Moon, 3; T.J. Belles, Shaler, 3.
Boys scores
Allderdice 63, Carrick 33
Beaver 74, Ambridge 51
Bentworth 76, Beth-Center 71
Bethel Park 82, Thomas Jefferson 71
Carlynton 53, Avella 18
Central Catholic 55, Butler 33
Eden Christian 66, Bishop Canevin 44
Fort Cherry 80, Carmichaels 50
Fox Chapel 55, Woodland Hills 45
Greensburg Central Catholic 59, Clairton 54
Keystone Oaks 65, Brentwood 58
Latrobe 66, Penn-Trafford 63
Laurel Highlands 74, Southmoreland 53
Mars 71, Chartiers Valley 34
Montour 55, Avonworth 42
Mt. Lebanon 69, Norwin 50
Mount Pleasant 59, Waynesburg 42
Nazareth Prep 69, Propel Braddock Hills 66 (2 OT)
New Castle 55, Pine-Richland 49
North Hills 62, South Fayette 61 (OT)
Riverside 59, Freedom 43
Seneca Valley 64, North Allegheny 42
Shady Side Academy 66, Derry 63
Shaler 62, Armstrong 55
Union 69, Rochester 44
Upper St. Clair 65, Canon-McMillan 39
West Allegheny 53, Moon 50
Girls scores
Baldwin 49, Bethel Park 46
Chartiers Valley 56, Peters Township 54
McKeesport 59, Penn-Trafford 35
South Allegheny 52, Clairton 40
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.