Elijah Guillory continues to stake his claim as one of the top overall players in the WPIAL, and he certainly is putting together a compelling case.
After scoring only five points in the first half at North Hills on Friday night, Moon’s star senior poured in 33 of his career-high 38 points after the break — including 15 in two overtime periods — lifting the Tigers (9-2, 2-0) to a 73-60 double-overtime win at North Hills (4-6, 0-2) in an action-packed Class 5A Section 4 showdown. Moon coach Gino Palmosina has often marveled at Guillory’s brilliance and lamented his lack of recognition relative to his peers, but if it wasn’t clear to those watching before, it certainly is now.
Guillory is as good as it gets.
“He made some big plays down the stretch,” Palmosina said. “Again, I think he’s one of the most underrated players in the area. He can score at all three levels. He definitely gives us the upper hand any time he’s on the court.”
Eric James led the Indians with 29 points to go with 17 from Zach Pollaro, who buried a trio of 3-pointers. After the game, Palmosina applauded the effort level of James, a skilled sophomore with an increasingly bright future.
“The one thing I’ll say about James is, he’s just a competitor,” Palmosina said. “He competes at the highest level, and you love to see it — especially from a sophomore, the way he gets downhill. It was a great atmosphere, a great crowd, and he kind of lived up to the moment. You’ve got to give that kid a ton of credit.”
The victory marks the second consecutive overtime triumph for the Tigers, who beat South Fayette in OT two nights earlier, 54-52. Aiden Reesman tacked on 15 points in another solid outing for Moon, which now has won seven games in a row after a 1-2 start and looks to be every bit the WPIAL title contender most expected going into the season.
“He’s been massive for us,” Palmosina said about Reesman. “Not just on [the offensive] end, but defensively, as a leader, a glue guy, 15-20 [points] a game — you really can’t ask for much more out of him. I’m super proud of him. He deserves some pub.
“He usually takes a back seat to some other guys. But as a head coach, I really can’t ask for much more out of a player.”
Other boys games
• Notorious Grooms led four double-digit scorers with 29 points for unbeaten Uniontown (11-0, 2-0), which kept up its sensational start by trouncing Belle Vernon, 91-61, for a commanding home win in Class 4A Section 3. Kelan Milsom added 16 points for the Red Raiders along with 11 points apiece from Jamire Braxton and Jeremiah Hager. Zion Moore scored a team-leading 21 points for the Leopards (6-3, 1-1) to go with 11 points from Alonzo Wade and 10 from Curtis Wade.
• Defending WPIAL and PIAA Class 4A champion Lincoln Park traveled to Erie for Game 1 of the Burger King Classic at Erie Cathedral Prep, and day one was a success for the Leopards (8-2, 2-0). Meleek Thomas led four double-digit scorers with a game-high 20 points as Lincoln Park defeated Niagara Falls, N.Y., 70-56. The Leopards will remain in Erie to face Philadelphia powerhouse Neumann-Goretti at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in a rematch of the 2023 state final, won by Lincoln Park, 62-58.
• Logan Golle led five players in double figures for Allderdice with a game-high 18 points for the Dragons (7-2, 1-0), who stormed to a 28-point first-quarter lead en route to an 85-32 rout at Brashear. Major Rainey added 11 points, 7 rebounds and 6 blocks in only 12 minutes of action, while Titus Gillett tallied a team-high 14 points for the Bulls (3-7, 0-1) in the City League opener.
• After falling into a five-point halftime deficit, Mt. Lebanon (10-1, 2-0) rallied with 28 points in the third quarter en route to a 67-50 home win against Hempfield (3-9, 0-2) in Class 6A Section 2. Brody Barber scored a game-high 26 points for the Blue Devils to go with 21 from Nate Girod and 13 from Liam Sheely. Danny Husenits let the Spartans with 15 points along with 14 from Max Williams.
• Robert Thomas posted a double-double with 24 points and 13 rebounds to lead defending WPIAL Class 5A champion Penn Hills to a 66-47 home win against Armstrong (8-4, 1-1) in Class 5A Section 2. Khalil Wall added 14 points for the Indians (6-2, 1-1), while Jack Valasek led the River Hawks with 16 points.
• Star senior Peter Kramer poured in a game-high 28 points while burying six 3-pointers for Hampton, helping the Talbots (9-2, 2-0) roll to their fourth consecutive victory with a 72-31 triumph over Class 4A Section 1 foe Indiana (5-5, 1-1). Griff Jarrell and Alex Nyilas each chipped in 14 points in the one-sided victory.
• A 25-point effort from Shawn Davis along with 13 from Mike Mathias helped steer Bethel Park (7-4, 2-0) to a narrow 59-58 victory against host Trinity in Class 5A Section 1. Dante DeRubbo and Jacob Dunkle each finished with 18 points apiece for the Hillers (6-5, 1-1).
• Michael Plasko led all scorers with 25 points for South Fayette in an impressive 65-35 win against visiting Chartiers Valley (6-6, 1-1) in Class 5A Section 4. Gavin Orosz added 11 points for the Lions (5-5, 1-1), while Julian Semplice led the Colts with 10 points.
• Nate Richards led five double-digit scorers for Baldwin with a game-high 16 points, lifting the Highlanders (8-3, 1-1) to a 79-53 win over visiting Canon-McMillan in Class 6A Section 2. Eamon O’Donoghue finished with 13 points to pace the Big Macs (6-6, 1-1).
• Joey Dopirak continued his scoring tear for North Allegheny, outscoring Pine-Richland by himself with a 32-point performance for the Tigers (5-7, 2-0) in a 50-28 victory against the Rams (4-6, 0-2) in Class 6A Section 1.
• One of the WPIAL’s most consistent scorers, Lorenzo Gardner, was up to his usual tricks for Monessen (8-1, 2-0) with a game-high 27 points in a 60-41 win against visiting Jefferson-Morgan (8-4, 1-1) in Class 1A Section 2. Devontae Robinson added 10 points for the Greyhounds, while John Woodward led the Rockets with 13 points.
• David Kwiat knocked down five 3-pointers while finishing with a game-high 31 points, leading Neshannock (11-0, 4-0) to its 11th consecutive win with an 80-43 blowout at Riverside (4-8, 1-2) in Class 3A Section 1.
• Pete Burke (32 points) and Isiah Petty (26 points) combined to power Serra Catholic (6-5, 1-3) to a 77-74 win against visiting Springdale (9-3, 1-2), holding off a late rally by the Dynamos for a dramatic win in Class 2A Section 3. Mason Gent led Springdale with 29 points.
• Brady Mayo and Ty Butler combined for 59 points in Beaver’s 75-56 victory at Blackhawk (4-7, 1-2) in Class 4A Section 2. Mayo poured in a game-high 33 points to go with 26 from Butler, who drained five 3-pointers for the Bobcats (7-5, 3-1).
Girls games
• Fresh off an unforgettable game against Upper St. Clair that included a jaw-dropping buzzer-beater from beyond halfcourt, Peters Township junior Natalie Wetzel issued another vintage performance with a game-high 30 points in a 59-50 non-section win against visiting Plum (7-4, 3-0). Gemma Walker tacked on 14 points for the unbeaten Indians (12-0, 3-0), while Riley Stephans led the Mustangs with 20 points along with 12 from Megan Marston.
• Aggie Niccolai drained a trio of 3-pointers on her way to a game-high 19 points for red-hot Trinity in a 63-46 home win over Moon (7-3, 0-2) in Class 5A Section 4. Macie Justice added 14 for the Hillers (9-1, 2-0) along with 11 from Sutton Williamson. Jaedin Griggs led the Tigers with 14 points.
• Sadie Orie scored a team-high 20 points to propel Bethel Park (4-8, 1-3) to a surprising 59-43 victory against visiting Canon-McMillan (8-4, 1-2) in Class 6A Section 2. Julia Benlock added 13 points and Ella Sabatus put up 11 for the Black Hawks. Lauren Borella tallied a team-leading 17 points for the Big Macs.
• Maddy Hertzler led all scorers with 15 points for McKeesport and Rachael Manfredo finished with 12 for the Tigers (9-1, 3-0), who cruised to their fourth consecutive win with a 52-23 triumph over visiting Albert Gallatin (3-8, 0-4) in Class 5A Section 3.
• Olivia Orndoff scored a team-leading 14 points and Gabby Keough added 12 for Franklin Regional, helping the Panthers (2-8, 2-2) hold on for a nail-biting 37-36 win at Kiski Area (5-7, 1-2) in Class 5A Section 1. Gianna DeVito paced the Cavaliers with 14 points to go with 12 from Abbie Johns.
• Greta O’Brien tallied a game-high 19 points and Emma Obersteiner contributed 14 for defending WPIAL Class 3A champion Avonworth (9-1, 2-0) in a 57-27 road win at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (7-4, 0-2) in Class 3A Section 2.
Three stars
*** — Mallory Daly, Seton LaSalle. The Buffalo recruit continued her strong start to her senior season with a game-high 28 points for the Rebels in a 65-46 win against Keystone Oaks in Class 3A Section 2.
** — Brody Almashy, South Side. A standout quarterback for the Rams’ WPIAL Class 1A finalist football team, Almashy delivered a game-high 34 points in a 93-50 home win against Laurel in Class 2A Section 1.
* — Courtney Wallace, Neighborhood Academy. Known as one of Class 1A’s most dynamic players, Wallace lived up to his billing with 15 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in a 75-49 win over Aquinas Academy, posting a triple-double and surpassing 1,000 career points in the process.
Hot from deep
Players with 3 or more 3-pointers: Peter Kramer, Hampton, 6; Ty Butler, Beaver, 5; Andrew Corfield, South Side, 5; Danny Husenits, Hempfield, 5; David Kwiat, Neshannock, 5; Addie Lonergan, Seton LaSalle, 5; Julia Benlock, Bethel Park, 4; Austin Campbell, Mars, 4; Nate Girod, Mt. Lebanon, 4; Griff Jarrell, Hampton, 4; Macie Justice, Trinity, 4; Aaron Smith, West Mifflin, 4; Nick Trklja, Thomas Jefferson, 4; Jay Wrona, Mohawk, 4; A.J. Alston, Montour, 3; Westley Burchianti, Avella, 3; Drew Cook, South Allegheny, 3; Cameron Epps, South Allegheny, 3; Brody Evans, Thomas Jefferson, 3; Drake Fox, Riverside, 3; Mike Mathias, Bethel Park, 3; Brady Mayo, Beaver, 3; Aggie Niccolai, Trinity, 3; Kaleb Platz, Montour, 3; Zach Pollaro, North Hills, 3; Jacob Staraniec, Valley, 3.
Boys scores
Albert Gallatin 73, Laurel Highlands 63
Aliquippa 57, Sewickley Academy 23
Allderdice 85, Brashear 32
Avonworth 62, East Allegheny 47
Baldwin 79, Canon-McMillan 53
Beaver 75, Blackhawk 58
Bentworth 50, Carmichaels 40
Bethel Park 59, Trinity 58
Burgettstown 63, Beth-Center 50
Butler 68, New Castle 53
California 59, Mapletown 51
Central Catholic 56, Seneca Valley 37
Central Valley 77, Ambridge 45
Clairton 70, Leechburg 44
Deer Lakes 65, Burrell 43
Derry 63, Apollo-Ridge 25
Ellwood City 69, Freedom 32
Fox Chapel 56, Plum 35
Franklin Regional 60, Kiski Area 57
Frazier 64, Chartiers-Houston 60
Gateway 49, Penn-Trafford 43
Greensburg C.C. 73, Jeannette 46
Hampton 72, Indiana 31
Highlands 88, Freeport 53
Imani Christian 98, St. Joseph 21
Knoch 63, Greensburg Salem 30
Latrobe 82, McKeesport 53
Lincoln Park 70, Niagara Falls, N.Y., 56
Mars 72, West Allegheny 42
McGuffey 61, Charleroi 47
Mohawk 58, Beaver Falls 33
Monessen 60, Jefferson-Morgan 41
Montour 61, South Allegheny 43
Moon 73, North Hills 60 (OT)
Mount Pleasant 64, Brownsville 50
Mt. Lebanon 67, Hempfield 50
Neighborhood Academy 75, Aquinas Academy 49
Neshannock 80, Riverside 43
North Allegheny 50, Pine-Richland 28
North Catholic 75, Hopewell 45
Northgate 61, Shenango 50
Obama Academy 61, Carrick 51
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 63, Steel Valley 40
Penn Hills 66, Armstrong 47
Peters Township 102, Connellsville 38
Rochester 67, Avella 48
Serra Catholic 77, Springdale 74
Seton LaSalle 75, Keystone Oaks 44
South Fayette 68, Chartiers Valley 38
South Park 51, Brentwood 36
South Side 93, Laurel 50
Southmoreland 77, Elizabeth Forward 70
Thomas Jefferson 73, Ringgold 37
Valley 53, Ligonier Valley 49
Union 56, Cornell 23
Uniontown 91, Belle Vernon 61
Upper St. Clair 61, Norwin 45
Washington 61, Yough 53
West Greene 62, Geibel Catholic 26
West Mifflin 46, Quaker Valley 45
Westinghouse 70, Perry 48
Winchester Thurston 65, Propel Braddock Hills 51
Woodland Hills 52, Shaler 46
Girls scores
Allderdice 55, Brashear 24
Avonworth 57, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 27
Bethel Park 59, Canon-McMillan 43
Charleroi 56, Ringgold 25
Franklin Regional 37, Kiski Area 36
Lincoln Park 50, South Fayette 49
McKeesport 52, Albert Gallatin 23
Obama Academy 46, Carrick 5
Peters Township 59, Plum 50
Seton LaSalle 65, Keystone Oaks 46
Trinity 63, Moon 46
Upper St. Clair 56, Penn-Trafford 49
Westinghouse 46, Perry 29
Woodland Hills 57, Penn Hills 47
Steve is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at srotstein@unionprogress.com.
