They don’t make non-section games much bigger than Hampton against Moon in late January, and this anticipated clash more than lived up to the hype.
Two of the WPIAL’s premier players went head-to-head for 32 minutes, as Talbots senior Peter Kramer and Tigers senior Elijah Guillory traded blows throughout a back-and-forth affair between two WPIAL title contenders. In the end, it was Kramer who got the last laugh, as he sank a go-ahead free throw with 4.3 seconds remaining to lift Hampton (13-2) to a dramatic 53-52 victory in the PBC Legends Classic at Moon. Kramer’s clutch free throw snapped an 11-game winning streak for the Tigers (12-3) while extending the Talbots’ win streak to eight games in a row.
“Coming into that game, we just knew we had to give it our all,” Kramer said. “It was awesome. A hard-fought game. That’s a great team we just beat right there.”
Kramer thought he had fumbled the game away when he turned the ball over on a drive to the paint in the final 10 seconds, but he managed to steal the ball back a split second later as Moon tried to advance it up the court. That’s when he drew the foul that sent him to the line, and after missing his first attempt, Tigers coach Gino Palmosina called a timeout.
Hampton coach Joe Lafko then used the timeout to draw up his team’s defense in anticipation of Kramer making the second free throw, and that’s exactly what he did. Trailing by one, Moon attempted a lob pass that 6-8 forward Liam Mignogna deflected, and Mignogna then blocked a last-gasp jump shot by the Tigers to seal the win.
“I had an iso up top and made a play and made a really bad pass. I tried to get it to Liam inside, and they actually stole the ball,” Kramer said. “They tried to outlet to one of their guys, and I stepped in and got a steal, so I kind of made up for my mistake. I missed the first free throw, but I just wanted to make it entertaining, so then I hit the second one.”
Kramer’s trusted sidekick, Mignogna posted another double-double for the Talbots with 17 points and 11 rebounds in the win. Kramer finished with a game-high 26 points, including five 3-pointers, while Guillory scored a team-high 24 points for Moon.
“Elijah is a great player,” Kramer said. “He’s a really good scorer. He’s really smooth. He kind of got the best of me there in the second half.
“We just had to make a play at the end, and luckily we came out with the victory.”
Other boys games
• Tyree Turner poured in a game-high 21 points to go with 12 from Franco Alvarez and 11 from Liam Gallagher as Greensburg Central Catholic (14-2, 7-0) rolled to a 73-46 road win at Riverview (6-9, 1-6) in Class 2A Section 3. Nate Sprajcar led the Raiders with 20 points in the loss.
• In the midst of a stellar senior season, Logan Golle led the way for Allderdice once again with 23 points in a 59-42 home win against Aliquippa. The Quips jumped out to a 16-10 first-quarter lead, but the Dragons rallied to take a two-point lead into the break before blowing the game open in the second half. Josh Pratt scored a team-leading 23 points for Aliquippa (10-3), while Major Rainey contributed 16 for Allderdice (11-2).
• Alex Pitcher scored a game-high 13 points for defending WPIAL Class 6A champion Central Catholic (9-5), and Bradley Gompers and Enzo Khalil each chipped in 12 points apiece in a 61-38 home win against Penn-Trafford (8-8). Evan Gross led the Warriors with eight points in the non-section defeat.
• Billy Schaeffer led a trio of double-digit scorers for defending WPIAL Class 3A champion Deer Lakes with 17 points in an 81-29 Class 3A Section 3 win at Ligonier Valley (2-12, 1-5). Wayne Love and Nathaniel Moore each finished with 14 points for the Lancers (12-2, 7-0), who have now won five consecutive games.
• T.J. Kubicsek paced three players in double figures for Chartiers Valley with 15 points in a 63-54 non-section win at Trinity (7-8). Jayden Davis added 12 and Julian Best tacked on 10 for the Colts (7-9), while Jacob Dunkle led all scorers with 20 points for the Hillers.
Girls games
• Rachel Boehm led the way with 15 points and Emma Reynolds tacked on 12 for Chartiers Valley (12-2), helping the Colts rally from a seven-point halftime deficit for a 48-43 overtime win at Trinity (11-3). Ruby Morgan and Maddy Roberts led the Hillers with 13 points apiece in the non-section showdown, which marked their second consecutive overtime loss.
• Norwin remained unbeaten against WPIAL competition after traveling to Mt. Lebanon and using its stifling defense to bring home a 55-37 non-section victory against the Blue Devils (8-8). Lauren Palangio led all scorers with 14 points for the Knights (13-3) to go with 13 from Kendall Berger and 10 from Ava Christopher.
• Grace Heliger led all scorers with 13 points while Leah Skweres added 12 and Lydia Betz finished with 10 for defending WPIAL Class 6A champion North Allegheny in a dominant 69-25 win at District 3 foe Cumberland Valley. The Tigers (13-1) have now won seven games in a row following a 47-42 loss against Norwin on Jan. 2.
• Kaley Rohanna scored a game-high 16 points and Josie Horne added 14 for Waynesburg (15-1), which cruised to its seventh consecutive win with a lopsided 51-23 victory against visiting Washington (7-8) in a non-section affair.
Three stars
*** — Emma Paul, Armstrong. The multi-sport standout scored a game-high 24 points to lead the River Hawks to an impressive 61-52 non-section win against Class 6A foe Seneca Valley.
** — Jake Wolfe, Montour. The 2023 PUP All-Star quarterback is proving to be more than just a one-sport star, posting a game-high 30 points in a 58-44 win against Bethel Park at the PBC Legends Classic.
* — Joseph Roth, Ellwood City. The Wolverines’ star senior enjoyed a game for the ages in a 68-44 win against Quaker Valley, delivering an eye-popping triple-double with 24 points, 21 rebounds and 14 assists along with three blocked shots at the PBC Legends Classic.
Hot from deep
Players with 3 or more 3-pointers: Ralphie Blundo, New Castle, 6; Peter Kramer, Hampton, 5; Damian Harrison, New Castle, 4; Leah Skweres, North Allegheny, 4; Zach Washington, Quaker Valley, 4; Jake Wolfe, Montour, 4.
Boys scores
Allderdice 59, Aliquippa 42
Central Catholic 61, Penn-Trafford 38
Chartiers Valley 63, Trinity 54
Deer Lakes 81, Ligonier Valley 29
Ellwood City 68, Quaker Valley 44
Greensburg C.C. 73, Riverview 46
Hampton 53, Moon 52
Highlands 71, Obama Academy 44
Latrobe 80, Laurel Highlands 57
Montour 58, Bethel Park 44
Neighborhood Academy 72, Bishop Canevin 58
New Castle 66, Indiana 29
Northgate 79, Plum 55
Olentangy Liberty, Ohio, 81, Imani Christian 64
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 59, Brentwood 50
Sewickley Academy 60, Nazareth Prep 42
Shady Side Academy 65, Burrell 50
Springdale 57, Clairton 50
Thomas Jefferson 61, South Allegheny 59
Washington 64, McGuffey 36
Waynesburg 63, Mapletown 33
Yough 71, Brownsville 40
Girls scores
Armstrong 61, Seneca Valley 53
Chartiers Valley 48, Trinity 43 (OT)
Clairton 76, California 36
Erie 42, Shaler 40
Greenville 52, Laurel 37
Lincoln Park 63, Mars 42
Monessen 37, Beth-Center 27
North Allegheny 69, Cumberland Valley 25
Norwin 53, Mt. Lebanon 37
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 57, Sewickley Academy 25
Penn Hills 44, Moon 34
Waynesburg 51, Washington 23
Winchester Thurston 49, Brentwood 11
Steve is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at srotstein@unionprogress.com.
