Saturday PIAA girls basketball rundown: Union girls handed first loss; Iyanna Wade climbs to No. 2 on WPIAL all-time scoring list in Clairton loss

Two teams took perfect records into the WPIAL championships, both looking to eventually add their names to the list of five WPIAL teams that have won PIAA titles with unbeaten records.

After one of those unbeatens (Shady Side Academy) lost in the WPIAL title game, the other saw its unbeaten run fizzle out Saturday in the first round of the PIAA playoffs.

Union was held to a season low in points while seeing its season come to a disappointing end following a 48-33 home loss to District 6 fourth-place finisher Williamsburg in a PIAA Class 1A first-round game.

Kylie Fruehstorfer scored a team-high 9 points for WPIAL champion Union (25-1), which trailed by only 6 points after three quarters before being outscored 15-4 in the fourth. Williamsburg (21-6) finished 16 of 26 from the free-throw line, while Union was just 3 of 5.

Leeanna Royer scored 18 points and Levada Gorsuch 17 for Williamsburg, which avenged a loss to Union in the 2023 quarterfinals. Union went on to win the title that season. Both teams were eliminated by Bishop Guilfoyle in last year’s playoffs, with Union bowing out in the quarterfinals and Williamsburg the semifinals.

Union was hoping to join 1983 Mount Alvernia, 2009 Mt. Lebanon, 2012 Seton LaSalle, 2019 Peters Township and 2019 Chartiers Valley as undefeated PIAA champions from the WPIAL.

It was not a good day for WPIAL Class 1A teams, with just 1 of 6 qualifiers (Aquinas Academy) advancing to the second round.

Playing in her final high school game, Iyanna Wade moved into the No. 2 spot on the WPIAL’s all-time scoring list after scoring 24 points in a 61-46 home loss to Saint Joseph’s Academy. (Helen Fallon/Pittsburgh Union Progress)

Other Class 1A

• In her final high school game, scoring whiz Iyanna Wade tallied 24 points, but WPIAL runner-up Clairton (19-6) was defeated by visiting District 6 third-place finisher Saint Joseph’s Academy (25-2), 61-46. Wade, who finished her career with 3,119 points, surpassed Monessen great Charel Allen (3,110) and moved into the No. 2 spot all time in WPIAL history, trailing only Monessen’s Gina Naccarato (3,364).

• A day after the school’s boys team claimed their first-ever PIAA win, WPIAL third-place finisher Aquinas Academy (17-8) captured its second courtesy of a 65-22 win against District 5 runner-up Fannett-Metal (10-13) at Peters Township. Tess Duer scored 22 points for the Crusaders, who will play defending PIAA champion and District 6 champ Bishop Guilfoyle (26-2) in the second round.

• Emma Larkin scored a game-high 25 points, but it wasn’t enough for WPIAL fourth-place finisher Geibel Catholic (22-4), which saw its season end with a 65-45 loss at District 9 runner-up Otto-Eldred (23-5). Addie Bell and Carrie Drummond each scored 17 points for Otto-Eldred, which led, 35-18, at the half.

• Bishop Canevin (13-12), the WPIAL’s sixth-place finisher, was held without a point in the first quarter before going on to suffer a 55-14 loss at District 9 champion DuBois Central Catholic (25-2). Canevin trailed, 17-0, after one quarter and 37-2 at the half. Kya Cooley led the Crusaders with 8 points.

• Despite getting a game-high 31 points from Gia Richter, WPIAL fifth-place finisher St. Joseph (18-9) was handed a 56-53 road loss against District 10 champion Farrell (8-14). St. Joseph misfired on a 3-point attempt at the buzzer. The score was tied, 24-24, at the half.

Class 5A

• Propelled by a big second quarter, WPIAL champion Peters Township (24-3) cruised to a 58-25 home win against District 3 eighth-place finisher Conrad Weiser (17-10). Peters Township outscored Conrad Weiser, 26-7, in the second quarter to take a 35-12 halftime lead. Natalie Wetzel led the Indians with 16 points, with Bri Morreale adding 11 and Jordyn Welsh 10. They will face Thomas Jefferson for the fourth time this season in the second round.

• Kaylee DeAngelo connected on four 3-pointers among her game-high 17 points to vault WPIAL third-place finisher Thomas Jefferson (22-5) to a 55-37 win against visiting District 3 sixth-place finisher Susquehannock (16-10). Maggie Spell chipped in 16 points for the Jaguars, who held just a 22-18 halftime lead before outscoring Susquehannock, 33-19, in the second half.

• Ryan Oldaker outscored her team’s opponent all by herself, tallying 24 points to power WPIAL runner-up South Fayette (25-2) to a 56-21 home win against District 3 seventh-place finisher Lower Dauphin (16-11). South Fayette raced to a 35-10 halftime lead and limited Lower Dauphin to 6 or fewer points in each quarter. The Lions will face West York in the second round.

• One day after the Mars boys team fell to West York, the girls team suffered a similar fate, as the WPIAL fourth-place finisher Planets (15-12) lost at District 3 third-place finisher West York (21-7), 54-44. West York outscored Mars, 20-11, in the first quarter and held a 37-23 lead heading into the final quarter. Cecilia Christy paced the Planets with 14 points.

• WPIAL fifth-place finisher Penn-Trafford (25-2) saw its season come to a close following a 52-50 loss at District 3 runner-up Middletown (24-3). Penn-Trafford held a 37-35 lead after three quarters before Middletown outscored the Warriors, 17-13, in the fourth. Jayla Koser led Middletown with 28 points, while Torrie DeStefano’s 14 points paced Penn-Trafford. The Warriors finished with two losses in their last four games after beginning the season 23-0.

• After storming back from an 11-point halftime deficit to take a third-quarter lead, WPIAL sixth-place finisher Baldwin (16-11) ultimately lost to District 10 champion Cathedral Prep (17-7), 67-55, at Hagerty Family Events Center. Cathedral Prep led by 3 points after three quarters before outscoring Baldwin, 21-12, in the fourth. Addie Biel and Seana Thrower each scored 22 points to lead Cathedral Prep, while Julianne Ott scored 22 for Baldwin.

• Indiana (19-8), the WPIAL’s seventh-place finisher, coughed up a fourth-quarter lead before falling at District 6 champion Hollidaysburg (24-3), 43-34. Hollidaysburg held a 17-16 halftime lead. Laken Kugler led the Indians with 14 points, and Emily Betsinger added 10.

• WPIAL eighth-place finisher Bethel Park (12-15) fell into an early hole and could never recover as it lost at District 3 champion York Suburban (24-2), 47-34. York Suburban led, 30-9, at the half, with each of Bethel Park’s three field goals coming on Bella Coleman 3-pointers. Sadie Orie led the Black Hawks with 12 points. Coleman and Ella Sabatos added 9 apiece.

Class 4A

• London Creach’s 20 points propelled WPIAL champion Oakland Catholic (24-3) to an 80-29 home win against District 10 fourth-place finisher Slippery Rock (18-8). Oakland Catholic outscored Slippery Rock, 35-4, in the opening quarter. Madi Pullen added 15 points for the Eagles, while Josie Fontana chipped in 12 and Zephaniah Troxler-Scott 11. The Eagles will meet Elizabeth Forward in the second round.

• Aubree Hupp scored 23 points and Blackhawk (24-3) bounced back from its loss in the WPIAL final by throttling visiting District 10 third-place finisher Franklin (16-10), 58-16. Blackhawk led, 36-6, at the half and limited Franklin to 6 or fewer points in each quarter. Grace Huston tacked on 10 points for the Cougars, and Andrea Kinger had 9. Blackhawk will meet Clearfield next.

• WPIAL third-place finisher North Catholic (23-4) led by 22 points at the half and went on to defeat visiting District 6 runner-up Penn Cambria (12-12), 59-29. Brady Wehner scored 13 points and Sam Weir 12 for the Trojanettes, who held a 34-12 halftime advantage. They will play Harbor Creek in the second round.

• Brooke Przybylski scored 22 points, including the winning free throw with five seconds left in overtime, to lift District 10 champion Harbor Creek (22-4) to a 44-43 home win against WPIAL sixth-place finisher South Park (17-8). Harbor Creek held a 5-4 scoring edge in the extra period after the score was tied, 39-39, at the end of regulation. Hayley Bennett led South Park with 10 points.