GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Heritage Conference West girls basketball “Road to the KCAC” took a major step toward the finish line last night with Penns Manor’s narrow win over River Valley. Jake Slebodnick was there.
Another key game last night pitted Marion Center against Homer-Center, and the Stingers came away with a 40-23 win over the Wildcats. Macie Miller scored 14 points for Marion Center and six girls scored 4 or more points in a balanced attack. Homer-Center was led by Alaina Fabin, who scored 11.
The top two teams in the East both won. Portage beat Northern Cambria 56-21 as Jenna Burkett scored 16 to lead the way.
United’s Mollee Fry scored 16 to lead the Lions to a 51-20 win over Conemaugh Township. Maddie McGinnis had 12 points and Delaney Perone 10 for United.
Cambria Heights beat Conemaugh Valley, 60-30.
THE ROAD TO THE KCAC
On the Road to the KCAC, Penns Manor’s win over River Valley puts them at 13-2 and in the driver’s seat to host a semifinal game on Tuesday against United. The Comets will host West Shamokin tomorrow night and should they win, they will clinch first place in the West. They have already clinched a spot in the semis.
River Valley and Marion Center are both 12-3 in the West and will battle for the other spot in the semis. The Stingers host the Panthers tomorrow night on Cat Country, 106.3 FM. Should Marion Center beat River Valley and Penns Manor lose to West Shamokin, the West would go to the fourth tiebreaker, point differential between the two, and Marion Center would win the West because they have a four-point edge over PM. If River Valley win tomorrow and Penns Manor loses, the Comets take first place based on a season sweep of the Panthers, and River Valley will be the other semifinalist from the West.
Portage will be the top team in the East and will host either Penns Manor or River Valley on Tuesday. United is the other semifinalist, and will travel to either Penns Manor or Marion Center.
The Heritage Conference boys races are set. Conemaugh Township wins the East and will host West Shamokin on Monday. River Valley wins the West and will host Conemaugh Valley.
WRESTLING
River Valley Panthers edged Conemaugh Township Indians 38-33. Winners on the mat included Eli Morcheid, Kaden Barnhart, Nathan Morcheid, and Michael Wano by fall; Wyatt Taubler by technical fall; and Joel Micklow by decision. The Panthers ended the regular season with an 11-7 record. The District 6 Individual Wrestling Championships are on February 16th.
In the WPIAL, Indiana dropped a tense 32-30 meet against Section champion Mount Pleasant in the first round of the AA Team playoff Tournament. Winners for Indiana included Connor Sevajian, Nico Fanella, Carter Putt, Will Turner, Dominic Fanella, and Jackson Higgins. Indiana finishes the dual meet season at 9-7.
