Mt. Lebo boys survive in double OT

Mt. Lebanon is still defending its WPIAL title — barely.

Penn Hills, the No. 15 seed in the WPIAL Class AAAA playoffs, took the reigning champions to double overtime, but the second-seeded Blue Devils outlasted the upstart Indians, 65-61, in a first-round matchup Thursday night at Baldwin.

"All the credit needs to be given to Penn Hills," Mt. Lebanon coach Joe David said. "I thought (coach) Jim Rocco did an excellent job and had a great game plan, put his team into a great position to win the game. We're very fortunate to advance."

Senior Paul Lang had a monster night for Mt. Lebanon, posting 28 points and 18 rebounds. He also had the go-ahead layup with a minute left in the second overtime.

"Paul's a winner," David said. "The kid didn't come out of the game at all. He's a winner, a champion, and he's been there before."

Fellow Blue Devils senior Evan Eaton had 16 points. Senior forward JayVaughn Kirkland had a double-double for Penn Hills, with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

• Butler 51, Moon 50 — Bobby Swartwout scored 18 points, and Zach Slater had 13, as Butler (13-9) moved into a Saturday quarterfinal against Shaler.

Aaron Johnson led Moon (15-8) with 20.

Boys Class AA

• Beaver Falls 74, California 34 — Shelden Jeter opened the game with a breakaway dunk en route to a 22-point first half, as Beaver Falls (18-5) built a 43-16 halftime lead and stormed into a Saturday quarterfinal against Wilkinsburg.

Jeter finished with 27 points. Royce Watson added 15 points and 11 rebounds. John Tyler's 14 points led California (15-9).

• Wilkinsburg 63, Neshannock 27 — Robert Taylor scored 14 points, and Jordan Howard had 12, as the Tigers (16-5) moved in a Saturday quarterfinal against Beaver Falls.

Brandon Marinelli's 11 points led Neshannock (17-6).

• Sto-Rox 61, Steel Valley 29 — Marzett Geter and Dontez Ford scored 15 points apiece to lead Sto-Rox into a Saturday quarterfinal against Quaker Valley. The fifth-seeded Vikings have won 17 consecutive games and have not lost since Dec. 27.

Sto-Rox (20-3) used a 9-2 run at the beginning of the second quarter to pull away. Corey Keyes had 10 points for No. 12 seed Steel Valley (9-15).

• Quaker Valley 44, Bishop Canevin 30 — No. 4 seed Quaker Valley got 13 points from Augie Luptak and 11 from Ben Stevenson to avenge one of its three regular-season losses and move into a Saturday quarterfinal against Sto-Rox.

The Quakers (20-3) held Bishop Canevin (13-11) to three field goals in the second half -- all 3-pointers -- and pulled away at the foul line late, making 16 of 26 attempts.

Bobby Gustine had 14 points for Bishop Canevin.

• Monessen 61, Ellwood City 38 — Greyhounds coach Joe Salvino earned his 500th career victory, as third-seeded Monessen cruised past No. 14 Ellwood City. Monessen will play Jeannette in Saturday's quarterfinals.

Nick Boilas and Earl Pinkney each scored 12 points for the Greyhounds.

Girls Class AAA

• Ambridge 40, Montour 39 — Point guard Katie Fischer's free throw with 2.6 seconds left lifted the Bridgers (18-6) into a Saturday quarterfinal against Hopewell.

Fischer finished with 10 points for an Ambridge team that actually struggled at the foul line, hitting just 6 of 17 attempts.

Junior forward Codi Dugan scored 12 points for Montour (17-6), which had a two-point lead going into the fourth quarter.

• Indiana 48, West Allegheny 40 — Top-seeded Indiana (22-1) survived a scare en route to a Saturday quarterfinal against Uniontown.

With the score tied at 23 at halftime, Indiana opened a nine-point lead in the third quarter. However, West Allegheny (10-14) cut the lead to one, 41-40, early in the fourth quarter.

Indiana's Kristin Brice and Haylie Fefolt each hit critical free throws in the closing minutes. Brice finished with 20 points for Indiana.

Alexis Johns and Logan Trautman each finished with 15 for West Allegheny.

» New Castle 53, Laurel Highlands 29 -- LaShawna Brothers scored 23 points, and Ja-Nia McPhatter added 17, as New Castle (20-3) rolled into a Saturday quarterfinal against West Mifflin.

New Castle forced 21 turnovers in the first half and parlayed that into a 28-16 halftime lead. Marissa Erminio's 12 points led Laurel Highlands (14-10).

• Blackhawk 60, Thomas Jefferson 47 — No. 5 seed Blackhawk made 18 of 23 fourth-quarter free throws to hold off No. 12 Thomas Jefferson (15-9).

The Cougars (18-5) will play Mt. Pleasant in Saturday's quarterfinals.

Alexa Hayward led Blackhawk with 20 points. Ashley Stoner's 21 points led Thomas Jefferson.