Bill Beckner stories, Page 191
Westmoreland girls basketball teams get boost from fabulous freshmen
Brian Pritts had heard of Olivia Cernuto long before the point guard made her way to the varsity at Southmoreland. He was hoping to get the chance to coach her because of the promise she showed. Now that the Scotties girls basketball coach has seen Cernuto match her potential to...
Westmoreland girls basketball notebook: Southmoreland moves forward after key player transfer
The Southmoreland girls are having their best season, record-wise, in program history. The Scotties found their way to an 11-0 record and No. 3 ranking by the Tribune-Review in WPIAL Class 4A by playing team basketball. That mantra won’t change as the Scotties move forward after the departure of sophomore...
Ex-Franklin Regional star Nick Novak scores 55 in debut for semi-pro team
Nick Novak is back in the states with a new house, a baby on the way and a basketball motor that won’t slow down. The former Franklin Regional star, who has been around the globe and back playing professionally for the last seven years, is playing this season for the...
Pitt-Greensburg sinks 20 3-pointers in home victory
Pitt-Greensburg became U-P-3 on Tuesday night. The men’s basketball team made a school-record 20 3-pointers in a 103-80 victory over visiting Penn College at Chambers Hall. Sophomore guard Jojo France connected connected on 6 of 12 3s, while junior guard Matt Johnson was 4-for-7 from deep. Both players had 18...
Zach Rocco’s big night carries Penn-Trafford past Hempfield
Zach Rocco had a feeling he might get to the foul line a lot against Hempfield, depending on how tightly the game was officiated. But he knew if he was hacked, it would be because of his efforts to get to the rim. “I knew they would play physical with...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Breakout game for La Roche’s Cole
La Roche’s Jenna Cole had been waiting for a breakout game this season. It finally happened over the weekend. The senior forward out of Norwin put up a season-best 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds to power the Redhawks (6-4, 6-0) AMCC) to a 61-57 victory over D’Youville. Cole is...
Unbeaten Southmoreland gets ‘after it’ on defense, rolls past Elizabeth Forward
Unbeaten Southmoreland continued its best start in school history, passing a stern road test in the process, by utilizing what has brought it this far: defensive wherewithal and offensive balance. When the two intersect, this is one dangerous team. Four players scored in double figures, and the stingy Scotties quickly...
Westmoreland Campus Clippings: Norwin’s Deri living showcase life
A number of local college football players are in Fort Worth, Texas to take part in the College Gridiron Showcase, an invite-only “all-star” event for many of the country’s top seniors. The showcase runs from Jan. 3-8 at McNair Stadium. Among the local contingent is West Liberty strong safety Logan...
Standout Bailey Kuhns no longer part of undefeated Southmoreland girls basketball team
Southmoreland will have to continue its best start in girls basketball without one of its best players. Sophomore Bailey Kuhns is no longer on the team, coach Brian Pritts confirmed. Pritts did not give a reason, although Kuhns’ bio on her Twitter account now reads, “Greensburg Central Catholic High School...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Weather slows work on Penn-Trafford baseball field
Look to the right while cruising up the driveway to Penn-Trafford High School, and it is clear change is happening at the baseball field. When it is not blocked by construction vehicles, the infield glistens on a sunny day. That is because Penn-Trafford is installing artificial turf to the infield...
Area players taking part in College Gridiron Showcase
A number of local college football players are in Fort Worth, Texas to take part in the College Gridiron Showcase, an invite-only “all-star” event for many of the country’s top seniors. The showcase runs from Jan. 3-8 at McNair Stadium. Area players attending the event are cornerback Reid Harrison-Ducros and...
Mt. Pleasant boys make stand in final seconds to stop DerryVideo
Derry had one last chance, but Mt. Pleasant wasn’t having it. Sophomore forward Luke Brandner swiped at the ball and knocked it away as Derry’s Tyson Webb drove the lane and teammate Jake Johnson swarmed to complete the steal in the closing seconds as Mt. Pleasant held on for a...
Freshman Savannah Schneck helps Norwin girls avenge playoff loss to North Allegheny
With its 13-point lead squeezed to three with about a minute to play, Norwin did what any seasoned team would do in such a chaotic situation. It gave the basketball to a freshman. Reserve swing-guard Savannah Schneck made the most of her minutes, coming up clutch in a clash of...
Detail-oriented Penn-Trafford boys collecting quality wins
Penn-Trafford is more interested in the small details than the big picture. The Warriors boys basketball team is off to a firm start, but its success is more situational than all-encompassing as Section 3-6A play begins to ramp up. “I’m not terribly surprised by the start we’ve had,” coach Jim...
Westmoreland County boys basketball notebook: New defense suits Centurions
Greensburg Central Catholic soundly defeated Class 3A No. 3 Washington, 50-34, on the second day of the Greensburg Salem Holiday Classic. Coaches were praising the team’s defensive efforts, particularly how the Centurions performed in a 1-2-2 zone press. First-year coach Christian Hyland was asked when the new defense was introduced...
Westmoreland County girls basketball notebook: Danielle Rosso steps up for Norwin
Danielle Rosso was expected to be a key contributor for the Norwin girls basketball team, but not even coach Brian Brozeski expected this type of production from the 5-foot-8 junior combo guard. With senior guards Olivia Gribble and Jayla Wehner forming a skilled scoring tandem, the Knights expected to build...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Multiple basketball players set for homecomings
Look for homecomings to be a popular theme among some local college basketball players as the calendar turns to 2020. A number of area alums will return to the region with their teams as conference play heats up. Cal (Pa.) senior Monica Burns (Hempfield) probably will draw a crowd of...
PSAC players highlight Don Hansen Super Region 1 football teams
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference was well-represented on the Don Hansen Football Gazette NCAA Division II All-Super Region 1 teams, which were released this weekend. Harlon Hill Trophy winning quarterback Rolan Rivers III of Slippery Rock was named offensive player of the year, while Shawn Lutz of Slippery Rock picked...
Spencer Lee medical forfeits at Midlands
Iowa star wrestler Spencer Lee, a junior 125-pounder and two-time NCAA champion, pulled out of the reputable Ken Kraft Midlands Championships in Hoffman Estates, Ill. due to a medical forfeit. Lee reached the semifinals but forfeited to Mike DeAugustino of Northwestern, allowing DeAugustino to advance to Saturday night’s finals to...
Top 10 Westmoreland County sports moments of 2019
As the sun sets on another year in local sports, it’s time to look back on the best stories of 2019 in Westmoreland County. There were championships, comebacks, program rebirths and coveted recruits. The final year in the second decade of the 2000s featured repeat winners and playoff newcomers and...
Westmoreland H.S. notebook: Hempfield lineman heading to St. Francis
Another Hempfield lineman has accepted an invitation to play football at the next level. Senior Ryan Cross, another key blocker for a Spartans unit that helped put up more than 200 rushing yards per game, is headed to St. Francis (Pa.) as a preferred walk-on. He will have a spot...
Hempfield holds off rally to beat rival Greensburg Salem
Greensburg Salem saved its best for last, but it wasn’t enough to get around Hempfield, which fended off the Golden Lions’ late surge in the final game of the Greensburg Salem Holiday Classic. After scoring just 13 points in the first half — a testament to Hempfield’s shot-challenging defense —...
Players from Ligonier Valley, Belle Vernon garner all-state football honors
WPIAL-bound Ligonier Valley’s days of dominating the District 6 Heritage Conference might be over, but the Rams left lasting memories. They also had a run of outstanding individual talent, some considered among the best in the state. That point was validated Saturday when the Pennsylvania Football Writers Class 2A All-State...
Zach Rocco, Penn-Trafford boys hold off Franklin Regional comeback bidVideo
As a 15-point lead faded to five midway through the fourth quarter Friday night, Penn-Trafford did not take on the look of a timid team. Even with inexperienced juniors and sophomores new to that scene handling the ball against full-court pressure and Franklin Regional chipping away, the Warriors showed no...
Five Westmoreland players make all-state football teams
Jeannette football players and coaches will say they did not reach their full potential as a team this season. The Jayhawks made it to No. 1 in the Class A state rankings but ended the year with losses to Clairton and Sto-Rox, the latter defeat coming in the WPIAL quarterfinals....
