Roundup: More Magestro magic as KC tops WM, 89-51; Eagles edge Rockets in OT
Dec. 18—HERMITAGE — The magical Magestro moniker manifests itself in a season-after-season succession. And — pardon the pun — Kennedy Catholic High's latest version is making a name for himself.
Gio Magestro manufactured a game-high 25-point performance, keying Kennedy to an 89-51 win over the Region 1 rival Big Reds of West Middlesex.
Drew and Malia Magestro concluded their scholastic careers as two of Mercer County cage history's finest players. They've continued their careers at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown and Youngstown State University, respectively.
"It's a hard thing to keep up with. They're both really good players, so it's hard to stay with that. But I think I'm doin' pretty well," observed Gio, now a senior, who added, "I'm gonna keep my name up there and show what I've got.
"I don't feel any pressure at all; definitely motivated by it. So I'm gonna keep workin' and, yeah, we'll see how the season goes," Magestro added.
"Gio's a special ballplayer," praised 1st-year KC Head Coach Kenny Madison. "He's a coach's son, he's seen his older brother and his older sister — and arguably, the younger one, Mela, might be the best out of all of 'em — so it's a basketball household.
"I mean, the kid really knows how to play, and I couldn't ask for a better kid to coach," Madison continued. "He's humble, he's gracious, and he'll do anything that I ask him to do. We talk all the time, and anything that the team needs to win, he's willing to do it. He's one of our special seniors, and I'm happy that he was able to put it on display for the home fans."
Friday night's 1st half included 2 ties and a trio of lead changes before KC assumed a 22-16 first-period lead. But with Elijah Harden hitting for 11 of his 24 points, the Golden Eagles erupted for 22 second-quarter points to extend their edge to 44-27 by the break.
Harden hammered home 8 third-period points — launching a pair of left-wing treys from approximately 25 feet — and Magestro added 6 markers as Kennedy commanded a 65-44 lead entering the final frame.
Magestro, Harden, and Malik Lampkins-Rudolph (13) tallied in double digits to key Kennedy Catholic (1-0, 2-2). Lampkins-Rudolph ripped a team-high 8 rebounds and dished out a team-leading 7 dimes — 2 more than Magestro.
"Every day in practice we do drills — extra passes, one more pass. At (some) practices the first three drills that we do are always passing drills," related Madison, who added, "it's special to see in a game that it's put to use, so that's huge."
KC connected on 36 of 69 floor shots (52.1%), assisting on 18 of those fielders. Simeir Wade added 4 assists; Otis Driver donated 8 points, and Remington Hart snared 7 caroms and scored 6 points.
West Middlesex (0-1, 1-2) was led by Richie Preston's 17 points and 8 rebounds; Luke Mild's 10-point, 6-rebound, 4-assist line; Tanner Shick's 11-point, 5-rebound, 4-assist outing; Gio Rococi's 8 points and 3 assists, and Logan Shrawder's team-leading handful of dimes.
However the Big Reds recorded 19-for-49 shooting (38.7%), and KC coerced Middlesex into 17 miscues. Conversely, the Golden Eagles ended with just a handful of turnovers.
The game was an introduction to the KC-Big Reds' rivalry for Madison who said,
" ... When I was in school (Fri)day, every corner that I turned someone mentioned, 'Hey, this is Middlesex ... it's big rival.
"I just appreciate to be a part of it. It's a friendly rivalry. All respect to Coach (Tyler) Babcock and the staff over there. Coach is a first-year guy, just like me, so we share some commonality and I have nothin' but respect for those guys.They played really, really hard, and I wish them the best of luck," Madison added.
Regarding the home-opening win Madison admitted, "I think it's special, just for the simple fact that we have guys who didn't get a chance to play in front of their home crowd last year, and the energy and excitement was a big deal to them. So when something's a big deal to my guys, it carries over to me. ... The energy that they bring ... all year I hope that it's the same way because it was really special in here (Friday) night."
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In other winter sports action:
BOYS BASKETBALL
— Grove City 51, Slippery Rock 47 (OT) — At The Launchpad in Slippery Rock, the Eagles didn't allow a field goal for over 6 minutes in the fourth quarter and overtime to escape with the win in their Region 4 opener.
After Shane Thompson's layup handed the Rockets a 44-39 with over 2 minutes to play in regulation, Grove City (1-0, 2-1) went on a 5-0 run to force the four-minute extra session and a 12-3 run to close the game.
Sparked by Brady Prementine's 4 points off the bench, Slippery Rock (1-1, 2-2) took an 8-5 lead into the second quarter and extended its cushion to 18-9 late in the stanza before settling for an 18-11 entering the half.
Grove City — energized by a turnover on the opening inbounds play of the second half — pulled to within 34-32 after the third quarter and eventually forced a 44-all stalemate on Landon Haggart's layup with 1:46 left.
Nathan Greer opened overtime with a layup to hand the Eagles their first lead at 46-44 since midway through the first quarter. A Josh Dreves putback and a Dylan Stull freebie pushed the Grove City lead to 49-45 with 30.3 seconds left.
After Walker Vogan canned a pair of free throws 10 seconds later, Haggart was able to secure a rebound off a missed Rocket free throw with 5.7 seconds left and calmly sank a pair of free throws to seal the victory.
Stull scored 7 of his game-high 14 points in the third quarter to lead Grove City, while Gavin Lutz came off the bench to post a 9-point, 6-rebound, 3-steal line. Haggart (8) and Dreves (7) combined for another 15.
Dylan Gordon (13) and Thompson (10) reached double figures for Slippery Rock, while Vogan pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds — Information submitted by Herald Sports Correspondent Corey J. Corbin.
— Greenville 37, Sharon 35 — At Greenville, the Trojans (2-0, 4-0) held off the Tigers (0-2, 0-4) in the Region 4 contest.
Greenville led 15-8 at halftime, but Sharon cut the lead to 26-24 after 3 quarters. Both teams scored 11 points in the final frame and the Trojans grabbed the win to remain undefeated.
Logan Lentz led the Trojans with 11 points and Jalen Ritzert scored 10.
Derek Douglas had 11 points for Sharon, Joe Messina scored 8, and Connor Porterfield 7.
— Hickory 71, Wilmington 18 — At "The Hive" in Hermitage, Coach Chris Mele's Hornets (1-0, 1-1) captured their first win of the season in the Region 4 contest.
Aidan Enoch led Hickory with 13 points, Joey Fazzone scored 11, Jackson Pryts had 9 points, and Ryan Evangelista chipped in 8.
Fazzone also had 3 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 assists, Pryts collected 3 rebounds, blocked 2 shots, and had 1 assist, and Enoch added 3 steals and dished out 4 assists.
Pierce Nagel led Wilmington (0-2, 0-4) with 10 points and Colin Hill scored 6.
It was an emotional night at "The Hive." Fans wore white to support the family of Wilmington student Delanee Schiek, who suffered a severe head injury recently and had surgery, but passed away.
Following the game, last season's Hickory state-runners up team was honored and presented with commemorative rings.
— Lakeview 42, Reynolds 36 — At Stoneboro, Coach Garrett Blaschak's Sailors (1-1, 1-3) picked up their first win of the season in a Region 1 battle against the Raiders (0-2, 1-4).
Gavin Grantham drained 4 treys en route to 16 points to lead Lakeview and Lane Smith bucketed 12.
Ashton Small paced Reynolds with 15 points while Haden Obenrader and Jake Williams chipped in 6 points each.
— Rocky Grove 62, Jamestown 50 — At Rocky Grove, the host Orioles outscored Jamestown during the 1st half (30-24), then held off the visiting Muskies' 2nd-half rally. Jamestown outscored the 'Grove, 17-13, during the 4th frame before falling in the Region 1 affair.
Isaac Clayton connected for a game-high 24 points for Rocky Grove (2-0, 4-0), including 6 treys. He scored 10 fourth-period points. Also for the Orioles, Quinn Ritchey rifled in 15 points, and Reece Henderson had 9. Rocky Grove garnered 9 triples and converted 15 of 22 freebies.
Jamestown (0-1, 0-3) was paced by Peyton McElhinny's 19 markers, matched by Cam Keyser. However the Muskies made it to the line just 8 times, sinking 7.
— Friday's Commodore Perry at Farrell Region 1 game was postponed until Wednesday.
— Ellwood City 61, Sharpsville 32 — At Ellwood City, the defending District 7 Class 3A champions led 21-9 after 8 minutes of play and rolled to the win.
Joseph Roth and Steve Antuono both scored 14 points for Ellwood City (2-1), Alexander Roth bucketed 13, and Milo Sesti added 10 points.
James Thomas led the way for Sharpsville (0-3) with a game-high 16 points and Mack Staunch contributed 7 markers.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
— Mercer 49, Meadville 28 — At Mercer, Coach Aaron Cook's Region 1 Lady M's improved to 2-2 with the win over Region 5 Meadville (1-4).
Julia Balaski led the way for Mercer with 13 points, Claire Brown bucketed a dozen, and Delaney Fisher contributed 10 points.
Avery Phillips scored 11 points for the Lady Bulldogs and Sydney Burchard added 9 points.
— Today's Sharon at Mercer game was postponed until Jan. 18.
— Wilmington 48, Rocky Grove 18 — At New Wilmington, freshman standout Lia Krarup rifled in 21 points as the Region 4 Hounds (4-1) handed the Region 1 Orioles (3-1) their first loss of the season.
Through Wilmington's first five games of the season, Krarup is averaging 15.2 points-per-game.
Also for Wilmington, Sarah Dieter, Madison Graham, and Kayah Brewer each scored 6 points Friday.
Abby Williams led Rocky Grove with 13 points.
SWIMMING
— At Titusville, Sharon's girls and boys lost by respective 97-69 and 93.5 to 74.5 scores.
For Sharon, Ella Labbiento and Jason Basile (200-yard freestyle), Logan Wilson and Mark Cattron (200 IM), and Abbey Snyder (100-yard butterfly) and Cattron (100-yard 'free) posted 1st-place finishes. Wilson and Basile also won the 500-yard 'free. Cattron also copped the 100-yard 'free.
The Tigers' 200-yard free-relay quartet (Basile, Ben Jones, Will Beckert and Cattron) also was victorious, as was Sharon boys' 400 free-relay (McKinney, Xander Mellotte, Beckert, and Basile), and the Lady Tigers' 400-yard free-relay (Labbiento, Sadowski, Wilson and Snyder).
Austin McKinney (50-yard 'free), Abby Douglas (500-yard free), and Snyder and Ben Jones (100-yard backstroke) ended as runners-up.
The Lady Tigers' 200-yard free-relay (Labbiento, Douglas, Rachael Sadowski and Aaliyah Medvec) and 400 free-relay (Lily Bell, Julie Reda, Lexi Steines and Medvec) posted 2nd-place finishes, as did the Tigers' 400-yard free-relay foursome (Brenden Zampogna, Nick Selby, Connor Flickinger, and Tyler Adamiak).
BOYS BASKETBALL
W. MIDDLESEX 16 11 17 7 51
KENNEDY 22 22 21 24 89
WEST MIDDLESEX — Rococi 2-4-4-8, Shrawder 1-1-1-3, Preston 8-0-1-17, Shick 4-3-6-11, Mild 3-2-2-10, Stover 1-0-0-2, Nehlen 0-0-0-0, Hurley 0-0-0-0, Bender 0-0-0-0, Sweitzer 0-0-0-0, Knight 0-0-1-0. 3-pt. goals: Mild 2, Preston 1. Totals: 19-10-15-51.
KENNEDY CATHOLIC — Harden 10-2-2-24, Magestro 10-3-3-25, Lampkins-Rudolph 5-3-3-13, Ondo 0-0-0-0, Driver 3-2-2-8, Wade 1-0-0-2, Hart 2-2-3-6, Campbell 2-0-0-4, Hailstock 1-0-0-2, Gwin 1-0-0-2, Rapp 1-1-1-3, Wilbon-Venable 0-0-0-0, Southworth 0-0-0-0. 3-pt. goals: Harden 4, Magestro 2. Totals: 36-11-14-89.
JV: Kennedy Catholic, 51-26. Levi Hailstock, Rayvion Wilbon-Venable 17 points apiece, Kam Gwin 12 points for Kennedy Catholic; Blaze Knight 8 for West Middlesex.
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REYNOLDS 9 9 6 12 36
LAKEVIEW 15 8 10 9 42
REYNOLDS — McLaughlin 2-0-0-5, Winkle 0-0-0-0, McCloskey 0-0-0-0, Obenrader 3-0-0-6, Small 6-0-0-15, Williams 2-2-2-6, Geiwitz 1-2-5-4. 3-pt. goals: Small 3, McLaughlin 1. Totals: 14-4-7-36.
LAKEVIEW — Miller 1-2-2-5, Grantham 6-0-2-16, Smith 4-4-6-12, Pence 1-3-4-5, Reiser 0-0-0-0, Olson 1-0-0-2, Wilkins 0-0-0-0, Dye 1-0-0-2. 3-pt. goals: Grantham 4, Miller 1. Totals: 14-9-14-42.
JV: No score reported.
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ROCKY GROVE 10 20 5 17 62
JAMESTOWN 13 11 13 13 50
ROCKY GROVE — Clayton 7-4-4-24, B.Stevenson 0-1-2-1, Henderson 3-3-3-9, Whitman 2-3-4-7, Wolfgang 1-0-0-2, Ritchey 5-2-5-15, Gregory 0-2-2-2, Baker 1-0-2-2. 3-pt. goals: Clayton 6, Ritchey 3. Totals: 19-15-22-62.
JAMESTOWN — Swezey 4-0-0-9, Williams 0-0-0-0, McElhinny 7-2-2-19, Popielarcheck 1-0-0-2, Keyser 6-5-6-19, Ford 1-0-0-2 Ternent 0-0-0-0. 3-pt. goals: McElhinny 2, Keyser 2, Swezey 1. Totals: 19-7-8-50.
JV: No score reported.
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SHARON 5 3 16 11 35
GREENVILLE 9 6 11 11 37
SHARON — Nixon 0-0-0-0, Ham 0-2-2-2, Messina 2-2-2-8, Hoffman 1-1-2-4, Austin 0-0-1-0, Porterfield 3-0-1-7, Douglas 2-6-6-11, Hacker 1-1-4-3. 3-pt. goals: Messina 2, Hoffman 1, Porterfield 1, Douglas 1. Totals: 9-12-18-35.
GREENVILLE — Kincaid 1-0-0-3, Herrick 1-2-5-4, Stuyvesant 2-0-0-5, Ritzert 5-0-0-10, Philson 1-0-0-2, Lentz 3-5-7-11, Williams 1-0-0-2. 3-pt. goals: Kincaid 1, Stuyvesant 1. Totals: 14-7-12-37.
JV: Greenville, 53-51.
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WILMINGTON 9 6 3 0 18
HICKORY 24 22 11 14 71
WILMINGTON — Wilson 0-0-1-0, Hill 3-0-0-6, Bruckner 0-0-0-0, McConahy 0-0-0-0, Nagel 4-0-0-10, Micco 1-0-0-2, Kline 0-0-0-0, Taylor 0-0-1-0. 3-pt. goals: Nagel 2. Totals: 8-0-2-18.
HICKORY — Dye 1-1-2-3, Bittler 1-0-0-2, Enoch 5-0-0-13, C.Evangelista 4-0-0-9, Mele 1-3-4-6, Swanson 0-1-2-1, Fazzone 4-3-3-11, R.Evangelista 3-2-3-8, Djakovich 2-0-0-4, Daniels 1-0-0-2, Pryts 4-1-2-9, Bean 1-1-1-3. 3-pt. goals: Enoch 3, C.Evangelista 1, Mele 1. Totals: 27-12-17-71.
JV: No game.
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GROVE CITY 5 6 21 12 7 51
SLIPP ROCK 8 10 16 10 3 47
GROVE CITY — Hathaway 2-0-0-4, Stull 5-3-6-14, Greer 2-0-0-4, Loughry 1-0-0-2, Pereira 0-0-2-0, Haggart 3-2-2-8, Dreves 3-0-0-7, Lutz 4-1-2-9, Martin 1-1-3-3. 3-pt. goals: Stull 1, Dreves 1. Totals: 21-7-15-51.
SLIPPERY ROCK — B.Prementine 3-3-3-9, Sabo 2-0-0-4, Gordon 5-1-2-13, Thompson 5-0-2-10, Wolak 0-0-0-0, Vogan 1-3-4-5, Pyle 2-0-0-6. 3-pt goals: Gordon 2, Thompson 2, Pyle 2. Totals: 17-7-11-47.
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SHARPSVILLE 9 6 10 7 32
ELLWOOD CITY 21 14 13 13 61
SHARPSVILLE — Tedrow 0-0-0-0, Distler 1-0-0-2, Thomas 7-2-3-16, Toth 0-0-0-0, O'Neill 1-0-0-2, L.Staunch 2-0-0-4, Campbell 0-0-0-0, Trontel 0-1-2-1, M.Staunch 3-0-0-7. 3-pt. goal: M.Staunch 1. Totals: 14-3-5-32.
ELLWOOD CITY — J.Roth 6-2-4-14, A.Roth 5-0-0-13, Antuono 6-0-0-14, Widmaier 0-0-0-0, Sesti 4-2-4-10, O'Brien 2-0-0-4, Bunney 0-0-0-0, Spadafore 0-0-0-0, Poole 1-0-0-3, Sroka 0-0-2-0, Nardone 0-0-0-0. 3-pt. goals: A.Roth 3, Antuono 2, Poole 1. Totals: 24-4-10-61.
JV: No score reported.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
MEADVILLE 8 7 3 10 28
MERCER 11 11 10 17 49
MEADVILLE — Burchard 4-1-3-9, Phillips 4-3-4-11, Burnett 2-0-3-4, Templin 2-0-2-4, Carr 0-0-1-0. Totals: 12-4-13-28.
MERCER — Balaski 6-1-4-13, Fisher 4-2-2-10, Godfrey 1-0-1-2, Allen 1-1-2-3, Washil 3-0-0-6, Brown 5-0-0-12, McCandless 0-0-2-0, Heckathorn 1-0-0-2, Smith 0-1-2-1. 3-pt. goals: Brown 2. Totals: 21-5-13-49.
JV: No score reported.
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ROCKY GROVE 3 4 7 4 18
WILMINGTON 18 7 13 10 48
ROCKY GROVE — Williams 3-7-12-13, Rice 0-0-3-0, Copley 1-0-0-2, Kee 0-1-2-1, Montgomery 1-0-0-2, Reyburn 0-0-0-0. Totals: 5-8-17-18.
WILMINGTON — Krarup 8-2-3-21, Phanco 0-0-0-0, Dieter 3-0-1-6, Flick 1-1-2-3, Gardner 2-0-0-4, Whiting 1-0-0-2, Graham 2-0-0-6, Deal 0-0-0-0, Deems 0-0-0-0, Brewer 3-0-0-6, Klamut 0-0-0-0. 3-pt. goals: Krarup 3, Graham 2. Totals: 20-3-6-48.
JV: No game.
