High school roundup: Vita Vargo leads Mars girls in win vs Avonworth; Butler boys drop 2nd straight

Eagle Staff Report

December 17, 2024 Last Updated: December 17, 2024 10:40 PM Sports

Mars’ Vita Vargo checks out of the game in the fourth quarter with the Planets in full control of a Section II Class 5A matchup against New Castle at Mars Senior High School on Thursday Feb. 8. Kyle Prudhomme/Butler Eagle

Kyle Prudhomme

Vita Vargo’s 16 points, including three 3-pointers, led Mars to a 60-47 girls basketball victory over host Avonworth on Tuesday.

Cecilia Christy scored 15 points for the Planets (3-2), Carmella McDole added 12 on a trio of 3s.

Greta O'Brien netted 21 points for the Antelopes.

Karns City 38, Cranberry 26 — Brooklynn Taylor and Naomi Venesky scored nine points apiece to lead the Gremlins. Venesky also snagged 11 rebounds and five steals.

Hannah Dailey had 10 rebounds and four points.

Clarion Area 51, Union/A-C Valley 30 — Maddy Dehart had a team-high 13 points in UAC's loss, with Kya Wetzel chipping in 10. Dehart also grabbed 10 boards for a double-double.

Clarion, led by Marley Kline's 18 points, took a 27-11 first-quarter lead and never looked back.

Moniteau 44, Keystone 42 — After losing their first five games, the Warriors (3-5) have won three straight.

Emily Matz led the way with 17 points, and Sayge Brunst scored 12.

Also playing key roles in the victory were Alyssa Thompson (seven boards), Annalyce Baptiste (five steals) and Sophia Fleeger (seven assists).

Boys basketball

Seneca Valley broke a five-game losing streak with a 47-39 win over North Allegheny.

Tyler Pepin scored 27 points for the Raiders (2-6, 1-1), and Nico Santapau chipped in 10.

North Hills 69, Butler 65 — The Golden Tornado led by four points at halftime, but an eight-point third quarter stymied their effort.

Stainton Forbes had a solid night in defeat with 20 points and eight rebounds. Ayden Andrews added 17 points, Kyle Casteel scored 11 and Tayt Lucas posted 10 points and eight assists for Butler (5-2, 0-2).

Knoch 58, Burrell 37 — The Knights were led by Jackson Bauman’s 26 points while teammate Zane Pacek added 12.

Knoch (6-1, 2-0) allowed just 13 points in the second half.

Keystone 61, Moniteau 41 — Even with the Panthers after one quarter, Moniteau was outscored 17-5 in the second period.

Scoring in double digits for the Warriors were Brendin Sankey (12), Connor Ealy (11) and Braden Beachem (10).

Dom Corcetti paced Keystone with 21 points.

St. Joseph 60, Summit Academy 57 — Demetrius Crosby scored 32 points to lead the Knights in a loss. Robert Young added 10.

Swimming

Mars split a meet with Hampton, the Planet girls winning 93-88 and the boys falling 85.5-70.5 to the Talbots.