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GAME SUMMARIES

LADY TIGERS LOOKING FOR ANOTHER
WIN AGAINST BETHEL PARK

In late December, the Lady Tigers defeated Bethel Park 56-50 to win the North Allegheny Holiday Tournament.  On Friday night at Baldwin High School, a trip to the WPIAL semifinals is on the line when these two teams lock horns again.  Since that earlier meeting, both teams have posted identical 13-3 records, including first round playoff wins.  North Allegheny has reached the Quad-A quarterfinals with a 66-50 victory over Hempfield last week.  Bethel Park earned 40-23 win over the pesky North Hills Indians in a defensive battle.

Defense is the name of the game for Bethel Park.  The third-seeded Blackhawks allow a Quad-A low 37 points per game.  The Blackhawks limit opponents with intense ball pressure, forcing turnovers and converting those miscues into points.  Senior point guard Candace Martino is the cornerstone of the offense setting up teammates with dynamic passes and averaging 15 points per game.  Martino is the leading scorer for Bethel Park and will play at Akron University next year.  Freshman Megan Marecic is another productive player, averaging 14 points per game.  Marecic, who stands at 5-11, plays with more poise than your typical freshman.

When the Lady Tigers defeated the Blackhawks in December, they did it by beating Bethel Park at their own game.  NA forced six fourth quarter turnovers, manufacturing them into seven points at a pivotal juncture of the game.  Another key to the Lady Tigers win was their ability to knock down free throws.  With two minutes to go, NA led 48-47.  The Lady Tigers outscored Bethel Park 8-3 during the remainder of the game, scoring all eight points at the free-throw line.  If North Allegheny can duplicate that effort, another playoff game next week should await them.  In the earlier meeting with Bethel Park, Holiday Tournament MVP Kelly Brennan scored 21 points and Alexis Aiken chipped in with 10.

Tip-off for Friday night’s game between North Allegheny and Bethel Park is set for 6:30 pm.  Hear all the action live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network.  Pre-game coverage begins at approximately 6:20 pm. 

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LADY TIGERS RUN PAST HEMPFIELD,
BETHEL PARK REMATCH AWAITS

To hear a rebroadcast of the game, click here!

The North Allegheny girls survived an abysmal start, and a halftime deficit, on their way to a decisive 66-43 win against the Hempfield Lady Spartans at Plum High School on Friday night.  The victory was the first playoff win for the Lady Tigers under coach Sherri McConnell.  Kelly Brennan led the way with 25 points, including 3 three-pointers.  Alexis Aiken had another double-double, scoring 17 while grabbing 11 boards.  Off the bench, Maddie Nellis sank two threes and dished out 6 assists, earning Wright Automotive Player of the Game honors.

Hempfield raced out to an 8-0 lead, as North Allegheny turned the ball over on each of their first six possessions.  They extended their lead to 14-3 halfway through the first quarter, cashing in off of turnovers, with the possible upset clearly on their mind.  Despite the contest being lopsided early, North Allegheny did not panic, and adjusted their game.  Consecutive buckets by Calabrese, Brennan, and Nellis closed the gap to 14-10 as the quarter expired.

As the second quarter progressed, North Allegheny began to capitalize in transition and off the dribble.  The girls exploited these advantages, and Hempfield's early stranglehold continued to evaporate.  Brennan and Jessica Mancosh sank back-to-back fast break layups, giving the Lady Tigers their first lead at 19-18.  The teams traded points for the remainder of the half, with Hempfield getting the final basket and earning a two-point lead at halftime. 

North Allegheny emerged from the locker room energized and immediately began imposing their will.   Brennan, Nellis, and Aiken knifed through Hempfield’s tired defense, finding open lanes and open teammates for easy buckets.  On defense the Tigers clamped down, particularly in the paint, thanks to Calabrese, Leah Haas, and Sam Blue, as their aggressive pressure led to several Spartan turnovers.  The dominating performance led to a 24-5 run after halftime.  As the final quarter began, the Lady Tigers had the game firmly in hand, expanding their lead to 23.  Hempfield slightly cut into it in the final minute of regulation, but by then the outcome was already certain.

Thankful to be advancing after the opening quarter scare, North Allegheny will now face Bethel Park next weekend in the second round of the WPIAL playoffs.  The Lady Hawks lost at North Allegheny during their Christmas tournament in one of the most exciting girls basketball games of the season.  The rematch is sure to be another intense matchup with a berth in the semifinals at stake.  Site and time for the game will be determined soon.  Check the North Allegheny Sports Network for all WPIAL basketball playoff coverage.  For the complete playoff brackets, Click Here.

BOX SCORE (UNOFFICIAL)

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NA POUNDS RIVAL NORTH HILLS IN REGULAR SEASON FINALE

The Lady Tigers enter the WPIAL Playoffs on a seven game winning streak, capping off their regular season schedule with a 53-32 pummeling of the North Hills Indians on Thursday night.  A close first quarter had NA leading by only two points at 12-10, but things changed quickly in the second period.  The Lady Tigers outscored North Hills 32-12 over the next two quarters to bury the Indians. 

Alexis Aiken and Zoe Calabrese each scored 13 points for North Allegheny, while Kelly Brennan added another 12.  NA's 42% shooting in the first half lifted the Tigers to their big lead.  The North Allegheny defense was all over the court, forcing 12 turnovers and holding North Hills to just 21% shooting for the game.  No players reached double-digits for the Indians.  Megan Hans, Ali Patton and Emma Wingerd all scored eight points each. 

North Allegheny finishes the regular season in third place in Section-3 with a section mark of 9-3 and 19-3 record overall.  North Hills will still make the playoffs despite their loss to NA.  Thanks to a Pine-Richland loss to Shaler on Thursday night, the Indians and Rams remain tied for the fourth spot in the section with a record of 4-8.  North Hills and Pine-Richland will both make the playoffs since the head-to-head tiebreaker is 1-1.  The Lady Tigers and head coach Sherri McConnell will await their seeding and opponent for the WPIAL playoffs which will be determined Tuesday night at the Tournament Pairings Meeting in Greentree.    

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LADY TIGERS DEVASTATE
SENECA VALLEY 94-41

To hear an archived broadcast of the game, click here!

North Allegheny continued their hot streak toward the playoffs, winning their sixth game in-a-row on Monday night by dominating Seneca Valley, 94-41.  With pinpoint shooting from beyond the arc, the Lady Tigers gave the Raiders little chance in a game that was controlled by NA from the outset and until its very end.  The Lady Tigers shot 46% from the field and knocked down 16 three-pointers in their highest scoring output of the season. 

Nine different Tigers scored in the game with seven of them draining at least one trey.  Junior Jessica Mancosh was simply on fire, hitting six three-pointers on her way to a 20 point contest.  While Mancosh led all scorers, she was hardly the only player with a big scoring night.  On senior night, Kelly Brennan fittingly notched 19 points after only posting two points by halftime.  During a string in the fourth quarter, Brennan hit four consecutive three-point shots to pull NA near century mark in scoring.  Once again, junior Alexis Aiken claimed a double-double by scoring 18 points and pulling down 13 rebounds.  Senior Zoe Calabrese was also strong on the boards with 11 rebounds and scoring eight points.  As a team, the Lady Tigers out-rebounded Seneca Valley 53-22.  North Allegheny was also happy to have junior Chrissy Figan back in the line-up.  After missing the last three games with injury, Figan returned by scoring 10 points in just 12 minutes of playing time.  Contributing in nearly every stat category, Figan was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.     

The numerous scorers helped NA build a 25-9 lead at the end of the first quarter and a 48-16 advantage by halftime.  To their credit, Seneca Valley wouldn’t go down without a fight in the game.  Playing without three starters, including leading scorer Alex Karika who were suspended by Head Coach Rob Lombardo for the night, the Raiders opened the second half with a flurry of points.  Seneca Valley’s 18 points in the third quarter was more than they scored throughout the entire first half.  Karlei Fronzaglio and Alyssa Miller put up most of the fight for the Raiders, notching 11 and 10 points respectively.  Ultimately it was nowhere near enough for Seneca Valley to catch the Tigers. 

North Allegheny’s defense was also stout, forcing 22 turnovers.  In fact, the Tigers defensive pressure is what sapped the life from Seneca Valley early in the game as NA outscored their opponent 19-2 in the first half in the points off of turnovers category.  From the opening tip, the Tigers defense had the Raiders ball handlers under siege.   

The Lady Tigers have now won nine of their last 10 games and will head into the playoffs on a role.  North Allegheny’s overall record is 18-3 and 8-3 in section play.  Seneca Valley falls to 6-13 and 2-8 in the section.  Only one more regular season game remains on the schedule for the Lady Tigers as NA visits North Hills on Thursday night.  Seneca Valley faces Oakland Catholic tonight.   

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY 94   SENECA VALLEY 41

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LADY TIGERS CRUSH BUTLER, 73-39

The Lady Tigers won their fifth game in-a-row and clinched a playoff spot by dismantling Butler 73-39 on Saturday afternoon.  North Allegheny breezed by the Golden Tornado with ease, jumping on their foes from the outset.  NA outscored Butler 23-8 in the first quarter and then raced to the victory.

Three different Lady Tigers netted double-digits in the game, and the team was paced by senior Kelly Brennan’s 21 points.  Alexis Aiken posted another double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.  Senior Leah Haas came up with her biggest scoring output of the year, adding 14 points.  For Butler, Caitlin Baxter finished with a double-double, notching 16 points and 10 rebounds.

This rout for North Allegheny was keyed by outstanding team shooting from the field.  The Lady Tigers hit 50% on field goals while holding Butler to just 26% shooting.  Butler’s shooting did improve in the second half but by then the outcome had already been decided.

North Allegheny is now 17-3 on the season and 7-3 in Section-3, just one game behind second place Oakland Catholic.  Butler falls to 3-15 overall and 1-9 in section play.  The Lady Tigers will next face Seneca Valley on Monday night.  Tip-off is slated for 7:30 pm.  You can hear all the action live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network. 

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY 73   BUTLER 39

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NA SHOOTS DOWN OAKLAND CATHOLIC

The Lady Tigers avenged an earlier loss to fourth-ranked Oakland Catholic by soaring over the Eagles on Thursday night for a 48-42 victory.  Zoe Calabrese's double-double led the way for the Tigers.  Calabrese netted 14 points and pulled down 12 rebounds.  Junior Alexis Aiken added 14 points of her own in the victory. 

Oakland Catholic held a 13-8 lead after the first period, but NA grabbed the lead by outscoring the Eagles 16-9 in the second quarter.  Exiting intermission with a 24-22 lead, the Lady Tigers would edge their lead up for the eventual six point win. 

The victory keeps North Allegheny’s hopes for the second spot in Section-3 alive, putting the Lady Tigers 1 ½ games behind Oakland Catholic with three section games remaining on the schedule.  The Eagles are currently 8-2 in the section and 12-7 overall.  With the victory, North Allegheny is 6-3 in section play and 16-3 overall.  The Lady Tigers host last place Butler on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 pm.  A win over Butler would clinch a playoff spot for NA.  

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY 48   OAKLAND CATHOLIC 42

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LADY TIGERS TOP PENN HILLS, 60-50
 

The Lady Tigers won their third game in-a-row on Friday night by defeating the Penn Hills Indians 60-50 in a non-section road match-up.  North Allegheny used a huge fourth quarter to pull the game away from Penn Hills.  The Indians led much of the night, leading 38-34 going into the final quarter.  However, the Lady Tigers put together a late scoring outburst thanks to senior Kelly Brennan and junior Jessica Mancosh.  NA outscored the Indians 26-12 in the fourth to earn the 10 point victory.  Brennan led the way for the Lady Tigers with all of her 18 points coming in the fourth quarter. Mancosh added another 10 points in the game, including two treys.  Lisa Burton posted 16 points for Penn Hills.  Lauren Krachala scored another 15 for the Indians.

North Allegheny improves to 15-3 on the season while Penn Hills drops to 3-15.  The Lady Tigers will be in action again on Monday night for a home Section-3 meeting with the Butler Golden Tornado.  Tip-off is slated for 7:30 pm and will broadcast live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY 60    PENN HILLS 50

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LADY TIGERS CRUSH LATROBE 68-34

The Lady Tigers wasted little time in disposing of the Latrobe Wildcats with a 68-34 blowout win on Thursday night.  The Tigers were unwelcome hosts for the Wildcats in this non-section game, pummeling Latrobe from the opening tip.  Senior Leah Haas opened the game with a wide open two point bucket to give NA a quick 2-0 lead.  That was followed by a three-point shot from junior Jessica Mancosh and the rout was on.  North Allegheny led 21-9 after the first period and held a 38-15 lead by halftime.

North Allegheny guard Kelly Brennan spurred on the blowout with an exceptional shooting night, hitting 10 of 22 shots, including three from beyond the arc en route to a 23 point game.  For her efforts, Brennan was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.  Alexis Aiken also touched double-digits in the win, finishing with 10 points and seven rebounds.  In all, nine different Tigers chipped in with points in a dominating win.

For Latrobe, April Kravoniak led in scoring with 11 points.  Val Dunlap posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.  Despite their best efforts, the Wildcats were clearly outmatched in this one.

North Allegheny improves to 14-3 on the season while Latrobe falls to 3-13.  The Lady Tigers are back in action tonight as North Allegheny visits the Penn Hills Indians in another non-section meeting.  Tip-off is slated for 7:30 pm.       

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY 68    LATROBE 34

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AIKEN'S DOUBLE-DOUBLE HELPS NA
HAMMER PINE-RICHLAND

To listen to an archived broadcast of the game, click here!

A big second half helped the Lady Tigers bounce back into the win column on Tuesday night with a 60-45 road victory over Pine-Richland.  North Allegheny traded jabs with the Lady Rams in the first half as the Tigers held a 24-22 lead at halftime.  Junior Alexis Aiken delivered the haymakers in the second half, scoring 20 of her 26 points over the final 16 minutes of the game to spur on the Lady Tigers to the victory.  Aiken shot 8 of 12 from the field and pulled down 12 rebounds to post a double-double.

As Aiken decimated the Pine-Richland defense, the Rams offense could do very little to score points of their own.  Pine-Richland shot just 25% from the field and 13% from beyond the arc.  Only one Pine-Richland player touched double-digits in the game as junior Emily Johanson attacked the cylinder effectively for a 16 point effort.  Along with Aiken’s big scoring night, Kelly Brennan posted 12 points for the Lady Tigers.  As a team, NA hit shots at a 39% clip for the game and 43% from three-point land. 

By completing the season sweep of Pine-Richland, North Allegheny’s record now sits 13-3 and 5-3 in the section.  Pine-Richland falls to 4-8 on the year and 1-6 in section play.  The Lady Tigers are back in action on Thursday evening with a non-section contest against Latrobe.  Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 pm.  The game will be carried live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network.   

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY 60    PINE-RICHLAND 45

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SHALER GIRLS KNOCK OFF LADY TIGERS, COMPLETE SEASON SWEEP, 56-31
 

North Allegheny entered Friday's home contest looking to avenge one of their two losses on the season.  However, Shaler's physical play and rebounding ability was too much, as they manhandled North Allegheny in the paint on their way to a 56-31 victory.  Jessica Mancosh, the Wright Automotive Player of the Game, led the Lady Tigers with 15 points, including three buckets from behind the arc.  Alexis Aiken contributed 7 points, while Sam Blue grabbed a team-high 8 rebounds.

Entering tonight's clash on a three game win streak, North Allegheny was eager to get even after an early season loss at Shaler.  In that game, senior Kelly Brennan led the Lady Tigers with 20 points, including her 1000th point of her career.  Shaler was able to limit NA to just 15 second half points and won the game going away, 52-41. 

Tonight was more of the same.  The game was extremely physical from the opening tip, as NA held a slight lead at the end of the first quarter.  Mancosh scored her team's first four points of the game.  However, she was also called for two early fouls, leading her to spend much of the first half on the bench.  She was not the only one dealing with foul trouble.  Four North Allegheny players had at least two fouls heading into halftime.  In spite of the juggling lineups, North Allegheny trailed by just four points at the intermission.

Following a Shaler layup to kick off the second half, Brennan knocked down a 3-pointer to pull the Lady Tigers within three.  Yet, that was as close as North Allegheny would get.  Following the Brennan bucket, Shaler went on a 15-3 run to close the quarter.  The spurt was generated primarily by command of the boards, and scoring down low off second chance points.  NA never recovered and limped towards the finish line, ending the game with just twelve second half points.  Overall, Shaler enjoyed a 41-27 edge in rebounding, including a staggering 24 offensive rebounds. 

The victory puts Shaler at 12-2, 6-1 in the section, trailing first place Oakland Catholic by just one game.  Meanwhile, North Allegheny falls to 12-3, with a 4-3 mark in conference play, snapping their three game win streak.  The Lady Tigers will look to start a new streak Tuesday, when they travel to Pine-Richland.  The game will be broadcast on the North Allegheny Sports Network, with tip-off scheduled for 6:30 pm.

GAME SUMMARY
SHALER 56 - NORTH ALLEGHENY 31

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NA BENCH, PERIMETER SHOOTING TOPPLES NORTH HILLS 57-35

To listen to an archived broadcast of the game, click here!

With strong outside shooting and tremendous play off the bench, North Allegheny cruised to a 57-35 win over North Hills on Monday night.  Both teams traded jabs in the early going as NA either tied or trailed in the game throughout most of the first quarter.  North Hills did well to grab numerous offensive rebounds within the first few minutes of the game, but the Lady Indians could not capitalize on the second and third chance opportunities. Those missed points would haunt North Hills before game’s end.  With North Allegheny trailing North Hills 9-7 in the closing seconds of the first quarter, sophomore Sam Blue came off the bench and canned a three-pointer before the buzzer to give NA a 10-9 lead.  The Lady Tigers remained in front of North Hills the rest of the night.

The Tigers owned a 14-13 lead with 4:25 remaining in the second quarter when NA grasped control of the game.  Behind their perimeter shooting, the Lady Tigers pulled away from North Hills, using a 13-2 run to balloon their lead to 27-15 by halftime.  The NA run started with a trey by Maddie Nellis and included three-pointers by senior Kelly Brennan and sharpshooting junior Jessica Mancosh.  Blue capped the run with an offensive rebound and two-point field goal. 

In a victory over Pine-Richland last week, North Hills overcame a three-point deficit at halftime by outscoring the Rams 22-10 in the second half.  The Indians would have no such luck against the Tigers on this night.  North Allegheny opened the second half with a Mancosh three-pointer and the rout was on.

On their way to the 22 point victory, the Lady Tigers hit 50% from three-point land, knocking down 11 of 22 shots.  Thanks to Alexis Aiken’s 15 rebounds, the Tigers dominated North Hills in second chance point opportunities, outscoring the Indians 12-4 in that category.  On a fantastic night for Blue and Nellis, the NA bench outscored North Hills 16-0.  Blue finished the game with nine points, six rebounds, two blocks and a steal.  For her efforts, Blue was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game. 

Aiken led all scorers with 15 points.  Mancosh added 12 and Brennan notched 10.  For North Hills, Alli Patton scored 12 and Megan Hans chipped in with 10.  The North Allegheny defense held the Indians to 28% shooting from the field. 

With the win, North Allegheny improves to 12-2 overall and 4-2 in the section.  North Hills falls to 8-6 and 3-3 in section play.  Up next for the Tigers is a big game against section foe Shaler on Friday night.  The game will be carried live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network.  Tip-off is slated for 6:30 pm.           

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 57  NORTH HILLS - 35  

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NA TAMES BOBCATS 61-46

North Allegheny took command of the game in the first quarter and coasted to a 61-46 win over the Beaver Bobcats on Friday night in a non-section game.  The Lady Tigers fell behind in the first couple minutes of the game, 4-2, but then ran off 13 straight points to grab a 15-4 lead in the first quarter.  With the Tigers trailing 4-2 in the early stages, Kelly Brennan hit a three pointer from the corner to give NA a lead they would never relinquish.

Brennan provided 14 first half points to help send the Lady Tigers into the locker room with a 33-18 lead.  NA maintained that lead throughout the second half, thanks to a 20 point night by junior Alexis Aiken and a 13 point effort by junior Jessica Mancosh.  After a strong night beyond the arc on Thursday against Seneca Valley, the Tigers hit 8 of 10 three-point tries in this contest against Beaver. 

For one brief moment in the fourth quarter, Beaver had cut NA's lead to nine points on a three-point shot by Kate O'Neill, but the Lady Tigers answered with back to back three pointers by Mancosh and Aiken to return the Tigers lead to 15.  North Allegheny held off the Bobcats in the final few minutes for a 61-46 victory.  In another impressive performance, Aiken was named the Wright Automotive Player of the game.   Along with 20 points, Aiken led the Tigers with six steals and five rebounds.  Zoe Calabrese was also strong on the glass with five boards.  The Bobcats were paced by O'Neill's 12 points.  Ally Dehart and Shelby Lloyd each notched 11 points.

The Lady Tigers improve to 11-2 overall and will host North Hills in an important section game on Monday night.  The game will be carried live over the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network.     

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 61  BEAVER - 41  

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LADY TIGERS SINK THREES AND RAIDERS, 65-44

North Allegheny rebounded nicely from a loss earlier this week to Oakland Catholic by pummeling Seneca Valley on Thursday night 65-44.  Senior Kelly Brennan buried four three-pointers on her way to a 27 point performance.  As a team, NA knocked down a total of nine treys.  Jessica Mancosh added three from beyond the arc for nine points.  Paige Hufnagel and Zoe Calabrese joined the parade of three's by dropping in one each. 

The Lady Tigers used the perimeter shooting, and 26 Seneca Valley turnovers, to gain control of the game in the second half.  The Raiders held steady with NA in the early going, actually leading the game 17-15 after the first quarter.  Alex Karika paced the Raiders with 17 points on the night. 

North Allegheny took the lead by halftime, 29-26, and took command in the third quarter.  The Lady Tigers outscored Seneca Valley 23-12 in the third quarter in large part to their excellent outside shooting.  From the field, NA hit 41% in the game.   The Tigers defense owned Seneca Valley in the fourth quarter, limiting them to just six points over the final eight minutes.

The Lady Tigers improve their overall record to 10-2 on the season and their section mark to 3-2.  The Raiders fall to 5-7 and 1-4 in section play.  NA will host Beaver Area tonight.  Tip-off is slated for 7:30.  The game will be carried live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network. 

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 65  SENECA VALLEY - 44  

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OAKLAND CATHOLIC TOPS NA 62-45

Oakland Catholic remained perfect in Section-3 play as the Eagles soared over the North Allegheny Lady Tigers on Monday night, 62-45.  The inside game of Chrissy Beranato, coupled with the outside shooting of Corey Taglianetti, proved to be too much in the end for North Allegheny.  Taglianetti dropped in 17 points, including four three-pointers, and Beranato added 12 points from the paint.

The duo helped Oakland Catholic race out to a 9-0 lead just minutes into the ballgame.  After a time-out by NA coach Sherri McConnell, the Tigers clawed their way back into the contest.  With baskets by several different players, including Kelly Brennan, Maddie Nellis and Alexis Aiken, North Allegheny went on a 9-2 run to trim the Oakland Catholic lead to 11-9 late in the first period.

North Allegheny went toe-to-toe with the top-ranked Eagles, trailing by just four points late in the first half at 20-16.  However, NA went several trips up the floor with an opportunity to trim the deficit even further, but could not capitalize.  Instead, Oakland Catholic went on a 6-0 run in the final two minutes of the half to take a 26-16 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Oakland Catholic took a strangle hold of the ballgame over the next eight minutes by outscoring NA 21-10 in the third quarter.  Along with big games by Beranato and Taglianetti, Ally Schmidt touched double-digits for the Eagles with 10 points and Bobbi Baker added a dozen.

A feisty Lady Tigers team would not go down without a fight as NA poured in 19 points in the fourth quarter against a stingy Oakland Catholic defense.  Aiken and Jessica Mancosh led the charge, finishing with 11 points each on the night.  Aiken was especially impressive, scoring eight of her 11 points in the second half, and also led the Tigers with 11 rebounds and three steals.  Aiken was chosen as the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.  Despite NA’s best efforts, the Tigers dropped their second game of the season.

North Allegheny falls to 9-2 on the year and 2-2 in section play.  Oakland Catholic remains in first place in the section with a 5-0 mark and 8-3 record overall.  The Lady Tigers are back in action on Thursday night when they visit Seneca Valley.  Tip-off is slated for 7:30 pm.               

GAME SUMMARY
OAKLAND CATHOLIC - 62  NORTH ALLEGHENY - 45    

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NA GIRLS SMOTHER BUTLER, 62-48

Friday night in Butler featured two teams with contrasting records.  North Allegheny entered the game with an 8-1 record, while the Golden Tornado limped in sporting a record of 1-8.  In the end, the stats held true, as North Allegheny was able to run away in the second half, winning by a margin of 62-48.  Three Lady Tigers scored in double figures.  Kelly Brennan and Jessica Mancosh each totaled 15 points, while Alexis Aiken scored a double-double, totaling 14 points and 12 rebounds in the victory.

The game had a sloppy feel from the beginning, as both teams struggled to find their rhythm.  The Lady Tigers had difficulty  stopping Butler guard Caitlin Baxter early on.  Baxter scored 8 of her 22 points in the first quarter, mostly by penetrating the North Allegheny defense off the dribble.  After being tied 18-18 early in the second quarter, Mancosh drilled consecutive threes, part of a 16-1 run by the Lady Tigers.  However, Butler closed the half on a run of their own, cutting the lead to 34-26 at intermission.

To start the second half, The Golden Tornado closed the gap to 34-30, and appeared ready to give North Allegheny a game.  However, Brennan answered with a layup ending the Butler run, while simultaneously jump starting North Allegheny's offense.  Buckets by Brennan and Aiken, and Mancosh's fifth three of the night, helped rebuild a double-digit lead heading into the fourth quarter.  Butler never recovered, and North Allegheny was able to close out their 14 point victory with relative ease.  For her sharp shooting from beyond the arc, Mancosh was selected as the Wright Automotive Player of the Game. 

The Lady Tigers improved to 9-1, including 2-1 in section play.  North Allegheny returns to the court Monday at home against section leader Oakland Catholic.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm.  All the action can be heard on the North Allegheny Sports Network, with the pre-game coverage beginning at 6:50.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 62  BUTLER - 46     

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LADY TIGERS SUFFER FIRST LOSS,
BRENNAN SCORES 1,000th POINT

Following a win over Bethel Park last week at the North Allegheny Holiday Tournament, the Lady Tigers jumped to number one in the Post-Gazette and Tribune Review rankings.  Bringing that top-ranking into Shaler on Tuesday night, NA dropped their first game of the season to the Titans, 52-41. 

Despite the loss, there was a bright spot for the Tigers.  Senior guard Kelly Brennan led NA with 20 points on the night, and in the process, scored her 1,000th point of her high school career.  Brennan currently has 1,002 career points.  She will continue playing basketball next year at Seton Hill.

Shaler, who blew a 12-point halftime lead to Oakland Catholic on Monday night, would not allow the Lady Tigers an opportunity to battle back in this game.  Led by Senior forward Hilary Sauer's 19 points, the Titans held NA to 37 % shooting from the field.  Shaler also outrebounded the Lady Tigers 26-14.  The Titans were aided by Valerie McQuade's 14 points and Shannon Powell's 10 points.

The Lady Tigers fall to 8-1 on the season and 1-1 in Section-3.  Shaler, who’s also ranked in the top five in most polls, improves to 7-2 overall and 2-1 in the section.  North Allegheny is back in action on Friday night when the Lady Tigers visit Butler at 6:00 pm.  The game will be carried live over the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network.

GAME SUMMARY
SHALER - 52  NORTH ALLEGHENY - 41     

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NA WINS BATTLE OF UNBEATEN TEAMS, DROPS BETHEL PARK 56-50

In a battle of the undefeated, the Lady Tigers handed Bethel Park their first loss of the season with a 56-50 win in the finals of the North Allegheny Holiday Tournament on Wednesday night.  Thanks to tournament MVP Kelly Brennan’s 21 points, the Lady Tigers were able to knock off the second-ranked team in Class AAAA on the MSA Sports Top Ten rankings.  North Allegheny currently sits at number four on the MSA Sports poll.

The Blackhawks were flying high early in the contest, scoring the game’s first five points on a three-pointer and two foul shots by senior guard Candace Martino.  Weathering the early Bethel Park surge, North Allegheny went on an 11-0 run to grab an 11-5 lead with 3:21 remaining in the first period.  That advantage would swell to ten points for the Lady Tigers at 24-14 early in the second quarter in large part to Paige Hufnagel and Zoe Calabrese.  The two NA seniors combined for 13 points in the first half and provided a physical presence against the Blackhawks.  Also aiding the Lady Tigers was the early foul trouble for Bethel Park’s 5-11 freshman, Megan Marecic.  Charged with three fouls within the first 16 minutes of the contest, Marecic was forced to spend more time on the bench than she would’ve liked.  Marecic would eventually foul out in the fourth quarter.

Bethel Park used a 12-5 run to trim North Allegheny’s lead to three by halftime.  Starting the second half with a 29-26 advantage, Brennan tried to set the tone for the Tigers by burying a three-pointer on the first possession out of the locker room to increase the score to 32-26.  Unfazed though, Bethel Park scored the next seven points to grab a 33-32 lead on a shot by Marecic.  The Blackhawks’ lead was short lived however as the Tigers instantly answered with a drive to the hoop by Alexis Aiken to make it 34-33, North Allegheny.  After a Brennan free-throw and a Calabrese bucket, NA advanced their lead to 37-33 with just under five minutes left in the third period.  Bethel Park responded with a Kara Rayburn jumper and two Martino free-throws to tie the score at 37-37.  After a Hufnagel foul on Martino, the Bethel Park senior hit one of two free throws to put the Blackhawks in front again at 38-37.  As was the case earlier, NA didn’t allow the Blackhawks to enjoy the lead for long.  Brennan hit one of two free throws to knot the score at 38-38 and Aiken gave the Tigers the lead again at 40-38 before the end of the third quarter. 

Despite Bethel Park’s best efforts, the Tigers would not relinquish the lead again.  The NA defense was the difference in the final quarter of the game, forcing six turnovers and converting them into seven points.  Aiken was also huge for the Tigers late in the game, scoring all 10 of her points in the second half to lift NA to the 56-50 victory.  Overall, Brennan was the standout player on this night as she earned the Wright Automotive Player of the Game Award to go along with her Tournament MVP trophy.  For Bethel Park, Martino led the Blackhawks in scoring with 18 points, followed by Marecic’s 11 points. 

With the victory, North Allegheny improves to 8-0 on the season while Bethel Park drops to 7-1 on the year.  The Lady Tigers will have some time to enjoy the New Year’s Holiday before visiting Shaler in a section match-up next Tuesday.   Bethel Park takes on Peters Township on Monday.       

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 56  BETHEL PARK - 50

North Allegheny Holiday Girls' All-Tournament Team
 

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LADY TIGERS OUTLAST MEADVILLE 55-47

The Lady Tigers advanced to the finals of the North Allegheny Holiday Tournament with a 55-47 win over Meadville on Tuesday afternoon.  North Allegheny grabbed the early lead behind red hot shooting from three-point land.  Opening up a 13-4 lead in the first four minutes of the game, the Lady Tigers used treys from Kelly Brennan, Alexis Aiken, Chrissy Figan and Jessica Mancosh.  After a time out and some defensive adjustments, Meadville chipped at NA’s lead to 16-10 by the end of the first period.

Both teams traded points and frequent turnovers over the next two periods as North Allegheny held a 37-30 lead heading into the final quarter of the ballgame.  Seniors Paige Hufnagel and Zoe Calabrese helped the Lady Tigers go on an 8-2 run to start the fourth period to increase the NA lead to 45-32.  Hufnagel hit a three-pointer early in the period and Calabrese led the Tigers with her ferocious defense and rebounding, collecting two blocks and five boards.  Calabrese also added 10 points offensively and was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.   

While the North Allegheny lead swelled to 13 points early in fourth, Meadville battled back into the game on the back of Toni Feidler.  The Bulldogs’ senior posted 19 points, most of which came down low.  Thanks in large part to Feidler, Meadville cut North Allegheny’s advantage to just 49-44 with just two minutes remaining.  The Lady Tigers outlasted Meadville in the end, milking time off the clock with excellent passing.  With free-throws from Calabrese, Brennan and Hufnagel in the final moments of the game, the Lady Tigers put the game out of reach for a 55-47 win. 

Despite a cold shooting night, Brennan still paced the Tigers in scoring with 15 points.  Aiken also hit double digits with 10 points.  For the game, NA dropped in 32% from beyond the arc. 

North Allegheny moves on to play Bethel Park in the championship finals of the NA Holiday Tournament on Wednesday at 6:15 pm.  The Blackhawks easily defeated Fox Chapel 56-31 in the tournament opener.  North Allegheny’s record remains perfect at 7-0.  Meadville, members of District 10, falls to 4-2 on the year.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 55  MEADVILLE - 47

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  LADY TIGERS PLAY GRINCH, STEAL WIN AT PETERS

Chrissy Figan's layup with two minutes remaining capped a furious comeback, as the North Allegheny Lady Tigers erased a double digit second half deficit, stunning Peters Township, 46-39.  North Allegheny trailed from the beginning, including down eleven at the end of the 3rd quarter.  However, with a spectacular fourth quarter surge, the Lady Tigers outscored Peters 22-4 to snatch victory in their last game before Christmas.

Kelly Brennan led NA with 11 points while Alexis Aiken and Zoe Calabrese contributed 10, and 9 points, respectively.  The Lady Tigers fell behind early, shooting just 22% from the field in the first half against Peters Township's 2-3 zone.  They also struggled from the line, hitting just 3 of their first 8 free throws.  Despite their shooting woes, North Allegheny trailed by just seven at halftime. 

Peters extended their lead in the third quarter, with the game seemingly in hand.  In the fourth quarter, the Lady Tigers increased their intensity, challenging every possession, and controlling the boards.  With a series of defensive pressure, offensive rebounds, and points in the paint, the lead slowly evaporated.  Calabrese was a force in the lane, driving on helpless Indian defenders.  Aiken, Brennan, Maddie Nellis, and Leah Haas all sank clutch free throws down the stretch to ultimately put the game out of reach and keep the North Allegheny girls undefeated. 

With the loss, Peters drops their record to 4-3.  The road does not get easier, as their next game will be at home against Bethel Park following the new year.  The North Allegheny girls returns to the hardwood during the NA Holiday Tournament on Tuesday, December 28, against Meadville.  Tip-off for that game is scheduled for 3:30 pm and can be heard on the North Allegheny Sports Network.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 46  PETERS TOWNSHIP - 39

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NA EARNS FIRST SECTION WIN,
REMAINS UNDEFEATED

The Lady Tigers opened section play by thoroughly beating Pine-Richland on Monday night, 65-46.  North Allegheny took command in the first eight minutes of the game and never looked back.  Thanks to an offense that evenly distributed the basketball and Pine-Richland’s inability to hit free-throws, the Tigers opened a 19-5 lead in the first period.  By the time the Lady Rams settled into the game, North Allegheny had built an insurmountable lead.

On their way to a 19 point victory, the Lady Tigers were led by junior Alexis Aiken’s 13 points.  In an all around performance, Aiken also posted three steals, was strong on the boards with five rebounds, and hit nine of ten from the free throw line.  For her efforts, Aiken was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.  Aiken wasn’t the only player to shine for the Tigers.  Junior Jessica Mancosh reached double digits with 10 points, hitting two treys in contest.  Senior Zoe Calabrese was a force, pulling down eight rebounds and chipping in with eight points. 

Collectively the Lady Tigers shot 46% from the field and 71% from the free throw line.  The NA defense held Pine-Richland to 29% shooting from the field.  The Rams didn’t help themselves either by hitting just 15 of 28 from the charity stripe.  Pine-Richland was paced by Kara Peters who posted 13 points in a losing effort.

North Allegheny improves to 5-0 on the season and 1-0 in section play.  Pine-Richland drops to 1-2 and 0-1 in Section-3.  The Lady Tigers are back in action on Thursday night when they visit Peters Township. 

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 65  PINE-RICHLAND - 46

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LADY TIGERS WIN AGAIN, BEAT NORWIN 69-56

North Allegheny continued their impressive start to the season on Thursday night with a 69-56 win over the Norwin Knights.  Playing on the road, the Lady Tigers notched their fourth straight win thanks to a 26 point performance by senior Kelly Brennan.  Norwin kept the game close in the early stages as the Tigers held a 25-22 lead at the half.

The Knights grabbed the lead early in the third quarter, but Brennan and Chandler Caufield wouldn't allow that Norwin lead to last for long.  Caufield finished the game 17 points, including three treys to help NA take a 43- 34 lead after three periods.  Norwin tried using their height advantage in the fourth quarter to climb back in the game.  The Knights owned the inside with a 16-4 advantage in points in the paint in the final period.  Six-foot junior Jen Straw helped pace Norwin with 11 points.  Senior Jenna Demek led the Knights by scoring 18. 

While Norwin went to the inside, the Lady Tigers didn't need to.  NA's sharpshooters continued their barrage on the Norwin cylinder by hitting 52% in the second half.  Despite Norwin's best efforts down low, the Lady Tigers outscored the Knights in the fourth quarter 26-22 to claim a 69-56 win.  Also of note in this victory, everyone player that touched the floor contributed on the scoreboard for North Allegheny.  Behind the high output of Brennan and Caufield, a bevy of different scorers evenly distributed points against the Knights.

Another area that hampered Norwin all night long was free throw shooting.  The Lady Knights shot only 35% from the line.  Norwin also struggled from the three point land, hitting just 1 of 13 shots.  Meanwhile, North Allegheny hit 37% of their shots from beyond the arc. 

With the victory, North Allegheny improves to 4-0 while Norwin drops to 1-3 and will visit Latrobe next week.  The Lady Tigers are back in action on Monday night for their section opener against the Pine-Richland Rams.  The game will be aired live over the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network.  Tip-off is slated for 7:30 pm at North Allegheny High School.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 69  NORWIN - 56

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LADY TIGERS WIN THIRD STRAIGHT,
TOP FOXES 57-33

With a strong defensive effort, North Allegheny defeated Fox Chapel 57-33 in a non-section contest on Monday night.  This game featured two Top 10 teams on the MSA Sports Girls' Basketball rankings, with the Lady Tigers ranked fourth and the Lady Foxes ranked sixth.  Building on a strong showing at the NA Tip-Off Tournament to begin the season, the Lady Tigers rode that momentum into another impressive performance on the road. 

North Allegheny began the game in a flurry, bursting to a 16-4 lead after the first period.  In the opening quarter, and what would be the case throughout the game, Fox Chapel could not handle the Lady Tigers defense.  Fox Chapel gave the ball away on 32 turnovers, allowing NA to score 26 points off of those mistakes. 

The Lady Tigers maintained their lead over the next two periods, taking a 37-24 lead into the final quarter.  That's when North Allegheny put the game away by forcing numerous Fox Chapel errors.  The Tigers scored 10 more points off of Fox Chapel gaffes and outscored the Foxes 20-9 in the fourth quarter.  On offense,  junior Alexis Aiken led the way with 13 points.  Chandler Caufield chipped in with 11 and Kelly Brennan also hit double digits with 10 points. 

With the victory, North Allegheny improves to 3-0 and will visit Norwin on Thursday night.  Fox Chapel falls to 2-1 and travels to Plum on Thursday.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 57  FOX CHAPEL - 33

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LADY TIGERS CLAIM NA TIP-OFF TOURNEY TITLE,
BEAT McDOWELL 62-56

by Lee Mohn

The North Allegheny Lady Tigers took home the trophy at the NA Tip-Off Tournament by beating  Erie McDowell on Saturday afternoon, 62-56.  North Allegheny was down by three points at halftime then fell behind by seven early in the 3rd before going on a 8-0 run and scoring 26 points in the quarter to take control of the game.  Erie McDowell controlled the boards early and often but was plagued by the turnover bug.  They committed 15 turnovers in the first half and 28 for the game.  Kelly Brennan had a lot of success driving the lane and scoring.  The senior guard scored 15 in the first half and ended up with 29 points.  Alexis Aiken also scored in double digits adding 12 points.  For Erie McDowell Krystyn Zech scored 13 off the bench and Maddie Miller scored 11.  North Allegheny is now 2-0 and will face Fox Chapel Monday at 7:30 pm in Fox Chapel.  Kelly Brennan was named the Wright Automotive player of the game with her 29 points scored. 

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 62  ERIE McDOWELL - 56

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LADY TIGERS DOMINATE GATEWAY 76-46
IN SEASON OPENER

The North Allegheny Lady Tigers opened the 2010-11 season with an impressive 76-46 win over the Gateway Gators at the North Allegheny Tip-Off Tournament.  Despite the fact that this game was the season opener, the Lady Tigers appeared to be in mid-season form with crisp passing and four different players posting double digits.  Considered to be one of the top contenders in Section-3, North Allegheny showed the Gators why.

To start the ballgame, last year's team leader in scoring, Kelly Brennan, got the Tigers started by hitting the first bucket of the year to put NA in front 2-0.  From that point on, North Allegheny was off and running.  The Lady Tigers would stay in the lead for the remainder of the game and continued to pull away as the night went on.   Thanks to a pair of treys by Gina Petrilli, Gateway stayed within striking distance after one period of play, trailing the Tigers 19-13.  However, the game would get no closer as NA outscored the Gators 20-4 in the second quarter to hold a 39-17 halftime lead.  The Lady Tigers were anchored in the first half by Brennan and junior Alexis Aiken who each notched 11 points in the first 16 minutes.  Of Aiken's 11 points in the first half, nine came from beyond the arc. 

If the Gators hoped to turn the tide in the second half, those hopes died quickly thanks to NA senior Chandler Caufield.  Burying a pair of three pointers to start the third period, Caufield and the Tigers gave Gateway little chance for a comeback.  Caufield notched 16 second half points on her way to a 20 point night, and was honored for her efforts as the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.  Junior Jessica Mancosh also hit double digits, posting 15 points.  The Lady Tigers were hit their mark throughout the contest, shooting especially well from three point land, connecting on eight treys.  For Gateway, Shane Daye led the Gators in scoring with 10 points.  Sophomore Chelsea Richardson added another nine for Gateway. 

With the win, the Lady Tigers begin the year 1-0 and will take on Erie McDowell Saturday afternoon for the North Allegheny Tip-Off Tournament championship.  McDowell easily handled Penn Hills in their tournament opener.  Game time for NA's meeting with the Trojans is slated for 3:00 pm. The contest will be carried live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 76  GATEWAY - 46

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Any questions or comments should be directed to Athletic Director
Bob Bozzuto at:  bbozzuto@northallegheny.org