wpial basketball

Wolverines Knock Off Yough, Qualify For PIAA Playoffs

Joseph Roth and the Ellwood City Wolverines boys basketball have qualified for the PIAA State Playoffs after collecting a 40-37 victory over Yough on Wednesday in a 7th place WPIAL Class-3A consolation game. Roth scored 21 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, and sank two critical free throws with less than five seconds remaining in the contest. The senior now has 2,049 career points. The game featured two 2,000 career point scorers as Yough senior Terek Crosby scored 21 points to push his career total to 2,036 in defeat. Crosby accounted for all 14 of the Cougars points in…


Wolverines Upset Bid Falls Short, Defeated by Deer Lakes In Overtime Thriller

Senior Joseph Roth eclipsed a career scoring milestone Thursday night, but the #9 seeded Wolverines were knocked off by defending champion Deer Lakes 39-38 in overtime on a buzzer beater. The Wolverines led by as many as seven points early in the fourth quarter, and by as many as five points in overtime but missed layups and continued turnovers spelled doom for Ellwood City. In the low scoring affair, Ellwood City overcame first quarter jitters and turnovers and used a late second quarter surge to earn a 18-17 halftime lead. Roth scored 10 of his game-high 20 points in the…


Wolverines Beat Washington 53-36, Advance To Quarterfinals

A strong second quarter propelled the Wolverines to a 53-36 victory over Washington Monday night in its WPIAL 3A opening round playoff contest. After a fast paced first frame that saw Ellwood City lead 17-11, the Wolverines held the Prexies scoreless for more than half the second quarter to separate and extend its lead to 29-15 at intermission. Two third quarter 3-pointers by Nate Williams and 10 second half points by Joseph Roth helped the Wolverines secure the victory. The Wolverines, who never trailed in the game, connected on five 3-pointers in the contest. Roth scored 10 of his game-high…


PLAYOFFS! EC Basketball Teams Have Opening Round Match-Ups Announced

For the first time in 25 years, both the Ellwood City boys and girls basketball teams have qualified for their respective WPIAL Playoffs in the same season. The Ellwood City boys (15-7 Overall, 9-3 Section 3A-1), winners of five consecutive games and 10 of their last 11 games, earned a 9-seed in the WPIAL Class 3A Playoffs and will face Washington on Monday, February 19th. The defacto road game for the Wolverines will be played at Washington High School at 7:00 p.m. The Little Prexies finished 14-7 on the regular season and shared a Section 3A-2 title with Yough with…


PHOTOS: Roth Sets Career Scoring Mark, Wolverines Beat Riverside 73-45

Joseph Roth is now the all-time leading scorer in Ellwood City boys basketball history. The senior knocked down a free throw midway through the second quarter that gave him 1,939 career points, breaking the career scoring record previously held by Dan Aloi. Roth finished with 18 points in the 73-45 rivalry victory over Riverside Friday night. The senior night game boasted a platform for the four Ellwood City seniors to shine, and all took advantage with big games for the Wolverines. Ryan Widmaier scored 17 points (three 3-pointers), Colton Crizer finished with 11 points (three 3-pointers, seven assists), and Nate…


PHOTOS: Wolverines Clinch Playoff Berth With 60-31 Victory Over Riverside

The Ellwood City girls basketball team used a decisive third quarter to race away from rival Riverside Monday evening and pick-up a 60-31 RivEll Cup victory that secured a Class 3A playoff berth. The Wolverines used a 24-4 third quarter onslaught to pull away from the visiting Panthers. Claire Noble led all scorers with 25 points including five 3-pointers to pace the Ellwood City offense. Delaney Sturgeon (13 points, 5-6 free throws) and Caitlin Kreitzer (10 points) joined Noble in double figures. Riverside struck early with Camryn Friello leading the way with a 3-point barrage. Friello scored 12 of her…


Lady Wolverines Knock Off Section Leading Lancers

Just days after the boys basketball team defeated Neshannock, the Ellwood City girls basketball team went on the road and upset the section-leading Lady Lancers 67-60 Thursday night. Five Wolverines scored in double figures in the sound victory as Ellwood City led throughout the contest in handing the Lancers (11-5 Overall, 5-1 Section 3A-1) their first section loss. Delaney Sturegon scored a team-high 16 points to pace the Wolverines offense. Elsie Sturgeon scored 14 points and Claire Noble posted 13 points in the victory. Kayla Jones and Caitlin Kreitzer each connected on two 3-pointers and finished with 12 points respectively….


PHOTOS: Wolverines Defeat Rival Panthers 58-32

Ellwood City collected a section victory on the road Tuesday night, picking up a 58-32 victory over the Riverside Panthers. Joseph Roth led all scorers with 19 points and was among seven Wolverines who scored in the victory.  Roth finished with 13 rebounds and five assists. Colten Crizer (12 points, five rebounds, four assists) and Nate Williams (10 points, two 3-pointers) joined Roth in double figures. Check out this @josephroth51 coach-to-coast one-handed slam! So monstrous that the stream literally crashed five seconds later. pic.twitter.com/LrgvZOAZMv — Lawrence County SportsNet (@LCSportsNet) January 17, 2024 Ellwood City led 30-14 at halftime and outscored…


McDade, Fox Combine to Lead Panthers To 69-58 Victory Over Lions

The inside-outside duo of Darren McDade and Drake Fox combined to score 36 points as the Riverside Panthers defeated New Brighton 69-58 Wednesday night. Fox drained four 3-pointers on the evening while McDade poured in 12 first half points to lead the victors. The Panthers led 33-32 at halftime and erupted for 24 points in a pivotal third quarter to stretch their advantage. Rob Janis (15 points) and McCartney Plassmeyer (11 points, two 3-pointers) also scored double figures for Riverside. Taylor scored a game-high 23 points in defeated for the Lions. The win snaps a six game losing streak for…


Wolverines Basketball Teams Each Rout New Brighton

The Ellwood City Girls Basketball Team routed New Brighton 69-15 Monday night, improving their record to 5-1 on the young season. Kayla Jones poured in a game-high 23 points to lead the offensive charge as the visiting Wolverines. Ellwood City used an impressive 22-1 first quarter spurt to quickly dismantle the Lions as the Wolverines led 48-4 at halftime. Cailtin Kreitzer added 15 points for Ellwood City as seven Wolverines scored in the contest. Ellwood City hosts two more home games this week ahead of a Shenango Christmas Tournament. The Lady Wolverines host Aliquippa on Wednesday night and Wilmington Area…