By MEL PERKINS

The first place Beaver Falls Tigers (13-2, 6-1) came into Northgate's house on Wednesday night, and when the dust had cleared, the Flames had handed the Tigers their first section loss of the season.

The Flames (8-8, 5-3) were badly in need of a section victory after losing to the Quips from Aliquippa the night before, and with Quaker Valley on the scheduled for tonight. It was make or break time for the Flames, and they were up to the challenge.

By JIM RUMBLE

Monday's rivalry game between the Avonworth and Northgate girls basketball teams was cause enough for some excitement when the two local teams got together for their first section meeting on the Flames’ home court. Any thoughts of an upset though by the Flames over the Lady ‘Lopes, however, vanished early on as Avonworth rolled past Northgate 62-13.

Avonworth coach Bob Schulz praised his team for their play, especially on the defensive end where they forced bad shots and created an abundance of turnovers.

By JIM RUMBLE

It was an exceptional week of basketball for the Avonworth girls’ team, which earned two very important wins in section play.

On Thursday, Jan. 5, the Lady ‘Lopes hosted section co-leader Quaker Valley and came from behind to knock off the Quakers in a thriller, 39-38.

The 'Lopes traveled to Sto Rox on Monday, Jan. 9, and took control in the second half on their way to a 44-34 win over the Vikings.

By JIM RUMBLE

Since just before the holiday break, the Northgate girls’ basketball team registered two wins against three losses, but new coach Neal Martin seems encouraged by his young team's effort and hard work.

The Flames scored their second win of the season on Dec. 21, defeating Sewickley Academy 37-36.

They followed with a 63-22 loss on Dec. 27 against Ambridge, a loss against Sewickley Academy 38-26 on Dec. 28, and a section loss this past Monday at Quaker Valley, 69-25.

Northgate changed direction the following night when they defeated Brentwood at home 39-38.

After what could be classified as a successful start to the young basketball season, the Avonworth Antelopes found themselves at a respectable 3-3 record, and with section play in full swing, the boys looked poised for a possible playoff push.

However, over the holiday break, they took their .500 record to a tournament hosted by Carlynton and in the first game took on the Rams of South Side Beaver, whom they found no trouble beating 70-61. Junior Ryan Pearson led the team in points with 22, while senior Brian Vales added another 15.

By JIM RUMBLE

In a quarterfinal game that went down to the wire, the Avonworth football team saw their season come to a close as they were defeated by the Rochester Rams last Friday, 26-22.

"We gave it a good run," said coach Duke Johncour after the game."We came out of the chute slow with a fumble and giving up a couple of big third down conversions, but they made some great plays when they had to and that was the end result." .

By MEL PERKINS

The Northgate Flames and the Avonworth Antelopes scrapped for 48 minutes last Friday night at Northgate's Alumni Stadium. The Flames were defeated 28-20, in a scenario similar to last week's game, but again one characteristic stood out most -- Northgate's unwillingness to give up and their desire to keep fighting.

By JIM RUMBLE

It was just another day at the office for the Avonworth Antelopes when they hosted Our Lady Of Sacred Heart on senior recognition night last Friday.

The Antelopes (7-1), led by Ricky Lawniczak's 166 yards rushing, earned a WPIAL playoff spot by defeating the Chargers 35-10.

Give a lot of credit to the offensive line, which totally dominated the line of scrimmage.

"They blocked well. “We hit the holes hard and we ran very well," said head coach Duke Johncour after the game.

South Side Beaver provided the Avonworth volleyball ladies with a brief scare on Tuesday, winning the opening set 25-21. The girls came out flat while South Side was fighting for last chance playoff hopes.

But the tables quickly turned, with Avonworth storming back, taking three straight sets 25-14, 25-20, and 25-19. The loss bumped the ‘Lopes' rival out of the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.

By MEL PERKINS

The Northgate Flames lit up the scoreboard last Friday night, when the offense exploded and scored 27 points in the first quarter on their way to a 53-22 win over the visiting Riverview Raiders.

The win extended the Flames' winning streak to three, and gives them a conference record of 4-2, with an overall record of 5-2.

The win places Northgate in a tie for third place with the Springdale Dynamos in the WPIAL's Eastern Conference.

Playing through a steady rain on a field that was reduced to a mud pit, the Avonworth Antelopes recorded their second consecutive shut-out when they traveled to Riverview last Saturday.

What was really remarkable was that the Antelopes were able to hang on to the ball under the circumstances while forcing five turnovers by the Raiders on their way to a 26-0 victory.

"We weren't able to throw the ball as much as we would have liked to, but you have to roll with the punches," said head coach Duke Johncour after the game. He added, "Ricky [Lawniczak] ran the ball well."

By MEL PERKINS

The Northgate Flames (2-0) were shooting high Friday night, when they hosted the Crusaders from Bishop Canevin (2-0), but the fire was put out when the Crusaders defense rained on the Northgate parade. The Crusaders, who had given up only 6 points total in their two games this season, held Northgate scoreless, shutting them out 42-0.

Northgate kicked off to the Crusaders to start the game, and right off the bat the Flames snuffed out a very good Crusader offense, after allowing them only one first down before forcing them to punt.