Westmoreland campus clippings: Interest increases for Yough grad, Lackawanna offensive lineman

Scott Houseman almost did not go to Lackawanna, but the hulking linemen sure is glad he did.

Not only did the Yough graduate get to play for a national championship with the Falcons, he also has seen a spike in his recruiting.

A starter on the offensive line this season, the 6-foot-4, 300-pound Houseman has a half-dozen Division I offers, including FBS offers from Southeast Missouri and Louisiana-Monroe.

The others are from FCS programs Delaware State, Merrimack, Robert Morris and St. Francis (Pa.).

“Scotty has done everything they have asked him to do,” said Scott Wood, who coached Houseman at Yough. “I always thought he was a Division I football player. He has turned into a wonderful story.”

Lackawanna finished the season 10-1 after a 24-13 loss to Mississippi Gulf Coast in the junior college national championship.

Also for Lackawanna, sophomore defensive back Robert Kennedy (Jeannette) had five tackles and two pass breakups in the championship game. He also is gaining recruiting interest, adding recent offers from Marshall, Western Carolina and Tennessee-Martin.

Kennedy had not lost a football game since the last regular season game of his senior season at Jeannette.

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Men’s basketball

Pitt-Greensburg: The Bobcats rolled past D’Youville, 91-73, to move to 6-1, their best start since they joined the NCAA in 1997.

They are 4-0 in the AMCC.

Junior guard Matt Johnson, who was tabbed the AMCC Player of the Week, led four Bobcats in double figures with 21 points, and also had six rebounds and six assists. Junior guard Cam Seigfreid (Penn-Trafford) added 19 points, sophomore Jojo France had 16 and sophomore Torian Jenkins added 10.

Saint Vincent: Junior forward Shamar Bennett and senior guard Josh Duda had 17 points apiece — Duda made five 3-pointers — and the Bearcats (5-5, 2-1 PAC) rallied past Grove City, 71-66, to snap a four-game losing skid.

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Women’s basketball

Grove City: Sophomore forward Allison Podkul (Hempfield) returned to Westmoreland County and scored 10 points and added six rebounds, but the Wolverines (7-1, 1-1 PAC) suffered their first loss, 82-71, in overtime at Saint Vincent.

Pitt-Greensburg: Junior Maddy Coddington (Greensburg Central Catholic) picked up her first career double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds (and five assists) to lead UPG (4-5, 2-2) to a 72-65 victory over D’Youville.

Point Park: Junior guard Michelle Burns (Hempfield) scored a game-high 20 points, including four 3-pointers, and added seven assists and five steals to lead the Pioneers (6-5) to a 74-65 win against Washington Adventist.