High School category, Page 162
Zach Pollaro’s buzzer-beater in overtime lifts North Hills over No. 2 Seneca Valley
Zach Pollaro practices bank shots from spots all around North Hills’ gym, so bouncing in a 3-pointer off the glass might feel almost routine at times. But this one surely didn’t. Trailing by two points with 2.9 seconds left, Pollaro banked in a buzzer-beating 3 from the left wing as...
High school roundup for Jan. 24, 2025: Avonworth’s Rowan Carmichael hits 2,000 points on night of milestones
Rowan Carmichael became the 38th WPIAL boys basketball to reach 2,000 points for his career, scoring 36 to lead Avonworth to an 85-71 victory over Hopewell (6-10, 1-5) in Section 2-4A on Friday night. Noah Goetz added 25 points for the Antelopes (13-2, 6-0). South Allegheny 73, Shady Side Academy...
Zion Moore leads Belle Vernon past Derry, running winning streak to 7
Late in the first half, Zion Moore saw two toddlers wander onto the court and waddle his way. The Belle Vernon senior guard delicately picked one of them up and passed him over the scorer’s table and then directed the other back to the bleachers. Moore knew them, so he...
Deer Lakes dials up long-distance offense in win over rival Burrell
As if Deer Lakes needed another 3-point shot Friday night in its 71-49 Section 1-4A boys basketball victory at Burrell. The Lancers sank a season-high 11 from long range. Sophomore guard Evan Moore made six of them, including four of the team’s total of eight before halftime. But he’d have...
Kiski Area boys hold off Hampton in revenge game, remain tied for 1st in section
The Kiski Area boys basketball team had payback on its mind Friday night from a six-point loss to Section 2-5A rival Hampton on Dec. 20. Mission accomplished. The Cavaliers, ahead by six at halftime and nine at the end of three quarters, weathered a couple of Hampton second-half rally attempts...
Quick start helps Gateway boys hold off Franklin Regional in section tilt
How big is finishing a quarter strong in high school basketball? On Friday night at Franklin Regional, it was huge for visiting Gateway. The Gators (9-7, 7-3) got a driving layup from junior Jacob Settles to finish the first quarter, a driving layup from junior Mykel Bruce-McCrommon to finish the...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Jan. 25, 2025: Busy weekend of basketball showcases ahead
The count is 30 WPIAL boys basketball teams that will be participating in events sponsored by the Pittsburgh Basketball Club this weekend. On Saturday, the PBC will host its annual Hall of Fame Classic with five games at North Hills and four at Ambridge. Here is the schedule for each...
PIAA board expands girls volleyball to 6 classes, votes on competitive-balance rule changes
The PIAA will expand girls volleyball to six classifications starting in 2026. The sport currently has only four classes, but the PIAA board on Wednesday finalized plans to add two more. PIAA executive director Bob Lombardi said the move was needed because girls volleyball now has nearly the same number...
Aliquippa players, coach suspended for in-game altercation ahead of section game vs. Freedom
“A travesty of justice” was how Aliquippa boys basketball coach Nick Lackovich described the situation his short-handed team will face Friday night. As a result of last weekend’s on-court altercation with Imani Christian, Aliquippa must play a section game with only five players and without Lackovich, who was suspended one...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Jan. 24, 2025: Belle Vernon, Derry rematch in key section clash
In WPIAL Section 3-4A boys basketball, three teams have pulled away from the other four schools. Belle Vernon (12-4) and Derry (10-5) are both 7-1 in section play while Elizabeth Forward (13-3) is right there as well with a 6-1 section mark. The Leopards beat the Warriors, the Warriors knocked...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Jan. 23, 2025
High schools Basketball Boys Thursday’s results Class 2A Section 2 Northgate 62, Leechburg 36 Section 3 Jefferson-Morgan 72, Beth-Center 40 Chartiers-Houston 55, Carmichaels 21 West Greene 61, Mapletown 33 Nonsection Kiski School 71, Indiana 51 Obama Academy at Sto-Rox, (n) Southwestern Christian Athletic Conference Cheswick Christian Academy 61, Western PA...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Jan. 24, 2025
High schools Basketball Boys Friday’s results Class 6A Section 1 New Castle 69, Butler 46 North Allegheny 41, Pine-Richland 36 North Hills 44, Seneca Valley 43 (OT) Fox Chapel 52, Woodland Hills 46 Section 2 Central Catholic 68, Hempfield 27 Imani Christian 73, Connellsville 60 Mt. Lebanon 76, Canon-McMillan 45...
High school roundup for Jan. 23, 2025: OLSH strengthens grip on 1st place in section
Claudia Ierullo scored 21 points and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart solidified its hold on first place in Section 1-3A girls basketball with a 62-25 victory over Quaker Valley on Thursday night. Lola Garner added 12 points for the Chargers (15-2, 10-0). Mimi Thiero scored 13 for the Quakers...
Burrell hires former Highlands coach to lead football program
Burrell’s new football playbook might borrow some ideas from the Kansas City Chiefs. Newly hired football coach Dom Girardi already has cheered on the Chiefs at two Super Bowls and is headed to Arrowhead Stadium for the AFC Championship Game on Sunday. He comes from a football family, and his...
Kiski Area swimmers excited for ‘measuring stick’ of WCCA championship
A trio of Kiski Area individual swimmers and one relay team have the biggest targets on their backs as top seeds for Saturday’s Westmoreland County Coaches Association championships at Derry. Sophomore Leah Kunkle has the fastest time this season among Westmoreland swimmers in the girls 200-yard individual medley. Senior Riley...
Mt. Pleasant’s star-studded swimming lineup looks to shine at county meet
With four NCAA Division I swimmers on the roster, Mt. Pleasant is expected to make noise at the annual Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association championship Friday and Saturday at Derry. It is one of the last chances for fans to watch the Vikings’ elite PIAA champion swimmers. Seniors Lily King (N.C....
Defending champions Burrell, Connellsville receive top seeds for WPIAL team wrestling tournament
Reigning champions Burrell (Class 2A) and Connellsville (3A) earned the No. 1 seeds for the 2025 WPIAL team wrestling tournament, the wrestling committee announced Thursday. The tournament for both classifications begins Monday at Greensburg Salem and Bentworth for Class 2A, and Shaler and North Hills in Class 3A with preliminary-round...
Shootout at Seton Hill ready to tip off this weekend
Event director Allen Deep didn’t consider altering the schedule for the Shootout at Seton Hill basketball showcase this weekend, even with five games Sunday that will take fans away from watching the AFC and NFC championship games. The original schedule will remain status quo. The weekend is about basketball, not...
Westmoreland County boys basketball notebook: Noah Felentzer filling scoring role at Southmoreland
Noah Felentzer expected to get the basketball more this season for Southmoreland. With the graduation of career 1,500-point scorer Ty Keffer, his scoring would be pivotal to the team’s success. Whether he realized it or not, Keffer helped Felentzer prepare for the go-to role. “I think what prepared me most...
Despite successes, Fox Chapel boys still working to put together best game
Fox Chapel boys basketball coach Zach Skrinjar is proud of his team for doing two things well this season. The first is watching his players come together as one. “This group has really grown together, built a camaraderie,” Skrinjar said. “We have had a good mix when it comes to...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Jan. 22, 2025
High schools Basketball Boys Wednesday’s results Class 5A Section 2 Penn Hills 51, Hampton 46 (OT) Class 4A Section 3 Derry 54, Greensburg Salem 41 Class 3A Section 3 South Park 55, Shady Side Academy 52 Nonsection Carrick at Aquinas Academy, ppd. Frazier at Brownsville, ppd. Leechburg at Springdale, ppd....
High school roundup for Jan. 22, 2025: Penn Hills boys win in OT; wrestling section titles decided
Amon Hawthorne scored 20 points as Penn Hills rallied from four points down entering the fourth quarter to beat Hampton, 51-46, in overtime in Section 2-5A boys basketball Wednesday night. Aiden Thompson added 18 points for Penn Hills (6-7, 6-1). Zach Danner scored nine points to lead the Talbots (9-7,...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Jan. 23, 2025: Top teams collide in Class 3A girls basketball
The Our Lady of the Sacred Heart girls basketball program continues to enjoy a big season with 14 wins in 16 games. The Chargers have built up a three-game lead in Section 1-3A and are closing in clinching the section crown. However, the chase for second place looks like it...
Burrell wrestlers defeat Highlands to earn 22nd straight section title
Jacob Taylor’s attitude before his 189-pound match Wednesday night highlighted what has allowed the Burrell wrestling program to maintain its section dominance over the past 25 years. The sophomore was making his first start in a dual against Highlands that would determine the Section 9-2A title. But Taylor already had...
Kiski Area hires Franklin Regional grad Haugh as football coach
Colyn Haugh remembers the tough, challenging games against Kiski Area during his days as a high school football player at Franklin Regional. Now, the newly hired Cavaliers coach hopes to bring the same intensity and high-level ability and effort he saw in his one-time rival more than two decades ago....
