High School category, Page 179
PIAA Class 6A football championship preview: Central Catholic vs. St. Joseph’s Prep
On a weekend that featured six schools making their PIAA championship game debut, the final contest of the weekend includes two schools that have been there, done it several times over. In fact, St. Joseph’s Prep out of the Philadelphia Catholic League in Philadelphia and Central Catholic out of the...
PIAA Class 3A football championship preview: Avonworth vs. Northwestern Lehigh
The PIAA Class 3A championship game features two schools making their second appearance in the football state championship game and still in search of their first PIAA gold. Five years ago, WPIAL champion Avonworth suffered one of the biggest losses in PIAA football playoff history, falling to state power Southern...
Avonworth sees similarities in PIAA finals opponent Northwestern Lehigh
As Avonworth makes its second trip to the state finals in five years, the Antelopes feel differently about this one. “We’re not playing the Green Bay Packers,” coach Duke Johncour said with a laugh. That’s no knock on their opponent. Undefeated District 11 champion Northwestern Lehigh (15-0) awaits in the...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Dec. 5, 2024
High schools Basketball Boys Thursday’s results Nonsection Bentworth 52, Charleroi 50 Bishop Canevin 48, Lincoln Park 38 Wilmington 47, Environmental Charter 43 New Brighton 72, South Side 60 West Allegheny 62, Steel Valley 36 Friday’s schedule Aquinas Academy tournament Propel Montour at South Park, 7 p.m. Cheswick Christian at Aquinas...
High school roundup for Dec. 5, 2024: Blackhawk wins battle of state champs
In a matchup of reigning state champions, Aubree Hupp scored 17 points and Andrea Kinger hit a pair of free throws with five seconds left to lead Blackhawk to a 49-46 victory over Kennedy Catholic in nonsection girls basketball Thursday. Bella Magestro scored 16 points, Tori Harvey added 14 and...
WPIAL basketball tipoff tournament schedule for Dec. 6-7, 2024
Boys Friday’s schedule Aquinas Academy tournament Propel Montour at South Park, 7 p.m. Cheswick Christian at Aquinas Academy, 8:30 p.m. Baldwin/Peters Township tournament Shaler at Baldwin, 7:30 p.m. Altoona at Peters Township, 7:30 p.m. Brentwood tournament Carrick vs. Geibel Catholic, 8 p.m. Freedom at Brentwood, 8 p.m. Brownsville tournament Our...
What to watch for in high school sports on Dec. 6, 2024: Day 2 of state football championships kicks off
The second of three days of the 2024 PIAA football championships are set for Chapman Field at Cumberland Valley on Friday. On Day 2 in Mechanicsburg, the Class 2A and 5A state football title games take center stage. Three of the four teams playing Friday are searching for their first...
PIAA Class 5A and Class 2A football championship previews for Dec. 6, 2024
There was great excitement in these parts last season when the WPIAL sent five teams and the City League had one reach championship weekend in the 2023 PIAA football playoffs. Following several stunning results on the day after Thanksgiving, the district only has two teams remaining to play for state...
Westmoreland County boys basketball notebook: Hempfield, Jeannette to host tipoff tournaments
The Hempfield Spartan Field House will be the site of six boys basketball games Friday and Saturday for the 20th Hempfield tipoff tournament. On Friday, the opening game will mark the return of longtime coach Paul Sapotichne to Greensburg Salem. The Golden Lions will play Connellsville at 4:45 p.m. Sapotichne...
Softball smarts lead Hempfield catcher Ella Berkebile to Bucknell
A cerebral leader behind the plate for Hempfield, Ella Berkebile has softball instincts that allow her to control the cadence of games. The catcher has been battery mates with standout pitchers Riley Miller and Julia Varhola, framing spots for them while also working to get groundouts and flyouts. The junior...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Dec. 4, 2024
High schools Basketball Boys Wednesday’s results Nonsection Aquinas Academy 79, Leechburg 50 Beaver County Christian 61, Trinity 43 Central Valley 62, Beaver Falls 32 Thomas Jefferson 78, Clairton 71 Freeport 69, Derry 60 Greensburg Central Catholic 71, Berlin-BrothersValley 39 Mohawk 79, Hopewell 53 Riverside 64, West Middlesex 47 Springdale 82,...
High school roundup for Dec. 4, 2024: 33-point night for Karis Thomas sparks Shady Side Academy girls
Karis Thomas hit for 33 points to lead Shady Side Academy to a 64-53 victory over Baldwin in nonsection girls basketball Wednesday night. Laila Banner added 11 for the Bulldogs (3-0). Thomas now has 1,040 career points after cracking the 1,000 mark in a win over Berlin Brothersvalley on Sunday....
Mamie’s win sparks Norwin wrestling to win over young Canon-McMillan
You never know which bout in a wrestling match could be the turning point. In Wednesday’s nonsection match between No. 4 Norwin and No. 10 Canon-McMillan it happened to be the first one. Knights senior Gage Mamie rallied from a 6-2 deficit to defeat Mason Calgaro, 9-6, in overtime. The...
What to watch for in high school sports on Dec. 5, 2024: State football championships kick off
Thursday marks the first of the final three days of the 2024 high school football season. The PIAA football championships kick off at Chapman Field at Cumberland Valley with the Class A and Class 4A title games. Three of the four teams are trying to win their first state football...
Riverview splits dual matches; Wylly notches pair of technical falls
Alex Wylly wants his sophomore season with the Riverview wrestling team to reflect his toughness. Wylly has demonstrated he is willing to put the time in managing the burden that comes with playing three varsity sports. Following a solid freshman season on the mat, Wylly wants to prove to the...
Mike Warfield returns as Aliquippa football coach after 1-year leave of absence
Former Aliquippa coach Mike Warfield said he found himself missing the players and coaches even more than he’d expected when he took this past football season off. So, he’s coming back. The three-time state champion was reinstated as Aliquippa’s head coach on Wednesday, ending a leave of absence he took...
PIAA tweaks competitive balance rule to make bumps in class slightly less likely
Only teams that reach the state finals will be affected by the PIAA competitive-balance rule following a change approved Wednesday. The revision comes a year late for the Greensburg Central Catholic girls basketball team, which was forced to move up to Class 3A this winter without reaching the state finals....
PIAA Class 4A and Class A football championship previews for Dec. 5, 2024
There was great excitement in these parts last season when the WPIAL sent five teams and the City League had one reach championship weekend in the 2023 PIAA football playoffs. Following several stunning results on the day after Thanksgiving, the district only has two teams remaining to play for state...
Trib 10: 5th team climbs to top spot in power rankings
Black Friday may have been great for local consumers, but it turned out to be a bad ending to a golden season for four district champions. The state semifinals were the end of the line for WPIAL winners Pine-Richland in 5A, Thomas Jefferson in 4A, South Park in 2A and...
WPIAL, City League players in 2025 recruiting class sign with Division I FBS, FCS programs
Here’s a look at senior football players from the WPIAL and City League who signed with Division I programs on the first day of the early-signing period Wednesday: Division I FBS Henry Barbisch, Bishop Canevin, DL, Air Force* Jaiden Brown-Demery, West Mifflin, OL, Akron Dayshaun Burnett, Imani Christian, DL, Penn...
Early signing day for 2025: WPIAL, City League football players finalize Division I plans
The early signing period arrived earlier than usual. Typically scheduled in late-December since its adoption in 2017, high school football recruits were able to sign with Division I programs this year starting Wednesday. Here’s a look at senior football players from the WPIAL and City League who chose to sign...
Westmoreland County girls basketball notebook: Penn-Trafford happy to have defensive spark plug back
Penn-Trafford learned how to play without Torrie DeStefano last season after the then-sophomore guard suffered a season-ending knee injury just six games into the schedule. Now that she is back, coach John Giannikas clearly prefers life with DeStefano in the lineup. “It’s great to have her back,” the veteran coach...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Dec. 3, 2024
High schools Basketball Boys Tuesday’s results Rettger tournament At Franklin Regional Seneca Valley 72, Avonworth 61 (2OT) Franklin Regional 49, Quaker Valley 48 (OT) Nonsection Albert Gallatin 63, Carrick 54 Armstrong 53, Perry Traditional Academy 36 Beaver 66, Blackhawk 51 Belle Vernon 55, Gateway 54 Butler 72, Kiski Area 67...
High school roundup for Dec. 3, 2024: Fox Chapel comes back to beat Shaler
Caden Kaiser scored a career-high 17 points to lead Fox Chapel to a 58-50 comeback victory over Shaler in nonsection boys basketball Tuesday. Asher White added 14 points for the Foxes, who trailed 39-32 entering the fourth quarter. Jordan Epps scored 19 points and Deron Nixon had 16 for Shaler...
Penn-Trafford girls hold on for win against rival Norwin
Two girls teams looking to go places at the end of the season squared off Tuesday in a nonsection game, and they put on a show. Penn-Trafford (3-0) used 3-pointers by Lauren Marton, Torrie DeStefano and Isabella Klobucar midway through the fourth quarter to build a nine-point lead and held...
