High School category, Page 496
Union’s postseason run rolls on with PIAA semifinal win
If ever an adage was suited for Class A athletics, bet on the old “we-wear-many-hats” proverb. Just ask Union girls basketball coach Rob Nogay what goes into creating a successful season at Pennsylvania’s smallest high school level. Generally, with limited resources, the multi-tasking never ends. “I got this job four...
South Fayette fends off Oakland Catholic again to reach PIAA championship game
When South Fayette and Oakland Catholic battled for the WPIAL girls basketball Class 5A crown, the Lions left little doubt about who was champion with a 15-point victory. Late in the rematch Tuesday for a berth in the PIAA 5A finals, there was plenty of doubt as to who would...
Blackhawk avenges WPIAL finals loss, upends North Catholic to reach state title game
Kassie Potts is listed at 5-foot-4 on the Blackhawk roster, but Cougars coach Steve Lodovico said she plays with the heart of a 7-footer. At times, Potts’ performance Tuesday night seemed larger than life. Potts scored a game-high 19 points and combined with a superb defensive effort, Blackhawk avenged its...
South Fayette shuts out Armstrong to capture 1st Penguins Cup championship
Armstrong came into the PIHL Class 2A Penguins Cup championship game as the top-seeded team in the tournament, having scored 19 goals in its two playoff wins. Armstrong had also won two previous titles, the last coming in 2018. None of that mattered to second-seeded South Fayette. The Lions scored...
Deer Lakes makes more history with berth in 1st PIAA final
Neither team had ever reached the state finals, so the Deer Lakes and Penn Cambria boys basketball teams knew history would be made one way or the other Tuesday night. The Lancers made sure they weren’t just a footnote. Billy Schaeffer made a go-ahead 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter...
Penguins Cup champion Kiski writing remarkable postseason story
The last couple of weeks for the Kiski Area hockey team have been a whirlwind. The Cavaliers went from suffering a 10-2 loss in a showdown with PIHL Class A Blue Division leader and eventual winner Fox Chapel on Feb. 13 to a 4-1 victory over the same Fox Chapel...
In happy ending to bus saga, Penguins invite Monessen girls basketball team to game
While Monessen turned down an offer from the Pittsburgh Penguins to pay for a coach bus for the girls basketball team’s first-round PIAA playoff game, there apparently were no hard feelings from the hockey team. No penalty box for the Greyhounds. On Monday, the Penguins invited Monessen players and coach...
OLSH basketball coach Don Eckerle ‘good to go’ after collapsing at PIAA semifinal game
On a hectic game day, with all of the preparation that needs to be done, coaches can neglect themselves at times, said longtime basketball coach Don Eckerle. That happened to him Monday night. The Our Lady of the Sacred Heart girls coach collapsed after a state semifinal game at Kiski...
Trib HSSN Girls Basketball Player of the Week for March 20, 2023
The Road to Hershey is supposed to be difficult. If you don’t think so, ask the Oakland Catholic basketball team. Following two dramatic wins last week, the Eagles are flying high into the state semifinals. “In the playoffs as a senior, I don’t want my season to end.” Alexa Washington...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on March 21, 2023: Aliquippa to play for spot in state finals
While spring has sprung, Tuesday will be another big day of winter sports semifinals and championship action. Following a loss to District 3 power Harrisburg in the MLK Hoops for Hope event at Woodland Hills in mid-January, Aliquippa had an overall record of 7-4. Since then, the Quips have only...
Imani Christian dominates rematch with Union, earns 1st trip to PIAA basketball finals
The words of an opposing coach and heated talk about public vs. private wasn’t what ultimately motivated Imani Christian for Monday night’s playoff win. The Saints want a state title. All five starters scored in double figures including a team-high 20 points from 6-foot-11 sophomore Alier Maluk as Imani Christian...
Kiski goalie proves point with Penguins Cup Class A championship win over Fox Chapel
Kiski senior goaltender Evin Brice turned in a masterful performance Monday night, making 34 saves to lead his team to a 4-1 victory over Fox Chapel in the PIHL Penguins Cup Class A championship game. It was a showing at least a month in the making. On Feb. 13, Fox...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for March 20, 2023
High schools WPIAL Baseball Monday’s results Nonsection Bentworth 6, Waynesburg 5 Butler 10, Knoch 0 Central Valley at Canon-McMillan, (n) Charleroi 23, Monessen 1 Chartiers-Houston 8, Jefferson-Morgan 3 Conifer (CO) 10, Montour 0 Father Judge 6, Mars 1 Freedom 15, Carlynton 0 Freeport 11, Moniteau 2 Greensburg Salem 5, East...
High school roundup for March 20, 2023: River Valley ousts OLSH in PIAA Class 3A semifinals
Ava Persichetti scored 23 points to lead District 6 champion River Valley to a 44-38 victory over OLSH in the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball semifinals Monday night. Rylee Kitner added 10 points for River Valley (29-2), which trailed by a point heading into the fourth quarter. River Valley will...
Lincoln Park finishes WPIAL gauntlet, beats Uniontown to reach state finals
Lincoln Park defeated Uniontown in the PIAA 4A semifinals Tuesday, 85-64, before a standing-room crown only at Charleroi to complete the third stage of district dominance. Stage 1: Lincoln Park suffers only one loss in the regular season and wins the Section 2-4A crown with a perfect section record. Stage...
Norwin’s playoff run ends in overtime against undefeated Cedar Cliff
ALTOONA – Norwin saw its run to the PIAA Class 6A championship game end Monday night at Altoona’s Field House. Undefeated Cedar Cliff, the District 3 champions, needed overtime to advance to its first championship game, outscoring the Knights 8-0 in the extra period for a 55-47 victory. Cedar Cliff...
Greensburg Central Catholic girls lose in PIAA semifinals
A simple change can make all the difference in a basketball state playoff game. Though the move Kennedy Catholic made was subtle, probably not that noticeable to fans Monday night, Greensburg Central Catholic saw it and tried to adjust to it. But the Centurions could not stop it. Again, this...
Peters Township jumps on Upper St. Clair, claims Class 3A Penguins Cup
One side felt elated, the other was shell shocked in Cranberry just seconds into the Class 3A PIHL championship game, as the Penguins Cup title game started with a turnover and a bang for the defending champion Peters Township Indians. Upper St. Clair, the seventh seed in 3A, won the...
Deer Lakes boys basketball ready for hot-shooting PIAA foe
Following Saturday’s quarterfinal win over Neshannock, Deer Lakes boys basketball coach Albie Fletcher got in his car and drove to Armstrong to scout the two potential opponents in the semifinals. What he saw was a tough, sharpshooting Penn Cambria team — which the Lancers met in the first round of...
Shaler moves into top spot in Western Pa. coaches boys volleyball poll
The Shaler boys volleyball team opened the season over the weekend by winning the Meadville tournament. The Titans went 10-0 in pool play before defeating Moon, State College and Meadville in the playoffs to win the title. Shaler moved ahead of North Allegheny and into the top position in the...
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Franklin Regional’s Aiden Bunker
Franklin Regional secured its 27th boys swimming section title last month, continuing a dominant stretch for the team. The WPIAL meet March 2-3 did not come with the same success, at least when it comes to first-place finishes. So while the Panthers did have a solid showing from several swimmers,...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Plum’s Nina Ricciuti
For swimmers all over, qualifying for the PIAA championships is a huge accomplishment. The Plum Mustangs not only qualified for the state meet, but they also broke some school records along the way. Among the roster of talented swimmers is senior Nina Ricciuti. Most notably, the 200 freestyle relay team...
Penn-Trafford baseball has new coach, same expectations
Lou Cortazzo may be the new baseball coach at Penn-Trafford, but the goals haven’t changed. The Warriors, who reached the WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinals in 2022, look to climb the ladder toward a possible title. Cortazzo was named interim coach last month, taking over after Dan Miller was let go....
What to watch for in high school sports for March 20, 2023: Trips to Hershey up for grabs
After not even playing in the district championship games this winter, three WPIAL girls basketball teams can punch their ticket to the state finals with a win Monday. In Class 6A, three District 7 teams reached the PIAA quarterfinals, however WPIAL champion North Allegheny was ousted in its fourth meeting...
Trib HSSN boys basketball team of the week for March 19, 2023
While Rodney Gallagher and the Laurel Highlands boys basketball team has brought the basketball spotlight back to Fayette County with two WPIAL championships in the last four years, they had to share center stage in the county and in Class 4A with Uniontown this season. The Red Raiders are 23-5...
