High School category, Page 694
Shady Side Academy knocks off Aliquippa to earn spot in Class 3A championship game
A parade of basketball players in dress clothes emerged from the Shady Side Academy locker room and passed by coach David Vadnais, some tapping him on the shoulder, others offering a shout-out. Sophomore Peter Kramer took his turn and proceeded towards the exit. Just then, Vadnais looked back and called...
Defending champion Neshannock stops Serra Catholic to return to Class 2A final
For the second consecutive season, Serra Catholic had its WPIAL championship hopes dashed at the hands of Neshannock. The third-seeded Eagles hung with the defending district champions for three quarters before the second-seeded Lancers pulled away in the fourth en route to a 41-23 triumph in the WPIAL Class 2A...
Aquinas Academy fends off upset-minded St. Joseph, rolls into Class A title game
The St. Joseph girls basketball team held a great deal of momentum entering Monday’s WPIAL Class A semifinal against Section 3 rival Aquinas Academy at North Hills High School. The No. 9 Spartans took down No. 1 Rochester on Thursday, and they hoped to do the same against the No....
Penn Hills School District hires alum Charles Morris as head football coach
Community, family and character were arguments for both sides of the Penn Hills head football coach debate at a special school board meeting on Monday, where the board approved the hiring of Charles Morris to the position. Brian Tarrant was also a candidate for the job. “I’m excited to get...
Avonworth pulls off another upset, beating South Allegheny in Class 3A semifinals
Cinderella is heading to the ball once again. And again, it’s South Allegheny that came out on the losing side. Just days after eliminating No. 1 Ellwood City, No. 8 Avonworth overcame a seven-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter to stun the No. 5 Gladiators, 46-43, at the UPMC...
Southmoreland girls continue to rely on trademark defense to advance in WPIAL playoffs
Teams that have played against Southmoreland the last several seasons rarely have hit their scoring averages. If they did, it was probably because they were equally as talented or better, they shot the lights out or they caught the Scotties on an off night. “We’re disciplined on defense,” said junior...
AK Valley WPIAL basketball playoff preview capsules: Games for Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Boys Class 6A Semifinals 2-Fox Chapel (22-1) vs. 3-Central Catholic (18-5) 8 p.m. Tuesday, AHN Arena, Peters Township High School Winner plays: Winner of 1-North Hills (23-0)/4-Mt. Lebanon (16-8) Saturday at 7 p.m. in championship game at Petersen Events Center Layup lines: Fox Chapel turned away Pine-Richland, 77-67, in the...
Westmoreland WPIAL basketball playoff preview capsules: Games for Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Semifinals Boys Class A 4-Greensburg Central Catholic (18-3) vs. 1-Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (21-0) 8 p.m. Tuesday at Gateway Coaches: Christian Hyland, Greensburg Central Catholic; Mike Rodriguez, OLSH Winner plays: Winner of 3-Carlynton (20-2)/2-Fort Cherry (22-2) in championship 1 p.m. March 5 at Petersen Events Center Layup lines:...
Defensively sound Latrobe battling for postseason berth
Consider Josh Werner’s plight. Latrobe’s hockey coach drives 40-plus miles each way to pilot the Wildcats’ home games at Greensburg’s Nevin Arena. For seven seasons, Werner has endured long nights, but he’s not complaining. “I love coaching this team. That makes things easier,” said Werner, a former club team hockey...
Valley boys look forward to productive offseason
John Stone’s first year as Valley’s boys basketball coach didn’t produce a leap in the standings. But Stone feels the program soon could be headed in the right direction. The Vikings finished 1-11 in Section 3-3A, 1-21 overall. The one victory was a 59-57 win over playoff-bound Steel Valley that...
After early struggles, Burrell girls showed improvement late in season
Untimely injuries, young players stepping into starting roles, tough calls late in games, buzzer beaters and losing streaks weren’t enough to break the will and determination of the 2021-22 Burrell girls basketball team. All these struggles did was build character and light a fire moving forward. “It was a tough...
Westmoreland Senior Spotlight: Hempfield’s Lydia Dunn
A perfect season, topped with a perfect ending. Hempfield shooter Lydia Dunn scored a 10 on all 10 of her attempts in every section rifle match this season, and then helped her team to a WPIAL team title. Of course, rifle is not a sport that gets put in the...
A-K Valley senior spotlight: St. Joseph’s Sam Wygonik
Sam Wygonik finishes classes each day and heads to swim practice, but for the St. Joseph senior, it’s not as simple as walking down a few hallways to the natatorium. Wygonik is the lone swimmer at St. Joseph and does his daily workouts at Fox Chapel High School. He’s an...
This week on Trib HSSN for week of Feb. 28, 2022
Championship Week for several WPIAL winter sports is so big, we are breaking the golden week in half here on the TribLive High School Sports Network. We close out the WPIAL basketball semifinals with video and audio coverage of all 16 third-round games remaining on the Path to the Pete....
2021-22 PIHL standings, playoff clinchings through Feb. 27, 2022
Here are the latest PIHL high school hockey standings through Sunday, Feb. 27. Eight teams in each classification qualify for the PIHL playoffs. *- indicates clinched a playoff spot x- indicates eliminated from playoff chase #-Indicated ineligible for Penguins Cup Playoffs Team – Wins – Losses – Overtime/Shootout Loss =...
High school sports schedule for Feb. 28, 2022
High schools Basketball Boys WPIAL playoffs Class 6A Semifinals Tuesday’s schedule North Hills (23-0) vs. Mt. Lebanon (16-8) at North Allegheny, 8 p.m.; Fox Chapel (22-1) vs. Central Catholic (18-5) at Peters Township, 8 p.m. Class 5A Semifinals Monday’s schedule Laurel Highlands (23-0) vs. Highlands (18-6) at Peters Township, 8...
Butler boys earn state title, 5 WPIAL athletes win gold at PTFCA indoor championships
Five WPIAL athletes and a relay team earned gold medals Sunday at the annual Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association state indoor championships at Penn State. Mt. Lebanon sophomore Logan St. John Kletter won the girls 1-mile run (4 minutes, 56.06 seconds), Moon senior Mia Cochran won the girls 3,000-meter...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Shakeup for football schedules
Schedules for the 2022 WPIAL football season came out last week, giving some teams in new classifications, and their fans, a glimpse of what lies ahead. Norwin and Hempfield will be new to Class 5A and play in a conference with Franklin Regional, Gateway, returning WPIAL and PIAA champion Penn-Trafford...
Greensburg Central Catholic boys get much-anticipated rematch with OLSH in WPIAL semifinals
Greensburg Central Catholic players and coaches watched Our Lady of the Sacred Heart celebrate a WPIAL boys basketball title last year at Peters Township — right in front of them. The dog pile celebration followed a 71-52 victory over the Centurions in the Class 2A final. As if GCC needed...
Alle-Kiski Valley WPIAL basketball playoff capsule for Feb. 28, 2022
Monday’s game Boys Class 5A semifinals 5-Highlands (18-6) vs. 1-Laurel Highlands (23-0) 8 p.m. at AHN Arena, Peters Township Winner plays: Winner of 6-Gateway (15-5)/2-New Castle (22-1) in championship game at 8 p.m. Friday at Petersen Events Center. Layup lines: Highlands is hoping to punch its ticket to a WPIAL...
St. Joseph girls relish another shot at Aquinas after upset
The St. Joseph girls basketball team will get another crack at Aquinas Academy as the Section 3-1A rivals do battle at 6 p.m. Monday at North Hills in the WPIAL semifinals with a trip to Petersen Events Center on the line. Most playoff pundits and other observers probably thought the...
North Allegheny relies on balance in quest for 3rd straight Penguins Cup championship
As the hockey schedule reached late February, North Allegheny’s Connor Chi pushed his season-long scoring streak to 19 games. The senior recorded at least one goal or assist in every contest, cementing his spot as an elite scorer. But this winter, he’s had help. North Allegheny clinched the top spot...
Franklin Regional swimmers focus on relays at WPIAL meet
It’s been quite a season for the Franklin Regional swimming teams. The boys and girls advanced 14 swimmers to the WPIAL Class 3A championships March 3-4 at the University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool. And while advancing 14 seems great, Panthers coach Vic Santoro said he was hoping for more. “It’s...
Franklin Regional basketball continues fundraising efforts for Clelian Heights
Organizer Kurt Kimmich longs for the return of the Special Needs Awareness Day at Franklin Regional. The unique event celebrates the students of Clelian Heights School for Exceptional Children in Greensburg, through basketball. Sister Charlene Celli of Clelian Heights told Kimmich, “Definitely next year,” when asked if the event would...
Hampton swim team primed for WPIAL title defense
Hampton swim coach Morgan Zweygardt indicated early in the 2021-22 season that the defending WPIAL Class 2A champion Talbots have not rested on their laurels. Last year’s WPIAL championship was the team’s first in 22 years; it may not take nearly that long for another one. Hampton has relied on...
