High School category, Page 872
Young, talented Riverview baseball team ready to compete in Class A
Bill Gras has high hopes this spring for his Riverview baseball team, a group he said which is high on both youthfulness and talent. The Raiders have settled into their move down to Class A, and Gras said his players are anxious to put their abilities to the test in...
Plum baseball looks to find success in move to Class 5A
Two years ago, the Plum baseball team missed the WPIAL playoffs for the first time since 2005. The Mustangs finished 8-12 and were fifth in Section 2-6A. Plum hoped to get back in a postseason mindset last year, but covid concerns wiped out the 2020 season before it started. But...
Norwin notebook: Girls basketball team well-stocked for solid 2021-22 season
With the WPIAL sending only champions to the PIAA playoffs this year in basketball, local fans only can wonder what might have been for some teams in the state tournaments — the ultimate second chance for teams that were tripped up in the district playoffs. Take Norwin’s girls. The Knights...
Large, talented senior class gives rise to optimism for Norwin boys lacrosse
With one of its largest senior classes — and arguably one of its most talented — the Norwin boys lacrosse team is hoping for a season that extends into the WPIAL playoffs. Sixth-year coach Chad Good’s team could match his namesake. “We always have high expectations,” Good said. “We have...
Franklin Regional’s Solomon wins gold, Dibert takes silver at PIAA wrestling tournamentVideo
Sometimes it’s better not to poke the bear. Waynesburg junior Cole Homet found out the hard way against Franklin Regional junior Finn Solomon. After Homet defeated Solomon, 4-2, in the WPIAL Class AAA final Feb. 27, the wrestlers exchanged words. The phrase was uttered, “See you next time.” Solomon sure...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for March 19, 2021
High schools Basketball Boys PIAA playoffs Class 6A Quarterfinals Friday’s results Lower Merion 62, Abington 41 Saturday’s schedule Archbishop Wood (17-0) at William Allen (11-4), 1 p.m. Scranton (14-2) at Reading (23-2), 1 p.m. Erie (19-3) at Upper St. Clair (20-1), 2 p.m. Semifinals Tuesday’s schedule Archbishop Wood/William Allen winner...
Daniel Boone, Governor Mifflin bowlers claim state singles titles
Daniel Boone’s Alex Horton and Governor Mifflin’s Emily Breidegam claimed Pennsylvania high school bowling singles championships Friday afternoon in North Versailles. The girls final was an all-Governor Mifflin affair. Breidegam defeated teammate Camryn Brown, 180-156. Breidegam was the top bowler in qualifying with a 1,408 six-game series. Burrell’s Lydia Flanagan...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports for March 20, 2021: State quarterfinals roll on
Quarterfinal weekend in the 2021 PIAA basketball playoffs continues Saturday with 24 more state boys and girls games, including six contests involving WPIAL champions. The District 7 champs hitting the court Saturday afternoon are Upper St. Clair (6A), Ellwood City (3A) and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (2A) boys...
Neshannock’s McBeth, Belle Vernon’s Shahan spark WPIAL gold rush at state swim meet
Neshannock’s Conner McBeth and Belle Vernon’s Ian Shahan picked up where they left off from WPIALs in the 50-yard freestyle as the seniors did battle for state gold at the PIAA Class AA boys swim championships Friday at Cumberland Valley High School. They finished tied for the WPIAL title March...
Neshannock girls fend off Windber, make PIAA Class 2A semifinals
Moments after coming out of the locker room after Friday night’s game, Neshannock girls basketball coach Luann Grybowski breathed a sigh of relief. “We got lucky to get this one,” she said. After watching a 14-point lead slowly evaporate, led by Addi Watts and Aaralyn Nogay the Lancers made enough...
Belle Vernon’s Ian Shahan shatters state record in final high school meet
In his final high school meet, Ian Shahan put his stamp on the PIAA state record book. The Belle Vernon senior set a record in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 20 seconds flat, bettering the previous record of 20.45. “I knew it was going to be a fight,”...
New Castle loses late lead, falls to Cathedral Prep in overtime
For New Castle, the fourth quarter ticked away too slowly and overtime went by too fast. The Red Hurricanes lost a seven-point lead late in regulation, and in overtime saw their potential tying basket waved off after the buzzer Friday night as Erie’s Cathedral Prep won 52-50 in the PIAA...
Lincoln Park blows out Clearfield; advances to PIAA semifinals for 2nd time in 3 years
Lincoln Park is all about “One More.” The Leopards want to make one more pass, one more rotation, one more effort, and, most importantly, one more win. The motto is painted above their locker-room door and as each player gets set to walk up the stairs and take the court...
State medal remains elusive for Freeport swimmer
Alexis Schrecongost wanted more. After winning the WPIAL Class AA girls 100-yard breaststroke two weeks ago at Upper St. Clair, the Freeport junior made her return to the PIAA championships hoping to capture her first state medal. However, she fell just shy of her goal. Schrecongost swam to a time...
North Allegheny girls roll into state semifinals with rout of McDowell
Fresh off its runaway win in the WPIAL Class 6A championship game to claim its fourth title in five years, the North Allegheny girls’ basketball team picked up right where it left off as play advanced to the PIAA postseason. The Tigers rattled off the first 13 points of Friday’s...
Mohawk girls hand 1st loss to Punxsutawney in PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals
There’s always a concern when an undefeated team rolls into town. But Mohawk’s zone defense pushed Punxsutawney beyond the perimeter and opened up a solid first half lead en route to a 68-52 victory in a PIAA Class 3A quarterfinal Friday on the Warriors home floor. Seniors Hannah McDanel led...
Bishop Canevin boys forfeit state playoff game at last minute after positive covid test
For Bishop Canevin, it was none and done. With the Berlin Brothersvalley boys basketball team on the floor for warmups 15 minutes before the scheduled 6:30 p.m. start, Bishop Canevin officials announced there would be no game and the host Crusaders would have to forfeit. The parents of one of...
Apollo-Ridge seniors relish chance to continue postseason streak
John Kinnamon is cautiously optimistic his Apollo-Ridge softball team can add to recent successes which include three straight WPIAL playoff appearances. While he likes the talent he has assembled, he sees a lot of work still to be done with only a week before the start of the season. “With...
Behind solid pitching staff, Apollo-Ridge looks forward to new section format
A year ago, Apollo-Ridge baseball had designs on improving its one-win season from 2019 and moving up in the section standings. Instead, the pandemic hit and the Vikings, along with other WPIAL teams, suffered a lost season. “I was tough because, the year before, we didn’t have any seniors and...
Mapletown’s Menear claims gold medal at PIAA swimming championships
It took Ella Menear a little longer than she had hoped to make her PIAA Class AA swimming debut. But when the independent sophomore from Mapletown reached the light at the end of the tunnel Friday at Cumberland Valley High School, she found herself in possession of a state gold...
Winning basketball titles runs in Lincoln Park freshman Brandin Cummings’ family
Comparisons to older brother Nelly are harder to shake than any lockdown defender, and Lincoln Park freshman Brandin Cummings just added another item in common. “Different personality. Different length. Different kind of player,” coach Mike Bariski said. “But here’s the similarity: Both were really good as freshmen.” And both won...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for March 18, 2021
High schools Basketball Boys PIAA playoffs Quarterfinals Friday’s schedule Abington (10-5) at Lower Merion (10-4), 7 p.m. Saturday’s schedule Archbishop Wood (17-0) at William Allen (11-4), 1 p.m. Scranton (14-2) at Reading (23-2), 1 p.m. Erie (19-3) at Upper St. Clair (20-1), 2 p.m. Class 5A Quarterfinals Friday’s schedule Crestwood...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on March 19, 2021: Champs begin state title quests
While the PIAA basketball playoffs actually began Tuesday and Wednesday with first-round games, the state playoff action tips off for WPIAL champions Friday. The District 7 champs hitting the court Friday evening are New Castle (5A), Lincoln Park (4A) and Bishop Canevin (A) boys along with North Allegheny (6A), Mohawk...
Ellwood City’s Roth brothers among WPIAL swimmers set to challenge for state gold
A long and winding road finally leads to Cumberland Valley High School for the start of the PIAA swimming championships Friday morning. Covid concerns and restrictions forced PIAA officials to make numerous changes to the regular format. No longer at Bucknell because of capacity limitations, additional reductions to the championships...
WPIAL girls basketball champions set for PIAA quarterfinal matchups
Ten WPIAL girls basketball teams were still alive through two rounds of the PIAA postseason last year when the state postseason came to a halt. Now, six District 7 champions are set for the winners-only version of the PIAA playoffs. All of the WPIAL champions received a first-round bye and...
