Burrell senior coming to grips with ‘heartbreaking’ knee injury
Allison Fisher’s senior season was full of promise. The Burrell guard and multi-time section and Valley News Dispatch all-star had her sights set on leading the Bucs to a strong season and a WPIAL playoff spot in Section 1-4A. But her on-court goals were dashed just days before the start...
A-K Valley senior spotlight: Burrell’s Brandon Coury
Brandon Coury’s basketball skills continue to develop. A third-year starter for Burrell, he has always found ways to score, evidenced by his impending 1,000 career points milestone. But it’s the other areas of his game that have truly benefited the Bucs, who were 1-20 two years ago before improving to...
2021 Valley News Dispatch Football All-Stars
First-team all-stars Luke Bombalski Highlands, RB/LB, so. The Golden Rams’ offensive standout had a breakout season with 210 carries for 1,276 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also caught six passes for 51 yards and a score. He made 71 tackles and produced seven sacks. Logan Brooks Plum, WR/DB, sr....
Alle-Kiski Valley Sports Hall of Fame unveils class of 2022
After two years of covid-related postponements, the Alle-Kiski Valley Sports Hall of Fame is determined to have its 51st induction banquet May 21. The event will be held at the Quality Inn of New Kensington ballroom with 10 new inductees going into the hall. Here is the class, listed alphabetically:...
Alle-Kiski Valley boys and girls cross country honor rolls announced
The Alle-Kiski Valley Cross Country Honor Roll for the 2021 season was released Wednesday. Jack Lorence, a senior from Fox Chapel, was named the boys runner of the year. He capped his final season with a ninth-place finish at the WPIAL Class 3A championships Oct. 28 at Cal (Pa.). He...
Burrell hockey displays potential during strong start to season
The Burrell hockey team already has exceeded its win total from last year, which is a sign of the progression since the PIHL season started in October. The Bucs won only three games in 2020-21 but this year have a 5-2 record. It’s a good start, but first-year coach Luke...
Burrell finds shooting touch, beats rival Valley at WCCA showcase
After enduring two double-digit losses earlier in the week, Burrell used some hot early shooting to roll past Valley, 62-37, on Saturday afternoon. The nonsection game was played at Jeannette High School as part of the Westmoreland County Coaches Association quadruple-header. The Bucs made their first three 3-point attempts to...
Burrell must retool to keep streak of 15 straight WPIAL Class 2A championships going
Burrell wrestling is looking to celebrate a “Sweet 16” this winter. If the 15-time defending WPIAL Class 2A champions are to continue their dominance, they’re going to have to replace a trio of talented wrestlers who graduated: champ A.J. Corrado, state runner-up Ian Oswalt and 24-match winner Aaron Edwards. With...
Trib HSSN 2021-22 WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball preseason breakdown
Class 4A is where the stars play in WPIAL boys basketball. Starting with defending champion Lincoln Park, most of the top teams in the class have at least one Division I prospect on the roster. By March, it might come down to which collection of talent comes together best as...
Plum’s Kaitlyn Killinger chosen as Valley News Dispatch Girls Soccer Player of the Year
The Plum girls soccer team surrendered two goals in a game just three times in the 2021 season. One was in the WPIAL Class 3A championship game against Mars, and the other two came against Section 3 rival Oakland Catholic. The second matchup between the Mustangs and Eagles, the section...
Plum’s Luke Kolankowski selected as Valley News Dispatch Boys Soccer Player of the Year
Luke Kolankowski has always seen himself as a facilitator in the offense for the Plum boys soccer team. “I feel that a nice assist and getting a teammate a goal is better than getting a goal yourself,” Kolankowski said. “No matter who scores, the win is the most important thing.”...
Allegheny Seven: North Catholic wins 4 individual awards in all-conference voting
North Catholic’s Kyle Tipinski, Tyler Primrose and Andrew Stephens, who led the Trojans to the WPIAL finals, all earned individual player awards in all-conference voting for the Allegheny Seven. North Catholic’s Pat O’Shea was voted the conference’s top coach. The Trojans (12-1) went undefeated in the regular season with six...
Strong finish provides optimism for future of Burrell football
The Burrell football season changed in a flash — literally. In the middle of a gusty downpour, Burrell scored the go-ahead touchdown with 2 minutes remaining against rival Deer Lakes. The moment senior kicker Ethan Croushore’s extra point sailed through the uprights, lightning struck and the game went into a...
Burrell girls basketball program rolls with changes
When Shaun Reddick took over as coach of the Burrell girls basketball team in June, it marked his return to that capacity for the first time since one season at the helm of the Bucs two decades ago. Very familiar with the Burrell girls basketball program in a number of...
Burrell boys basketball team confident in ability, experience
Two years ago, the Burrell boys basketball team won just one game. The Bucs made strides last season in the midst of all of the covid uncertainty, improving to 9-10 overall and 5-6 in Section 1-4A. They suffered a WPIAL first-round loss to Central Valley. Coach Mike Fantuzzo said he...
A-K Valley boys athlete of the week: Burrell’s Joe Scolaro
Joe Scolaro Class: Senior School: Highlands/Burrell Sport: Hockey Report card: Scolaro scored twice and had an assist to help Burrell’s hockey team top Wilmington, 7-1, last Monday. It was his second two-goal game of the season. He had a team-leading six goals and 11 points entering Monday’s game against Ringgold....
Westmoreland County soccer notebook: All-WPIAL honors handed out
Several Westmoreland area players were named to the All-WPIAL boys soccer lists, compiled by the Western Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association. Norwin seniors Caleb Yuricha and Riley Zimmerman were selected in Class 4A, and Franklin Regional senior Anthony DiFalco and juniors Colton Hudson and Jake Kimmich made the 3A list, along...
Mt. Pleasant routs Burrell to deliver coach’s 1st playoff win
Mt. Pleasant scored touchdowns on its first four possessions and rolled to a 41-7 victory over Burrell on Friday in the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs at Vikings Stadium. The Vikings (6-4) advance to next Friday’s quarterfinals at No. 3 Avonworth (8-2). “No doubt, a playoff win...
Through the years: With heavy hearts, Knoch topped West Allegheny in 2011
Each week throughout the high school football season, the Valley News Dispatch will take a look back at the games, players and events that are part of local scholastic history. Knoch’s Ky Kenyon passed for three touchdowns and Andrew Rumburg-Goodlin ran for 109 yards in a 28-7 victory over West...
With trade deadline in rear view, Chick’s Picks makes 1st-round football playoff predictions
Welcome to Week 10. The days leading up to the trade deadline are always a frantic time for high school football prognosticators throughout the country. Though Chick’s Picks has felt secure in her spot as top prognosticator at the TribLive High School Sports Network, one never knows what kind of...
The Birdie hits reset button, makes Westmoreland County playoff picks
Last week: 9-4 (69.2%) Season: 88-35 (71.5%) When the Birdie caught wind that Seton Hill was getting Esports teams for the fall of 2022, he checked to see if he had any college eligibility left. “If you’d have seen me play Tecmo Bowl back in the day, you’d know why,”...
The Birdie gets out his calculator and makes A-K Valley playoff picks
Last week: 8-1 (88.9%) Overall: 78-27 (74.3%) If there’s one question the Birdie gets asked more than any other, it’s “Do you want fries with that?” A close second is, “How do you make your picks? It’s like you’re a fortune teller who can see into the future.” On the...
A-K Valley don’t miss high school football matchups for 2021 Week 10
Class 5A First round 10-Fox Chapel (4-6) at 7-Upper St. Clair (6-4) 7 p.m. Friday, at Panther Stadium, Upper St. Clair Township Winner plays: At 2-Penn-Trafford in quarterfinals Nov. 12, 7 p.m. Fox Chapel returns to the WPIAL playoffs after a one-year hiatus. The Foxes are part of the postseason...
Young Burrell boys soccer team made strides during ’21 season
The story of the 2021 Burrell boys soccer team could be summed up in one game: the Bucs’ 5-1 loss to No. 2-seeded Quaker Valley in the first round of the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs. The inexperienced, and out-gunned, Bucs, played Quaker Valley tough for nearly two thirds of the...
After snapping postseason drought, Leechburg takes aim at playoff victories
Leechburg has spent much of the last month checking off goals attained. First winning season since 1991 — check. First time in the WPIAL playoffs since 1988 — check. First eight-victory season since 1980 — check. And now, the first home playoff game in the 75-year history of Leechburg Veterans...