What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Jan. 30, 2024: Shaler boys out to defend section top spot

By: Don Rebel
Monday, January 29, 2024 | 9:30 PM

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With time ticking away in January and the high school basketball regular season, the “stretch run” of section play begins in boys hoops Tuesday.

The chase for section supremacy in Section 2-5A has become a three-team race.

Shaler (16-2) is alone in first place with a 5-1 section record. The Titans lead both Fox Chapel (9-9) and Woodland Hills (7-10) by one game as they each have section marks of 4-2.

On Tuesday, Shaler hosts Woodland Hills.

The Titans started the season winning their first 11 games. They have now won two in a row and six of their last seven.

The Wolverines suffered through a seven-game losing skid from mid-December through early January, but they have won two straight and four of their last six.

In their most recent game, senior Lamar Williams had a triple-double with 13 points, 13 rebounds and 11 blocked shots as Woody High defeated Armstrong by 12 points.

In their first meeting earlier this month, sophomore Scoop Smith scored a game-high 22 points as Woodland Hills stunned Shaler, 52-46, handing the Titans their first loss of the season and their only section loss to date.

Senior Brandon London scored 20 points to lead Shlaer.

A Titans win keeps them alone in first place; however, another Wolverines victory could force a three-way tie for first place if Fox Chapel beats visiting Plum on Tuesday.

You can watch the Woodland Hills at Shaler video stream on Trib HSSN at 7:15 p.m.

Battle on Cougar Mountain

First place in Section 4-3A will be determined at the school located on what is affectionately known as Cougar Mountain when Yough hosts Washington.

Washington is in first place with a perfect 8-0 section record. The Little Prexies are 11-6 overall and had won 11 straight games before falling to Shady Side Academy on Saturday, 46-40.

Yough is one game behind with a 7-1 record in the section. They have won seven straight games since losing at Washington on Jan. 5.

The Little Prexies outscored the Cougars 32-23 in the second and third quarters combined in a big victory at home, 60-53.

Senior Zxavion Willis led Wash High with 16 points and all-section senior Ruben Gordon added 14 points.

The WPIAL’s leading scorer, senior Terek Crosby, led all scorers that night with 28 points, one point over his season average of 27 points per game.

You can watch the game on Trib HSSN at 7:30 p.m.

Westmoreland County rivals collide

Greensburg Central Catholic boys basketball is enjoying a sensational season.

The Centurions are a perfect 9-0 and in first place in Section 3-2A, have clinched a playoff spot, have an overall record of 17-2 and have won eight straight games after winning eight in a row earlier this season.

The Centurions can clinch a share of the section championship Tuesday when they host their biggest rivals, Jeannette.

The Jayhawks are the only team in the section within four games of GCC, as they enter this road showdown with a 6-1 section mark and 11-4 overall.

Jeannette lost to Beaver Falls on Saturday, ending a four-game winning streak.

When the teams met 25 days ago, Greensburg Central Catholic upended host Jeannette big time, 73-46. The Centurions outscored the Jayhawks 40-23 in the second half.

Senior Tyree Turner led GCC with 25 points while sophomore Kymon’e Brown had 16 points for Jeannette.