WPIAL Championship Game Previews For Thursday

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, March 1, 2017 | 12:07 AM

It’s the conclusion to the Path to the Pete as over a 3 day stretch, players and fans will make the trip up Cardiac Hill to the home of the Pitt Panthers and the WPIAL Championships. MSA Sports Network will offer up broadcasts of ALL 12 title games, plus stories, photos, Center Stage video interviews and much more. Kicking of our coverage, here are game previews of Thursday’s action in order by game time.

2017 WPIAL CLASS 2-A GIRLS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:
#1 Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers (22-2) vs #2 Vincentian Academy Royals (20-4) AT The Petersen Events Center at the University of Pittsburgh on Thursday, March 2nd at 5:00pm on MSAsports.net

It’s the new team on the block versus one of the best girls programs in Pennsylvania to open championship play on THE NETWORK.

The Buccaneers rolled past Leechburg 60-44 and OLSH 54-39 to advance to their first ever title game. It was the third consecutive win over the Chargers, having racked up 36-29 and 53-34 victories during section play. Char-Houston has won 16 straight games with a loss to Trinity in the opening game of the season and Beaver in the LGKG Classic at Riverside. Defense has been a key as the Bucs have held opponents under 20 points 4 times and 30 points 13 times.

Alexa Williamson is averaging over 22 points and 12 rebounds per game and had posted several triple-doubles. The junior is a force in the paint with 25 points in Monday’s victory. Look for senior point guard Jala Walker as a secondary threat, she posted 14 in the semis.

The Royals are no strangers to a title game atmosphere having defeated Washington 59-39 and GCC 43-39 on the Path to the Pete. Vincentian Academy has won 5 straight WPIAL titles and made 7 consecutive finals.

Vincentian Academy ran the table in Section 2 at 14-0, with 2 non-section losses in the She Got Game Classic in Washington DC to open the season. The Royals fell to Fox Chapel and Winchester Thurston, but also hold a victory over Bishop Canevin. VA is the highest scoring team in 2A at 61 points per game and is 5th in the entire WPIAL in scoring average.

Junior Caroline Elliot is the only returning starter from last year’s team and she has been outstanding this season, averaging 15 points, 10 rebounds and 3 steals. 

2017 WPIAL CLASS 1-A BOYS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:
#1 Monessen Greyhounds (17-7) vs #3 Imani Christian Saints (15-6) AT The Petersen Events Center at the University of Pittsburgh on Thursday, March 2nd at 7:00pm on MSAsports.net

Monessen is a 6 time champion while Imani Christian is making their first trip to the title game. Both teams will push the basketball, expect the pace to be quick in the middle gane of the night.

The Greyhounds won Section 2 with a 10-0 record, Monessen has not lost a section game since 2013. That section success hasn’t translated to titles as the Greyhounds make their 4th trip to the title game in 6 years, but only have the 2015 championship to show for it. Monessen leads the WPIAL in playoff appearances.

Monessen defeated Eden Christian 79-61 and Union 88-64 on the Path to the Pete. Joe Salvino, in his 33rd year, guides the Greyhounds, he has won 4 WPIAL’S.

In the semis, the Greyhounds exploded for a 30 point 3rd quarter to pull away from a talented Union team. A pair of seniors who were key members of the title team 2 years ago led the way. Justice Rice posted a career high 38 points and Jaden Altomore pumped in 25.

Altomore is the leading scorer at 22 points per, while Rice averages almost 19. Monessen has traditionally played a tough schedule and this year was no exception. The Greyhounds faced off against Central Valley, Beaver Falls, Sewickley Academy and CWNC just to name a few. All of those teams advanced to the semifinals in their class.

Lynden Henderson added 13 points in both the quarters and semis, he is only a sophomore.

Monessen averages 79.7 points and has scored 80 or more in 12 games this season, including 3 games over 100 points.

Imani Christian defeated Avella 74-45, Cornell 92-57 and Vincentian Academy 80-71 to advance Coach Anwan Wesley has guided a balanced scoring attack thru the playoffs and to into their 1st title tilt.

It hasn’t been always been easy for the Saints. Imani Christian trailed by 11 points in the semi finals but used a 17-2 run to open the 4th to take the lead for good. Kenny Robinson was in foul trouble but still led with 19 points. Ray Jackson added 16, Sam Fairley and Keon Arvin both had 15 and Desean Hubbard scored 12.

Robinson is headed to West Virginia to play football but he can hoop too at over 25 ppg. Jackson is deadly from behind the arc with 5 three-pointers vs. the Royals and 22 points in the Cornell win.

The Saints have won 9 straight, the Greyhounds 2 in a row and 7 of their last 8 coming in.

2017 WPIAL CLASS 3-A BOYS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:
#1 Lincoln Park Leopards (21-4) vs #3 Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans (20-5) AT The Petersen Events Center at the University of Pittsburgh on Thursday, March 2nd at 9:00pm on MSAsports.net

Both teams are no strangers to the big stage. Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic won the Class A title last year while Lincoln Park won the A title in both 2012 and 14. Both teams also have veteran mentors in Dave Long for the Trojans and Mike Bariski is the Leopards boss.

This could be a battle of offense vs. defense. Lincoln Park leads the class in scoring at 75 points per game while CWNC is best on defense, allowing 43 per contest. 

Lincoln Park defeated Steel Valley 74-62, Seton LaSalle 71-70 and Shady Side Academy 81-61 to make the trip from Midland to Oakland. The Leopards could have been on the outside looking in for the finals but Evan Brown would have none of that. After missing the 2nd quarter of the Seton LaSalle game with a possible broken nose. Brown returned and despite having to clear drainage, ended with 23 points. That included an off balance buzzer beater to advance to the semi finals. Brown started Monday night’s game vs. Shady Side with a protective mask and hit his first three pointer but quickly discarded it. He ended with 28 points and has been deadly from behind the arc.

Notice that this preview has gone without mentioning Nelly Cummings. Brown has been such a story that it has slightly overshadowed one of the highest scorers in WPIAL history. The senior, a Bowling Green recruit, has 2,252 career points and is tied for 13th place with former Blackhawk and North Carolina star Dante Calabria. Cummings had 4 points after a slow start in the semis but ended with 31 points. Next up for Cummings would be Micah Mason of Highlands at 2,272 and another Blackhawk standout Brandon Fuss-Cheatham at 2,278.

It’s not just Cummings and Brown, sophomore Keeno Holmes had 13 points in the quarterfinals. Lincoln Park has won 10 straight games since a loss to Pine-Richland. The other losses came to Penn Hills, Homewood in Alabama at the KSA Disney Tournament and Kennedy Catholic. 

CWNC has 3 WPIAL titles in 2009 and 2010 in addition to last year. The Trojans are in the title game for the 4th time in 9 years under Long.

The Trojans defeated Burrell 51-41, Riverside 55-32 and Wash High 49-44 to advance with their 4th straight win and 12th in their last 13. CWNC has defeated D-10 semifinalist Grove City and Monessen along the way along with a 2-2 road trip in the Tarkanian Classic in Los Vegas.

Wash High had taken the lead in the 4th quarter on Monday 41-40, but Isaiah Wilson scored 11 of his team high 13 points in the final stanza to propel the Trojans to the opportunity for back to back titles.

John Fukon also had 13 points in the Wash High win, while Kenny Fukon had 21against Riverside.

Watch out for the 3-point shooting of Vincent DiNicola, his triple gave CWNC the lead for good in the semis. His defense is strong as well with 6 steals vs. Riverside.