A-K Valley lookahead: Feb. 26-March 3

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, February 25, 2018 | 5:54 PM

Monday

• Although eliminated from Penguins Cup playoff contention, Deer Lakes hockey closes its comeback season by hosting Greensburg Salem at Ice Connection. Ryan Murdock leads the Lancers (8-10-1) with 32 goals.

Tuesday

• It's time for Round 3 between the Highlands and Franklin Regional boys basketball teams, with a trip to Petersen Events Center for the WPIAL Class 5A championship game on the line. The No. 2 Golden Rams (18-4) and No. 3 Panthers (19-4) split their season series and the Section 3-5A championship. Highlands is aiming for its second trip to the WPIAL championship game in three seasons. Franklin Regional last made the title game in 1997.

• Plum hockey will close the regular season with a game at Peters Township. The Mustangs (7-10) secured a playoff berth in their inaugural year in Class AAA thanks to a pair of one-goal victories last week over Central Catholic and Cathedral Prep.

Thursday

• The WPIAL swimming championships begin at Pitt's Trees Pool, with Class AAA going from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and Class AA from 3-5:30 p.m. Events scheduled for Thursday include the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays, the 50 and 200 free, the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly.

• Three days of the WPIAL basketball championship games tip off at Petersen Events Center, with the first day including the Class 2A girls at 5 p.m., the Class A boys at 7 p.m. and the Class 3A boys at 9 p.m.

Friday

• The WPIAL Class AAA wrestling championships begin at Canon-McMillan. Although Kiski Area did not finish the two-day tournament with a champion last season, the Cavaliers have a pair of returning runners-up: seniors Noah Levett and Isaac Reid, who won section titles over the weekend.

• The WPIAL swimming championships conclude at Trees Pool with the 400 free relay, the 100 and 500 free, the 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke.

• The WPIAL basketball championship games continue at Petersen Events Center with the Class A girls at 3 p.m., the Class 2A boys at 5 p.m., the Class 4A girls at 7 p.m. and the Class 5A boys at 9 p.m.

Saturday

• The WPIAL Class AAA wrestling tournament concludes at Canon-McMillan. The top four finishers in each weight class qualify for the state championships in Hershey.

• The WPIAL basketball championships conclude at Petersen Events Center with the Class 3A girls at 11 a.m., the Class 4A boys at 1 p.m., the Class 3A girls at 3 p.m., the Class 6A girls at 7 p.m. and the Class 6A boys at 9 p.m.

Week in review

• Strong six: Six Kiski Area wrestlers defended their home mats by winning individual titles at the Section 1-AAA tournament: Darren Miller, Noah Levett, Nick Delp, Logan Pollick, Danny Starr and Isaac Reid.

• It's been a while: The boys basketball teams at Springdale (2008), Valley ('09) and Leechburg ('11) ended long droughts without a WPIAL playoff victory by earning first-round wins. All three lost in the quarterfinals but remain alive for a potential PIAA playoff bid.

— Doug Gulasy

Tags: Deer Lakes, Highlands, Kiski School, Leechburg, Plum, Springdale, Valley