Alle-Kiski Valley high school look-ahead: Week of Jan. 29, 2018

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, January 28, 2018 | 11:30 PM

Monday

• Leechburg hosts the top-ranked team in WPIAL Class 2A when Vincentian visits. The No. 4 Blue Devils (14-2, 9-1) have won seven in a row since a 73-51 loss at Vincentian earlier this month. The No. 1 Royals (15-1, 10-0) are outscoring their teams by nearly 25 points per game.

• Burrell and Deer Lakes are battling for the final playoff spot in Section 1-4A girls basketball and will meet for the second time this season at Burrell. The visiting Lancers (6-9, 3-5) beat the Bucs, 47-36, in their first matchup, but they've lost five games in a row. Burrell (5-10, 3-6) is looking to extend its six-year playoff streak.

• Freeport and Knoch will renew their rivalry in a Section 1-4A girls basketball game between teams that have clinched playoff berths. The host Yellowjackets (10-6, 7-2) had their seven-game winning streak snapped last week against Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic but beat Knoch, 39-34, earlier this season.

• Kiski Area and South Park, battling for playoff spots in PIHL Class A, face off at Ice Castle. The Cavaliers (8-7) have won two games in a row and are led by 32-goal scorer Austin LaPiana. South Park (9-7) is giving up just over three goals per game.

Tuesday

• Deer Lakes and Derry complete what amounts to a home-and-home series when the Lancers host the Trojans in a battle between Section 1-4A boys basketball playoff hopefuls. Deer Lakes (9-7, 5-3) gained an early edge on Derry (7-7, 4-4) with a 59-43 road win last week. Jake Kelly, Trevor Sutch and Jack Hollibaugh combined for 40 points in the victory.

• Leechburg upset Jeannette for the second consecutive season earlier this month, but the No. 3 Jayhawks will look for payback in a Section 2-2A contest. Leechburg (11-4, 6-3) rebounded from a halftime deficit Saturday to beat Greensburg Central Catholic for its fourth consecutive victory, all in section play. Jeannette (11-2, 6-1) played without star Anthony Johnson against Springdale last week but still posted a comfortable victory.

Wednesday

• Burrell wrestling will begin its quest for a 12th consecutive WPIAL Class AA team title when the playoffs get underway with first-round and quarterfinal matches. The top-seeded Bucs (7-5) received a bye into the quarterfinals, where they will face Burgettstown or Mt. Pleasant at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday at Burrell.

• Kiski Area won its third WPIAL Class AAA wrestling championship last season, and the Cavaliers start their defense with a first-round match against Thomas Jefferson or Mars at 6 p.m. The winner advances to the 7:15 quarterfinal match against Greensburg Salem or North Allegheny.

• Valley qualified for the wrestling playoffs for the third year in a row, and the Vikings will take on Elizabeth Forward in a WPIAL first-round match at 6 p.m. at Derry. The winner advances to the quarterfinals against Derry or Keystone Oaks.

Thursday

• Freeport already clinched its Section 1-4A playoff spot in girls basketball. Now the Yellowjackets (10-6, 6-2) look for positioning against a Deer Lakes team desperate to qualify for the postseason. The Yellowjackets won the first matchup by a dozen points, and the host Lancers (6-9. 3-5) will look to turn the tables.

• Brentwood held Riverview to 23 points in their first Section 2-2A matchup, but the Raiders (8-8, 4-6) will look for a better result when the No. 5 Spartans (13-4, 8-2) come to town. Riverview is coming off back-to-back wins against Ellis School and Deer Lakes.

Friday

• Springdale's defense limited Leechburg in their first meeting, a 57-45 Dynamos victory, but this time the Blue Devils will host the Section 2-2A matchup. Leechburg has won four in a row in section play. Springdale (10-6, 5-4) snapped a two-game losing streak with a win over Mapletown on Saturday.

• Burrell plays Shady Side Academy for the second time in five days in a Section 3-3A contest. The two also were scheduled to play Monday. Burrell (7-10, 4-2) won back-to-back games last week against Apollo-Ridge and South Allegheny, putting the Bucs into strong playoff position. New Kensington native Skyy Moore is a top player for SSA (10-6, 5-1).

• Valley began the week in seemingly strong playoff position, but a loss or two would put a damper on that. The Vikings (9-3, 6-2) have won seven of eight, bouncing back from a close loss to Indiana last week with a dominant win over Yough. Derry (7-7, 4-4) is trying to climb into the top four teams in the section.

Saturday

• The WPIAL wrestling semifinals and finals are on tap for noon and 2 p.m., respectively: Class AA at Chartiers-Houston and Class AAA at Trinity. Kiski Area can go back-to-back for the first time in its history.

• Scrapping for potential playoff position in Section 1-4A boys basketball, Deer Lakes hosts Valley in the makeup of a postponed game.

Week in review

• Millennium Spartan: Alex Jones became St. Joseph's second 1,000-point scorer in two seasons when she hit a layup early in the Spartans' victory over Clairton on Saturday.

• Fresh feat: Burrell freshman Ian Oswalt captured the 113-pound championship at the Thomas Chevrolet Tournament on Saturday in Bedford, leading a pack of eight Burrell medalists.

• David over Goliath: Fox Chapel and Freeport picked up road upsets of ranked teams Friday, with the Foxes taking down No. 2 Penn Hills in Section 3-6A and the Yellowjackets beating No. 4 Indiana in Section 1-4A.

Tags: Burrell, Deer Lakes, Freeport, Kiski School, Knoch, Leechburg, Riverview, Springdale, Valley