Basketball

Mars celebrates with Andrew Recchia after Recchia hit the winning shot with time running out to beat Moon during the WPIAL Class 5A boys championship at Petersen Events Center.

Decade’s best WPIAL finals: Boys basketball No. 3

February 22, 2020

There were a lot of changes to the WPIAL basketball championships over the past 10 years.

Upper St. Clair’s David Pantelis (11) pulls up for a shot against Pine Richland during a 6A WPIAL quarterfinal game Feb. 22, 2020 at North Hills

Strong 2nd half carries Upper St. Clair past Pine-Richland, into semifinals

Maybe it is the team’s gritty style. Maybe it is coaching adjustments, or maybe it is just the names on the roster.

Avonworth girls push past South Park into WPIAL semifinals

The Avonworth girls basketball team understood that if it wanted to return to the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals, the Antelopes would have to play to their strength — their size.

Belle Vernon’s Devin Whitlock powers to the net as Quaker Valley’s James Davis (23) attempts to block Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in the WPIAL quarterfinals.

Belle Vernon boys basketball upsets Quaker Valley, clinches PIAA spot

Listed at 5-foot-9, Devin Whitlock was the shortest player on the floor in Saturday’s game between Quaker Valley and Belle Vernon, but what he lacks in size he makes up for in many other areas.

Central Catholic coach Brian Urso celebrates with Ben Sarson (24) after beating Fox Chapel in the WPIAL quarterfinals Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.

Central Catholic boys upset No. 2 Fox Chapel in WPIAL quarterfinals

Central Catholic boys basketball first-year coach Brian Urso never doubted his team Saturday afternoon.

New Castle’s Michael Wells takes a jumpshot against Knoch during their WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal matchup at North Allegheny on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2020.

New Castle boys hold on to beat No. 2 seeded Knoch

When the playoffs roll around, New Castle instantly becomes a tough team to beat and Knoch learned that the hard way Saturday afternoon at North Allegheny.

Butler’s Ethan Morton scored 32 points Saturday afternoon.

Ethan Morton, No. 1 Butler outlast Peters Township in double-overtime barnburner

It took four quarters, two overtimes and 32 points and a buzzer beater from Ethan Morton for No. 1 Butler to finally escape a tough No. 9 Peters Township (14-10) team, but escape they did in a 78-76 victory in the quarterfinals of the WPIAL Class 6A boys basketball playoffs.

Highlands’ Johnny Crise (20) throws down a dunk against Ringgold during a Class 4A WPIAL quarterfinal game Feb. 22, 2020 at North Hills.

Highlands rolls past Ringgold in Class 4A boys quarterfinal

So much for problems getting untracked after a 15-day layoff.

Ligonier Valley’s Matthew (left) and Michael Marinchak combined for 38 points Friday night.

Marinchak brothers move Ligonier Valley into District 6 semifinals

Top-seeded Ligonier Valley survived the first game of its final season in the District 6 boys basketball playoffs Friday night, but it took a big scoring surge in the fourth quarter, led by the Marinchak brothers, to do it.

Brayden Reynolds scored 19 points for Chartiers Valley on Friday night.

Brayden Reynolds’ clutch shot sparks Chartiers Valley past Shaler

February 21, 2020

Chartiers Valley coach Brandon Sensor thought Shaler did a pretty good job on his standout guard Brayden Reynolds through the first three quarters of Friday’s WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinal game.

Peters Township celebrates beating North Allegheny in the WPIAL Class 6A girls championship game Saturday, March 2, 2019 at Petersen Events Center.

Decade’s best WPIAL finals: Girls basketball No. 3

There were a lot of changes to the WPIAL basketball championships over the last 10 years.

Mars’ Chris Dvorak (10) pulls down a rebound against South Fayette during a 5A WPIAL quarterfinal game Feb. 21, 2020 at North Hills

Michael Carmody’s big game leads Mars past South Fayette

Mars didn’t have its A game Friday night in its 2020 playoff debut, but the Fightin’ Planets survived and advanced to their fourth straight Class 5A final four.

Jake Pugh had 14 points for Thomas Jefferson on Friday night.

High school roundup for Feb. 21, 2020: Thomas Jefferson shrugs off West Allegheny

With top-seeded Penn Hills falling victim to a quarterfinals upset, the Path to the Pete in WPIAL Class 5A boys basketball took a left turn Friday night.

Wrestling and diving and hoops, oh my. All the action Saturday on Trib HSSN

The second round of the WPIAL basketball playoffs concludes Saturday afternoon with quarterfinals games in boys 6A, boys 4A, girls 5A and girls 3A.

Surrounded by Springdale defenders, Winchester Thurston’s Langston Moses goes up for a layup during their WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinal matchup on Friday at Shaler.

Winchester Thurston shocks Springdale to earn second playoff win in school history

Sometimes, it’s not the third but the fourth time that’s the charm, and the Winchester Thurston Bears experienced just that Friday night at Shaler.

Laurel Highlands players Rodney Gallagher (2) Tyvaughn Long (15) and Keandre Cook (1) react after scoring on Penn Hills on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020 in WPIAL basketball playoffs at Norwin Senior High School. Laurel Highlands defeated Penn Hills.

Laurel Highlands scores with 3.5 seconds left, stuns No. 1 Penn Hills in WPIAL quarterfinals

Laurel Highlands coach Rick Hauger called for a timeout, but the crowd was still raucous from Penn Hills’ game-tying 3-pointer.

Phenomenal freshman leads Upper St. Clair girls to upset win over Norwin

It’s not to be confused with the 1950s harmony group, the Four Freshmen, but four freshmen starters contributed to a big upset Friday night.

Jeannette’s Imani Sanders drives to the basket as Shenango’s Ryan Lenhart defends.

Shenango mans up, knocks off Jeannette in boys Class 2A quarters

Shenango had planned to come out in a 3-2 zone defense against Jeannette in the WPIAL Class 2A boys basketball quarterfinals, but coach Bob McQuiston had an 11th hour change of heart.