Basketball
Defending WPIAL champion Nazareth Prep fights back to edge Clairton boys
February 15, 2020
Defending WPIAL boys Class A champion Nazareth Prep trailed by as many as 12 points in the third quarter, then fought back to take a late lead and held on to defeat Clairton, 53-52, in a first-round playoff game Saturday at Thomas Jefferson.
Battle-tested Eden Christian upsets Greensburg Central Catholic boys
Eden Christian coach Todd Aiken kept shouting “five out” to set up a play Saturday afternoon as his boys basketball team clung to the lead against favored Greensburg Central Catholic.
Obama Academy boys win 1st City League title, knock off Allderdice
Allderdice’s City League boys basketball reign has ended.
No. 9 Geibel Catholic boys use an electric fourth quarter to earn first round victory over Leechburg
For the past three years, the Geibel boys basketball team qualified for the playoffs. But each time, the Gators lost in the first round.
Allderdice girls capture 3rd straight City League title
The Allderdice girls basketball team has relied on a balanced scoring attack this season.
Dwindling number of high school officials part of troubling nationwide trend
As a high school basketball official in his early 20s, Joe Strednak wasn’t much older than the athletes on the court. Occasionally, someone would test his poise as the youngest ref on his crew.
WPIAL’s 2nd-leading scorer exits early as Aliquippa defense stops Steel Valley
Aliquippa had a strategy for facing the WPIAL’s second-leading scorer: Trap Steel Valley’s Camden Polak whenever he touched the ball, keep it out of his hands if possible and make him work for every shot.
Decade’s best WPIAL finals: Boys basketball No. 7
February 14, 2020
There were a lot of changes to the WPIAL basketball championships over the past 10 years.
South Allegheny boys hold off upset-minded Avonworth
South Allegheny’s Bryce Epps isn’t one to let his critics phase him.
Carlynton overcomes foul trouble, beats Charleroi in overtime
Carlynton coach Mike Kozy wrote the word “team” on the board prior to Friday’s WPIAL Class AAA first-round game against Charleroi. He knew it was going to take a team effort if his Cougars wanted to advance.
High school roundup for Feb. 14, 2020: Neshannock tops Washington in OT thriller
Preston Turk made a pair of free throws with 25 seconds left in overtime to lead Neshannock past Washington, 55-54, in a wild WPIAL Class 3A boys basketball first-round matchup Friday night.
No. 1 Lincoln Park boys shake off sluggish start, cruise past Deer Lakes
WPIAL Class 3A No. 1 seed Lincoln Park is the defending PIAA champion for a reason, and Friday night in the first round of the district playoffs, the Leopards showed why.
Relentless North Catholic boys finish off Shady Side Academy
Shady Side Academy’s 17th consecutive WPIAL playoff trip was a short one in more ways than one.
Beaver Falls powers past Southmoreland in boys opening-round matchup
Momentum is an interesting aspect of sports. It’s hard to acquire, and it can be lost in a split second.
Riverview girls rally past Burgettstown, end playoff losing streak
Despite a 10-point deficit at the end of the third quarter, the Riverview girls basketball team would not be denied its first WPIAL playoff victory since 2016.
Brentwood’s Ziegler reaches scoring milestone
C.J. Ziegler recently enlisted in an exclusive club at Brentwood.
Senior captains drive Seton LaSalle girls to successful season
Seton LaSalle’s girls basketball team has been driven by the force of three seniors in its lineup this season.
Sole senior Jenna Lutz energizes Baldwin girls basketball program
It has been a frustrating yet gratifying senior season for Baldwin hoopster Jenna Lutz.
Penn-Trafford swimmer Paszek eyes school record, PIAAs
Penn-Trafford senior swimmer Corina Paszek, who committed to compete for Clarion next season, will have a couple of incentives at the WPIAL Class AAA championship meet Feb. 27-28 at Pitt.
Q&A with Plum’s Connor Moss
Plum’s Connor Moss eclipsed 1,000 career points Feb. 5 after scoring 25 in a 52-51 nonconference win over Baldwin. Moss joins another junior, the girls team’s Kennedie Montue, in hitting the milestone. Moss scored more than 20 points 13 times this season and had more than 30 points four times.
