Basketball

Plum’s Mackenzie Lake (23) and Gateway’s Alexis Margolis (2) compete Jan. 13, 2020 at Gateway High.

Alle-Kiski Valley girls basketball notebook: Plum faces old foe Penn Hills

February 12, 2020

The last time the Plum and Penn Hills girls basketball teams met was Jan. 29, 2016, when the Indians stymied the Mustangs, 45-23, in Section 2-AAAA.

Deer Lakes girls basketball coach David Petruska watches his team compete against Shady Side Academy on Feb. 6, 2020, at Shady Side Academy.

Young Deer Lakes girls basketball team hopes to continue growth in playoffs

Playoff expectations were high when the Deer Lakes girls basketball team opened camp.

Derry head coach Gene Brisbane coaches his players against Deer Lakes during girls’ WPIAL basketball at Derry Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020 in Derry.

Derry girls basketball team makes sure history doesn’t repeat

History was not going to repeat itself. The Derry girls basketball team saw to that.

Kendelle Weston and Monessen are seeking their first playoff victory since 2012.

Westmoreland girls basketball notebook: Monessen preps for playoff return

Janine Vertacnik has coached in numerous WPIAL playoff games over the years, including when she led teams at Jeannette and Greensburg Salem.

Upper St. Clair’s Luke Banbury shoots in front of coach Danny Holzer during a game against Bethel Park.

WPIAL seeds Fox Chapel above Upper St. Clair despite late-season loss

February 11, 2020

More than two dozen times, Upper St. Clair coach Danny Holzer has traveled to Green Tree to see the boys basketball playoff brackets revealed.

Allderdice boys, girls advance to City League title game

Tony Henderson led the charge with 20 points as the Allderdice boys basketball team defeated Westinghouse, 89-54, in the City League semifinals Tuesday night.

Seton LaSalle’s Molly Tuite fouls Jeanette’s Ciara Gregory in the first half at AJ Palumbo Center during the girls WPIAL Class AA championship game March 6, 2010.

Decade’s best WPIAL finals: Girls basketball No. 8

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

Jeannette’s Jackson Pruitt sets up a shot on the net as Greensburg Central Catholic applies defensive pressure on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019 during WPIAL basketball at Jeannette.

Jeannette boys basketball team awarded No. 3 seed for WPIAL playoffs

One of the hottest teams since Christmas was the Jeannette boys basketball squad.

Southmoreland’s Olivia Cernuto (10) looks for a pass to teammates Gracie Spadaro on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020 in WPIAL basketball against Elizabeth Forward at Southmoreland High School.

Southmoreland girls nab No. 2 seed in WPIAL Class 4A postseason

Southmoreland cut down the nets Monday night.

Highlands’ Korry Myers goes in for a layup during the Golden Rams’ matchup with Knoch on Jan. 28, 2020.

Highlands, Knoch take top 2 seeds for WPIAL Class 4A bracket

After jockeying back and forth this season atop the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball rankings, Highlands and Knoch claimed the top two spots in the tournament when the WPIAL revealed the brackets Tuesday night at the annual pairings meeting in Green Tree.

Reese Hasley and Deer Lakes got the No. 9 seed in Class 3A and will face Seton LaSalle in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs next Wednesday.

Knoch draws highest seed among A-K Valley girls basketball playoff teams

Last year at this time, Knoch girls basketball coach Chris Andreassi and the Knights faithful were still exhaling from a WPIAL Section 1-4A playoff chase that went down to the final day of the regular season.

Bethel Park’s Olivia Westphal drives to the basket past Mt. Lebanon’s Brooke Collins during their game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019, at Bethel Park High School.

Breaking down the 2020 WPIAL girls basketball playoffs

Here is a breakdown of the 2019-20 WPIAL girls basketball playoffs:

Butler’s Ethan Morton scores between Pine-Richland defenders Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, at Pine-Richland High School. Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Breaking down the 2020 WPIAL boys basketball playoffs

Here is a breakdown of the 2020 WPIAL boys basketball playoffs:

North Catholic’s Emma Pospisil drives past Freeport’s Melaina Dezort during their game Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, at Freeport Middle School.

WPIAL releases 2019-20 basketball playoff pairings

The North Catholic girls basketball team has grown accustomed to hoisting the WPIAL championship trophy.

Butler’s Raine Gratzmiller drives to the basket against Pine-Richland’s Levi Wentz during their game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, at Pine-Richland High School.

Live: Trib HSSN reveals the WPIAL basketball playoff pairings

It’s time for the postseason, and Trib HSSN has you covered as the WPIAL girls and boys basketball playoff pairings are announced Tuesday night.

Nina Shaw and the Knoch girls will try to end an 11-year playoff victory drought. The Knights last won a playoff game in February 2009.

George Guido: A-K Valley teams set to make run in basketball playoffs

The 108th WPIAL basketball tournament is set to start this weekend with seven boys and seven girls teams from the Alle-Kiski Valley qualifying. Brackets are available on tribhssn.triblive.com.