Basketball

Highlands’ Korry Myers (11) and Gateway’s Elgin Oliver (0) chase down a loose ball Dec. 7, 2019, at Highlands.

Alle-Kiski Valley boys basketball notebook: Fox Chapel, Highlands and Springdale build perfect records

December 12, 2019

Building an undefeated record early in the season is the best a team can do, and three Alle-Kiski Valley squads entered Thursday unbeaten.

Greensburg-Salem head coach Mark Zahorchak commands from the sidelines during their game against Franklin Regional on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 in the Hempfield High School Tip-Off Tournament.

Westmoreland high school basketball notebook: Greensburg Salem boys moving up to Class 6A

When the PIAA last week released a list of schools that plan to play up in classification for the 2020-21 and 2012-22 school years, one team stood out.

Penn-Trafford senior Zach Rocco plans to play at Army next season.

Zach Rocco helping Penn-Trafford boys basketball be all it can be

Zach Rocco is an Army of one.

Kiski Area’s Jason Baker dunks during Tuesday’s game against Connellsville.

Kiski Area boys basketball on verge of taking next step

A year ago, the Kiski Area boys basketball team finished their 2018-19 season with just four wins in the first year of coach Will Saunders’ tenure.

Shaler’s Meghan Lacey (right) competes during practice for the 2019-2020 season Nov. 25, 2019.

Focus on defensive effort lifts Shaler Area girls to fast start

Senior guard Meghan Lacey wants this season to be a revenge tour for the Shaler Area girls basketball. The Titans made quite a statement to open the season at the Ambridge tournament.

High school roundup for Dec. 11, 2019: Elizabeth Forward wins early season showdown on Class AA mats

Elizabeth Forward used five pins to post a 46-31 victory over Southmoreland in a matchup of top teams in WPIAL Class AA on the opening night of section wrestling action Wednesday.

The debut of the 2019-20 Trib HSSN basketball power rankings

December 11, 2019

For the first time in the 2019-20 WPIAL basketball season, the Trib Live High School Sports Network presents the boys and girls weekly power rankings.

Westmoreland girls basketball notebook: Penn-Trafford savors dramatic victory

Penn-Trafford showed a flair for the dramatic Tuesday night against a quality opponent.

Freeport girls basketball coach Fred Soilis works with his team during a recent practice.

A-K Valley girls basketball notebook: Freeport looks to repeat fast start

Last season, the Freeport girls basketball team went 1-1 at the season-opening Southmoreland tournament before winning six straight to head into the new year 7-1 en route to an 18-4 regular season and a runner-up finish in Section 1-4A.

Jeannette coach Jonathan Bass (center) and guard Asia Mack meet for a pregame talk with an official before a game against Greensburg Central Catholic on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.

Coach turns Jeannette girls basketball into trending topic

Clear back in the spring, when basketballs were tucked away on dusty racks in darkened equipment rooms, Jonathan Bass was starting the hype.

Deer Lakes’ Makayla Blair makes successful return from hoops hiatus

Makayla Blair scored a game-best 18 points and pulled down 10 rebounds Monday in the Deer Lakes’ girls basketball team’s 57-41 victory over Burrell.

Jeannette’s Anton Good jump passes the ball over Greensburg Central Catholic defenders on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019 during WPIAL basketball at Jeannette.

Greensburg Central Catholic takes down rival Jeannette

December 10, 2019

Greensburg Central Catholic rookie basketball coach Christian Hyland said his young lineup was not starstruck playing at Jeannette.

Jeannette’s Jackson Pruitt puts up a shot as Greensburg Central Catholic applies defensive pressure on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019 at Jeannette.

High school roundup for Dec. 10, 2019: Sizzling Tommy DiRienzo scores 51 for Bethel Park

Senior Tommy DiRienzo had a night he’ll never forget, scoring 51 points to lead Bethel Park to a 107-80 victory over Trinity on Tuesday night in WPIAL boys basketball. DiRienzo went 19 of 22 from the floor and 9 of 11 from 3-point range. Ryan Meis added 24 for the Black Hawks (2-1). Anthony Chiccitt had 15. Dylan King led Trinity (2-1) with 22 points.

Deer Lakes Jessica Sullivan (25) fights for a rebound against Burrell Dec. 9, 2019 at Deer Lakes

George Guido: Section basketball play already upon us

Despite being just a few days into the new high school basketball season, section play is upon us already.

Franklin Regional’s Ben Rosenberg ties up Monessen’s Taylon Lowe during their game Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, at Franklin Regional High School.

High school roundup for Dec. 9, 2019: Aubrey Burns beats buzzer for Armstrong

December 9, 2019

Aubrey Burns made 10-foot jumper with 4.5 seconds remaining to lead Armstrong to a 43-42 victory over South Park in WPIAL girls basketball Monday night. The Riverhawks trailed by as many as 11 points in the fourth quarter.

Deer Lakes Nikki Flemming (10) and Burrell’s Addy Landowski (50) goes for a rebound during a nonsection girls basketball game Dec. 9, 2019, at Deer Lakes.

Deer Lakes girls break into win column with double-digit triumph

Something had to give Monday between the Deer Lakes and Burrell girls basketball teams after both had suffered a pair of losses in tip-off tournaments over the weekend.

Players, Melina Maietta, Molly White and Teresa Kondas, background, work on a dribbling drill during girls’ practice on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019 at Greensburg Central Catholic High School.

GCC girls basketball moving on without top scorer Melina Maietta

Senior basketball player Melina Maietta, a 20-point scorer, has been dismissed from the Greensburg Central Catholic girls basketball team, according to Centurions coach Sam Salih.