Basketball

Franklin Regional’s Caden Smith goes through drills during practice Monday, Nov. 22, 2021 at Franklin Regional High School.

New coach brings energy boost to Franklin Regional boys basketball

November 24, 2021

The more time Jesse Reed spends around his Franklin Regional boys basketball team, the more enlivened he gets.

Burrell’s Hope Clark (center) averaged 7.2 points and 5.2 rebounds last season.

Burrell girls basketball program rolls with changes

November 23, 2021

When Shaun Reddick took over as coach of the Burrell girls basketball team in June, it marked his return to that capacity for the first time since one season at the helm of the Bucs two decades ago.

Derry’s Tiana Moracco goes through drills during practice on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021 at Derry Area High School.

After top scorer, lack of depth presents challenge for Derry girls basketball

When Gene Brisbane took over the girls basketball program three years ago, he inherited a struggling program.

Derry’s Tyson Webb scores past Southmoreland’s Wyatt Richter during their WPIAL Class 4A playoff game last season.

Derry boys basketball looking to build on strong offseason

High school basketball practice officially began for the 2021-22 season Nov. 19, but the Derry boys basketball team, like all teams across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, have been holding offseason workouts since the end of the previous season.

Belle Vernon’s Daniel Gordon celebrates with Devin Whitlock after scoring against New Castle last season.

After football season, Belle Vernon boys basketball team has title aspirations too

November 22, 2021

There is not much Belle Vernon boys basketball coach Joe Salvino has not dealt with on the hardwood in his 38 seasons in coaching.

Shady Side Academy’s Alex Kramer pulls down a rebound next to Apollo-Ridge’s Gavin McCall during their WPIAL Class 3A playoff game Thursday, March 4, 2021, at Fox Chapel High School.

Lots of opportunities await for Apollo-Ridge boys basketball team

The Apollo-Ridge boys basketball team was hit hard by graduation, as much of its starting lineup, including four players who played all 16 games and accounted for 819 of the 915 points the team scored last season, moved on.

Belle Vernon’s Viva Kreis returns after averaging in double figures in scoring last season.

Belle Vernon girls basketball looks to build on playoff season

The first year of the Kaitlyn Slagus era at Belle Vernon has to be viewed as a success. She inherited a young team, got the Leopards into the WPIAL playoffs and nearly advanced to the second round.

Chartiers Valley athletes signing letters of intent include, standing, Helene Cowan (Seton Hill basketball), Kaden Crump (Seton Hill cross country), Perri Page (Columbia basketball), Hallie Cowan (Seton Hill basketball) and Aislin Malcolm (Pitt basketball) and seated, Marian Turnbull (Northeastern basketball), Josie Jones (Seton Hill lacrosse) and Mackenzie Minney (Indiana Wesleyan soccer). The group of seniors picked the earlier of two official national letter of intent days, Nov. 10, to recognize their choices. “We are very excited for all of our student athletes that are going to continue to play athletics at the collegiate level,” Colts athletic director Mike Gavlik said.

Chartiers Valley athletes, including 5 girls basketball players, sign with colleges

November 20, 2021

Nov. 10 was a busy day for eight Chartiers Valley athletes as the seniors put pen to paper and officially signed on the first of two national letter of intent days.

Highlands head coach Tyler Stoczynski celebrates with the championship trophy after the Rams defeated Belle Vernon in the WPIAL Class 4A final Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, at Petersen Events Center.

Highlands boys basketball coach Stoczynski resigns after 9 seasons

October 13, 2021

Tyler Stoczynski won 131 games in nine seasons, including 108 over the past six years, as the Highlands boys basketball coach.

Thomas Jefferson grad Lexi Dadig will play basketball at Saint Vincent.

Thomas Jefferson grad Lexi Dadig set to play basketball at next level

August 22, 2021

Lexi Dadig graduated with honors from Thomas Jefferson this spring.

Charters Valley’s Mariah Turnbull (32) dribbles the ball against Gateway’s Alexis Margolis (2) during their game on Jan. 18, 2021.

Chartiers Valley’s Marian Turnbull commits to Northeastern

August 10, 2021

The record-setting Chartiers Valley girls team now has five rising seniors all committed to play basketball in college with three headed to Division I schools.

Lance Maha watches West Mifflin play Franklin Regional in 2016.

New Norwin coach sees untapped potential in boys basketball program

August 9, 2021

From afar, Lance Maha always watched the Norwin boys basketball program with curious eyes.

Norwin boys basketball boosters and former teammates presented Ty Bilinsky with a check to help with his medical expenses. Pictured are (back row, from left) Michael Fleming, Jayden Walker, Nck Fleming, Josh Williams, Adam Bilinsky, and Rick Thomas, booster vice president; front row, booster secretary Sue Mihalov and Ty Bilinsky.

Norwin boosters, friends present Ty Bilinsky with check to help with medical expenses

August 8, 2021

Norwin’s boys basketball boosters and several former teammates presented Ty Bilinsky with a check for $5,900 on Sunday, the culmination of months-long fundraising efforts to help the recent Knights graduate with medical costs.

Chartiers Valley’s Abby Vaites and Perri Page defend onLatrobe’s Anna Rafferty during the WPIAL Class 5A girls basketball semifinals on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at Chartiers Valley High School.

Westmoreland high school notebook: Latrobe’s Rafferty commits to IUP

August 7, 2021

Basketball player Anna Rafferty was receiving NCAA Division I and II college attention well before last season, but the 6-foot-2 center reaffirmed her next-level potential by helping Latrobe reach the WPIAL semifinals for the first time 1998.