Westmoreland basketball playoff preview capsules for Monday’s games

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, February 13, 2019 | 1:30 AM

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Monday’s games

Boys

Class 5A

First round

No. 6 Franklin Regional (16-6) vs. No. 11 Thomas Jefferson (11-10)

8 p.m. at Norwin

Winner plays: No. 3 Moon (21-1) on Friday in quarterfinals

Coaches: Steve Scorpion, Franklin Regional; Dom DeCicco, Thomas Jefferson

Points scored/allowed: Franklin Regional, 58.8/47.7; Thomas Jefferson, 55.1/59.0

Players to watch: Nick Leopold, Sr., G, Franklin Regional; Shane Stump, Jr. F, Thomas Jefferson

Last WPIAL playoff appearance: Franklin Regional, 2018 (lost to Mars, 55-44, in WPIAL championship); Thomas Jefferson, 2017 (lost to Gateway, 47-36, in first round)

About Franklin Regional: The Panthers followed a strong WPIAL runner-up season with another strong regular season. Leopold led a defensive attack that allowed 47.7 points a game, the second fewest in 5A.

About Thomas Jefferson: The Jaguars went 5-17 last year.

Girls

Class 4A

First round

No. 6 Southmoreland (17-5) vs. No. 11 Apollo-Ridge (15-7)

6:30 p.m. at Norwin

Winner plays: No. 3 Blackhawk (18-4) on Thursday in quarterfinals

Coaches: Brian Pritts, Southmoreland; Jim Callipare, Apollo-Ridge

Points scored/allowed: Southmoreland, 48.0/35.7; Apollo Ridge, 46.5/38.0

Players to watch: Maggie Moore, Sr., F, Southmoreland; Maddy Moore, Sr., G, Apollo-Ridge

Last WPIAL playoff appearance: Southmoreland, 2008, (lost to West Mifflin, 48-19, in first round); Apollo-Ridge 2018, (lost to Neshannock, 50-22, in quarterfinals)

About Southmoreland: The Scotties, who finished second in Section 3, allowed the fewest points per game in Class 4A. They lost three of their last four games in the regular season.

About Apollo-Ridge: The Vikings, who finished tied for fourth in Section 1, surrendered the second-fewest points per game in Class 4A.

No. 9 Belle Vernon (14-8) vs. No. 8 Keystone Oaks (13-8)

6:30 p.m. at Peters Township

Winner plays: No. 1 North Catholic (19-3) on Thursday in quarterfinals

Coaches: Ronnie Drennen, Belle Vernon; Ron Muszynski, Keystone Oaks

Points scored/allowed: Belle Vernon, 50.6/45.2; Keystone Oaks, 54.0/48.6

Players to watch: Lindsay Steeber, Sr., G, Belle Vernon; Gillian Piccolino, Sr., G/F, Keystone Oaks

Last WPIAL playoff appearance: Belle Vernon, 2018, (lost to Beaver, 63-32, in quarterfinals); Keystone Oaks, 2018; (lost to Central Valley, 62-46, in quarterfinals)

About Belle Vernon: Belle Vernon knocked off playoff teams Southmoreland and Elizabeth Forward in its last two Section 3 games.

About Keystone Oaks: The Eagles finished third in Section 2. Piccolino is a Kennesaw State recruit.

No. 10 Greensburg Salem (12-10) vs. No. 7 McKeesport (17-5)

6:30 p.m. at Fox Chapel

Winner plays: No. 2 Central Valley (20-1) on Thursday in the quarterfinals

Coaches: Rick Klimchock, Greensburg Salem; Eric Smith, McKeesport

Points scored/allowed: Greensburg Salem, 53.6/48.0; McKeesport, 53.6/41.1

Players to watch: Megan Kallock, Sr., G, Greensburg Salem; Jhayla Bray, Jr., F, McKeesport

Last WPIAL playoff appearance: Greensburg Salem, 2017, (lost to Hampton, 75-34, in first round); McKeesport, 2017, (lost to Hampton, 61-43, in quarterfinals)

About Greensburg Salem: Greensburg Salem won its final Section 1 game over Apollo-Ridge to clinch a playoff spot. Kallock is the top scorers in the WPIAL at 24.5 points per game and is a Saint Vincent recruit. She’s part of a formidable backcourt duo alongside senior Nikki Mellinger.

About McKeesport: The Tigers, the third-place team in Section 3, are in the postseason after winning only four games a season ago. McKeesport went 4-1 over its last five games in the regular season.

—Bill Beckner Jr.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Belle Vernon, Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem, Keystone Oaks, McKeesport, Southmoreland, Thomas Jefferson