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A number of district players having impacts on Division I college level

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Western Pennsylvania isn't known for producing many Division I college basketball players. But some players from the WPIAL and City League - men and women - are doing some pretty good things on the D-1 level.

McKeesport's Zeke Marshall is among the leaders in the country in blocks. Highlands' Micah Mason is among the leaders in 3-point percentage and the same with Schenley's DeAndre Kane in assists.

On the womens side, Westinghouse's Shalonda Winton is among the leading scorers in the country and Washington's Jocelyn Floyd among the leaders in steals. Mt. Lebanon's Madison Cable is seeing considerable time for one of the top teams in the country.

Post-Gazette colleague Brad Everett put together a list of every player from the WPIAL and City League and how they are doing on the Division I level. Thanks to him for the below info. Great stuff. Hope we didn't miss anyone. (Stats and records are from the start of this week):

MEN

Zeke Marshall, Akron (McKeesport)

Marshall is pictured during his days at McKeesport

-- 25 games (26.7 minutes), averages 12.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 blocks

-- Akron is 21-4 overall (12-0 in the MAC)

Brian Walsh, Akron (Moon)

-- 25 games (24 minutes), averages 8 points, 3.6 rebounds; 3-pointers (40 percent)

Jesse Reed, American (Greensburg Central Catholic)

-- 23 games (13.1 minutes), averages 3.5 points

-- American is 10-15 overall (5-5 in the Patriot League)

Nolan Cressler, Cornell (Plum)

-- 25 games (21 minutes), averages 7.9 points; 3-pointers (41 percent); FT (80 percent)

-- Cornell is 13-12 overall (5-3 in the Ivy League)

Tom Droney, Davidson (Sewickley Academy)

-- 26 games (21.3 minutes), averages 4.0 points; FT (86 percent)

-- Davidson is 19-7 overall (14-1 in the Southern Conference)

Micah Mason, Drake (Highlands)

-- 24 games (15.8 minutes), averages 5.5 points; 3-pointers (50 percent)

-- Drake is 11-15 overall (5-10 in the MVC)

Justin Dobbs, Grambling State (Allderdice)

-- 4 games (9.8 minutes), averages 3.8 points; 3-pointers (42 percent)

-- Grambling State is 0-23 overall (0-14 in the SWAC)

DeAndre Kane, Marshall (Schenley)

-- 22 games (36.9 minutes), averages 14.4 points, 7.2 assists, 4.5 rebounds

-- Marshall is 11-15 overall (4-7 in Conference USA)

Nate Snodgrass, Northern Kentucky (Butler)

-- 20 games (19.1 minutes), averages 3.4 points; FT (81 percent)

-- North Kentucky is 8-14 overall (6-8 in the Atlantic Sun)

Devontae Watson, Temple (Lincoln Park)

-- 4 games (2.5 minutes), averages 1.5 points.

-- Temple is 17-8 overall (6-5 in the Atlantic 10)

Sheldon Jeter, Vanderbilt (Beaver Falls)

-- 24 games (16.9 minutes), averages 5.3 points; 3-pointers (41 percent)

-- Vanderbilt is 10-14 overall (4-8 in the SEC)

 

WOMEN

Lauren Arbogast, Central Connecticut State (Mt. Lebanon)

-- 23 games (24.1 minutes), averages 7.9 points, 5.6 rebounds

-- Central Connecticut State is 11-12 overall (5-7 in the NEC)

Jackie Babe, Central Connecticut State (Mt. Lebanon)

-- 23 games (34.5 minutes), averages 16.3 points, 2.7 steals; FT (82 percent)

Jess Babe, Central Connecticut State (Mt. Lebanon)

-- 23 games (33.1 minutes), averages 8.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.3 steals; FT (80 percent)

Shalonda Winton, Cleveland State (Westinghouse)


Winton is pictured

-- 25 games (39 minutes), averages 22.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.2 steals; FT (77 percent)

-- Cleveland State is 12-13 overall (4-8 in the Horizon League)

Kayla Cook, Coastal Carolina (Jeannette)

-- 23 games (20.6 minutes), averages 5.0 points

-- Coastal Carolina is 12-13 overall (7-8 in the Big South)

Vanessa Abel, Duquesne (Southmoreland)

-- 16 games (23.4 minutes), averages 7.6 points

-- Duquesne is 19-5 overall (8-2 in the Atlantic 10)

Jocelyn Floyd, Duquesne (Washington)

-- 22 games (27.6 minutes), averages 9.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.0 steals; 3-pointers (42 percent)

Belma Nurkic, Duquesne (Baldwin)

-- 24 games (24 minutes), averages 7.2 points; FT (83 percent)

Pepper Wilson, Miami (Westinghouse)

-- 25 games (21.9 minutes), averages 8.8 points, 7.5 rebounds; FT (80 percent)

-- Miami is 17-8 overall (8-6 in the ACC)

Gabby Baldasare, Niagara (Vincentian)

-- 16 games (5.3 minutes), averages 0.8 points

-- Niagara is 12-13 overall (7-7 in the MAAC)

Val McQuade, Niagara (Shaler)

-- 24 games (16.8 minutes), averages 5.6 points; 3-pointers (44 percent)

Madison Cable, Notre Dame (Mt. Lebanon)

-- 22 games (18.4 minutes), averages 5.1 points; 3-pointers (41 percent)

-- Notre Dame is 24-1 overall (12-0 in the Big East)

Marritta Gillcrease, Rider (Perry)

-- 21 games (6.6 minutes), averages 0.8 points

-- Rider is 13-12 overall (8-6 in the MAAC)

Britta Emberg, Robert Morris (Kittanning)

-- 14 games (6.7 minutes), averages 0.9 points

-- Robert Morris is 7-17 overall (6-7 in the NEC)

Lily Grenci, Siena (Mars)

-- 25 games (34.1 minutes), averages 15.3 points, 9.2 rebounds; FT (79 percent)

-- Siena is 10-15 overall (6-8 in the MAAC)

Markel Walker, UCLA (Schenley)

-- 23 games (29.7 minutes), averages 10.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.8 steals

-- UCLA is 19-6 overall (10-4 in the Pac-12)

Emily Correal, William & Mary (Peters Township)

-- 24 games (33.9 minutes), averages 16.4 points, 8.0 rebounds; FT (73 percent)

-- William & Mary is 6-18 overall (4-9 in the CAA)

Anna Kestler, William & Mary (Mt. Lebanon)

-- 24 games (19.9 minutes), averages 2.0 points

 

 


WPIAL quarterfinal breakdown and predictions

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The WPIAL basketball quarterfinals are tonight and tomorrow. I will have live blog from tonight's Kittanning-Beaver game and will be at New Castle-Gateway tomorrow. I'll also be at the City League championship tomorrow morning.

Here is analysis of the Class AAAA quarterfinals and also predictions on all of the games:


CLASS AAAA QUARTERFINALS

Seneca Valley vs. Upper St. Clair - Can you say playing to your strengths?  None of the remaining teams do it better than Seneca Valley and USC. Upper St. Clair will play a guard-oriented style with a ton of gap/kick and 3-point shooting. Seneca Valley comes at you with size, surprising athleticism, and patience. These two teams couldn’t be more different in terms of playing style and personnel. The deciding factor in this one will be USC’s outside shooting vs. Seneca Valley’s variety of zone defenses. Seneca Valley's outside shooting, suspect at times, also could be a key. In the first round, Central Catholic struggled with the Seneca Valley zone, but Central only had three days to prepare. Expect the matinee idol, Danny Holzer, to have the Panthers prepared for the Raiders mixture of zone defenses. I expect this to be a tight one, but watch for the NYC legend Victor Giannotta to run a ton of isolations for Easton Bazzoli (pictured) and R.J. McCauley, then put it in the freezer late with the triangle delay. Winner: Seneca Valley. 

McKeesport vs. Hampton - I’ve liked McKeesport since November. Problem is Hampton is extremely talented, and they defend in the half-court better than most realize. They can beat you 85-80 or 50-45. That’s a tough matchup for most teams, but especially a McKeesport team that might not be great on defense. Key here is McKeesport’s athleticism. Can the Tigers extend and pressure Hampton’s guards without trapping them? If not, Ryan Luther will have a field day. I picked McKeesport on Varsity Xtra video. But I'd like to change. Winner: McKeesport.

 

 

Fox Chapel vs. North Allegheny - This is an intriguing matchup. There is no team in the WPIAL that is more difficult to prepare for than North Allegheny because of the volume of 3-pointers and pressure defense. Fortunately for NA, the Foxes played Wednesday night, so coach Zach Skrinjar only has two days to get the Foxes ready.  Tough turnaround, especially when you never have faced NA. If it was another Section 3 foe, the short preparation wouldn’t be a problem. Everyone knows the keys to beating NA are handling the pressure and defending the 3. The two keys in this one will be the Foxes ability to run offense in the half court and whether or not they can post Matt D’Amico/Brian Papich out of their 5 around motion offense. This could be a dandy. I love the job Skrinjar has done with FC, but NA will win in front of a packed house by, maybe, 7. Winner: North Allegheny.

 

 

New Castle vs. Gateway - I've heard the comment that New Castle beat Latrobe by "only" 21. I think the week off affected the Red Hurricanes. Coach Ralph Blundo (pictured) and his team aren’t about to make excuses, but the nine-day break couldn’t have helped matters. The big question is if teams are starting to catch up to New Castle? If you look at three of the 'Canes past four wins, they are by 16, 5, and 20 points. Impressive for the rest of us, but below the high standards set at Ne-Ca High. I believe a few things about New Castle. I think they’ll be challenged in the WPIAL playoffs at some point, but will the challenge come Saturday? Well, New Castle should win by double figures again. The play of Gateway point guard D.J. Boyce will be a key - offensively and defensively, but Gateway’s attempt at a three-peat and four consecutive final appearances comes to an end. The only consolation prize is the Gators will qualify for the state playoffs when New Castlehoists the title trophy at Palumbo a week from Saturday. New Castle will wake up from its brief winter hibernation. Winner: New Castle.

 

 

 

OTHER BOYS GAMES

WPIAL Class AAA - Chartiers Valley over South Fayette; Beaver over Kittanning; Mars over Uniontown; Montour over Thomas Jefferson.

WPIAL Class AA - Beaver Falls over Brentwood; Jeannette over Apollo-Ridge; Greensburg Central Catholic over Burrell; Seton-LaSalle over Quaker Valley.

WPIAL Class A - Lincoln Park over Wilkinsburg; Union over Clairton; North Catholic over OLSH; Vincentian over Monessen.

City League - Perry over Westinghouse.

GIRLS GAMES


WPIAL Class AAAA - Mt. Lebanon over Fox Chapel; Chartiers Valley over Upper St. Clair; Gateway over North Allegheny; Bethel Park over Penn-Trafford.

WPIAL Class AAA - Blackhawk over Belle Vernon; Elizabeth Forward over Central Valley; Hopewell over Ambridge; South Park over Hampton.

WPIAL Class AA - Seton-LaSalle over Greensburg Central Catholic; Bishop Canevin over Mohawk; Deer Lakes over Jeannette; McGuffey over Burrell.

WPIAL Class A - Vincentian over Winchester Thurston; Quigley over St. Joseph; Serra over Rochester; North Catholic over Cornell.

City League - Westinghouse over Allderdice.

Live WPIAL playoff blog - Beaver beats Kittanning behind Logan's 36

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Live blog from Friday night's WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinal playoff game between Beaver and Kittanning boys. We will also have reports from other games around the WPIAL. If you have a score or game report, tweet with #wpial. Or tweet to @mwhiteburgh.

 FINAL SCORE: Beaver 71, Kittanning 66


What a game for Austin Logan. Has to be a career high. 36 points. 19 in fourth quarter. 

Chartiers Valley has gone ahead of South Fayette, 63-58, one minute left. According to Swannie, CV went on a 14-0 run.

9:38 p.m. - 45 seconds left and Beaver leads, 65-58.


Upset????? South Fayette boys leading Char Valley, 58-56, midway through fourth. Char Valley No. 1 seed.


Gateway girls beat North Allegheny, 50-43

9:31 p.m. Austin Logan now with 31. Beaver leads, 62-52, with 2:03 left. 

Mars beat Uniontown, 77-59

9:25 p.m. Austin Logan making every big play for Beaver. Now has 27 points. Timeout with 3:50 left and Beaver has grabbed 58-50 lead.

9:21 p.m. Sterling Henry just picked up his fourth foul on an offensive foul. Beaver leads, 50-48. Henry now with 13 points.

9:20 p.m. Beaver's Aaron Barlow very quiet this half. 

9:18 p.m. Lead already has changed hands three times this quarter. Kittanning leads, 45-44. But Austin Logan hits 3 to give Beaver two-point lead.

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Beaver 42, Kittanning 40


This one is getting good. Corey Nesmith of Beaver hit with technical with 18 seconds left in quarter. It's loud in here. Intense. Kittanning just won't get away. Henry starting to get the ball a little more. 

9:11 p.m. Gotta give Kittanning credit. Wildcats keep hanging in. Just cut it to 40-35


9:10 p.m. Sterling Henry yet to take a shot this quarter. Beaver leads, 40-33

Lincoln Park leading Wilkinsburg, 38-22

Gateway girls leading North Allegheny, 26-14 

8:59 p.m. First-half shooting: Kittanning only 9 of 29. Beaver 11 of 24.

Clairton leading Uniont, 42-35, after three.
8:55 p.m. - And the wonderful Todd Thomas, Pitt football player, stops by press row. He's here to see his cousin, Beaver's Corey Nesmith. Todd says all healthy ready for spring practice. I remember the days of coaching him in AAU basketball with Pitt hooper Trey Zeigler. REMEMBER THE JOTS

HALFTIME: Beaver 32, Kittanning 22


Austin Logan had 12 points to lead Beaver. Aaron Barlow 10. Sterling Henry with seven for Kittanning.

8:48 p.m. Austin Logan has hurt Kittanning this quarter. Banged a couple 3's in corner against 1-3-1 and scored off drive. 12 points in first half.


Mars handling Uniontown, 42-25, at half. From Canadian Curt.


8:37 p.m. Kittanning's Sterling Henry starts to come alive. Already seven points in second quarter. Basket by Kevin Barnes and Kittanning cuts lead to 21-17 with 5:50 left in half.

Montour leads Thomas Jefferson 24-13 at the half.

8:33 p.m. Sterling Henry only one shot in first quarter for Kittanning.

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Beaver 17, Kittanning 8

8:28 p.m. Beaver on a run. Bobcats take 17-8 lead. Kittanning might have trouble defending Corey Nesmith and Aaron Barlow all night. Kittanning playing zones, but Nesmith has done some damage in transition.

8:24 p.m. Kittanning leading scorer, Sterling Henry, having trouble even getting ball. Being face-guarded and chased everywhere by Anthony DiNuzzo. Only one shot so far by Henry.

8:22 p.m. Beaver quickness and athletic ability might be little too much for Kittanning. Beaver leads 9-4 in early going. Four minutes left in first quarter.

8:16 p.m. Big student section turnout for Kittanning. All in bright green shirts. Great to see.

8:14 p.m. - This really is great to see a team like Kittanning get this far. If Wildcats win, they will be in semifinals for first time since 1925. Beaver not exactly a rich tradition either. Trying to go semis for only third time in school history. Andy Podbielski has done a great job with this program, which used to be horrible.


8:10 p.m. - Five minutes from tipoff for Beaver-Kittanning.

 Seton-LaSalle girls advance to semis. Beat Greensburg C.C. 66-43.

GIRLS FINAL SCORE: Mt. Lebanon 45, Fox Chapel 42 


Erin Mathias with tip-in with five seconds left for final score, but Fox Chapel didn't call timeout. Mathias, 6-3 Duke recruit, very impressive. 19 points, 13 rebounds seven blocked shots.

Alex Ventrone scores 14 to lead Mt. Lebanon. Christine Ehland 13 and Margie McCaffrey 11.

Free-throw shooting a big key. Mt. Lebanon 21 of 26 and 12 of 14 in fourth. Fox Chapel 11 of 17.


Jeannette girls beat Deer Lakes, 64-56. Ciara Gregory scores 35.

North Catholic boys beat Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 54-46.

7:46 p.m. Erin Mathias not getting many touches in second half. Mt. Lebanon defense in full court and out front too good. Mathias only three shots second half. Now has 12 points, 10 rebounds, seven blocks.

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Mt. Lebanon 29, Fox Chapel 25 Mt. Lebanon girls outscores Fox Chapel, 19-13, in third quarter. Got inside of Fox Chapel's defense. Fox Chapel will have trouble coming back.


Ciara Gregory has 29 after three quarters and has helped Jeannette take 48-42 lead on Deer Lakes.

7:27 p.m. - Erin Mathias victim of some very questionable foul calls on blocks. Seen it so many times over the years. I swear big girls get foul calls sometimes just because they're big.


7:25 p.m. 2:23 left in third quarter and Fox Chapel leading Mt. Lebanon, 24-21.

More girls scores: Chartiers Valley and Upper St. Clair tied, 24-24. .... Penn-Trafford and Bethel Park girls tied, 25-25.

From Big Brad Everett: Jeannette leads Deer Lakes, 35-33, at half. Ciara Gregory doing her thing again. Has 21 first-half points with five 3's.

Bishop Canevin girls lead Mohawk, 29-27, from coach Jacoby. Celina DiPietro had five 3-pointers in first quarter.
7:04 p.m. - Could we have an upset in the making in girls? Mt. Lebanon trails Fox Chapel at halftime, 12-10.

This is my first chance to really see Fox Chapel's 6-foot-3 junior center Erin Mathias. She committed to Duke as a freshman. I really like her and her best attribute? Well, besides her size, it's her hands. You don't see many big girls like her with such good hands. Catches passes that aren't thrown right to her. Can grab rebounds that aren't right to her. If you have size, and you have hands - boy or girl - then you've got something.

This game isn't terribly exciting. Lot of turnovers and lot of bad shooting. But Mathias has eight of Fox Chapel's 12 points. And get this. She stepped outside and hit a 3-pointer. So she's versatile. Only 1 of 5 from free-throw line, though. Brings ball down too far on her free throws.

Mt. Lebanon's defensive pressure could start causing problems in second half. But against a press where Mt. Lebanon face guards a lot, it is nice to have someone like Mathias to throw the ball inbounds. You have a problem, just throw it up high to her.

 

WPIAL live blog - New Castle blows out Gateway

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Live blog from Saturday's WPIAL Class AAAA playoff game between New Castle and Gateway, with reports from other games.

FINAL: Seneca Valley 44, Upper St. Clair 34 


North Allegheny leading, 62-55, with four minutes left. This Mr. Haussie, St. Sebastian grade school legend.

FINAL: New Castle 87, Gateway 55


No shame for Gateway. This happens to just about everyone New Castle plays. Means there will be a new champion thisyear. 

Seneca Valley leading, 32-28, with three minutes left.


4:20 p.m. And the ball just rolled into a hole under the stands - and it's gone. They need a new one

45-42 Fox Chapel leading NA with three minutes left in third.

End third Seneca Valley leading USC, 27-18


Burrell leading Greensburg C.C. with one minute left in overtime. 61-60.


22-11 Seneca Valley leads Upper St. Clair five minutes left in third.

4:06 p.m. - 64-38 New Castle with 1:23 left in third.

Fox Chapel leads North Allegheny, 34-33, at the half.

3:59 p.m. - And here comes the avalanche of turnovers. New Castle forcing them. Red 'Canes now leading, 57-37, with 3:39 left in the third quarter.


3:50 p.m. - Gateway had only seven shots in second quarter. New Castle got 18. New Castle went on its run with Shawn Anderson on bench with three fouls.

North Allegheny leading Fox Chapel, 15-14, after first quarter. NA now leading, 23-19. 

Greensburg Central Catholic leading Burrell, 42-33, after three.


HALFTIME: Seneca Valley 17, Upper St. Clair 10. From Big Brad Everett. USC should feel good. Still in game despite shooting 3 of 21.

HALFTIME: New Castle 46, Gateway 33 Shawn Anderson 13 points for NC and Drew Allen 9 off the bench. These guys just come at you in waves. Seven 3-pointers for New Castle. Jordan Landfair 12 for Gateway. Delvon Randall nine.

3:38 p.m. As I thought, No one in WPIAL can play same pace as New Castle for an entire game. Red Hurricanes now lead by 15.

3:36 p.m. New Castle going on one of its patented runs. Now leads, 45-31 with 49 seconds left in half. Three 3-pointers in past two minutes. 'Canes on 19-4 run.

3:30 p.m. Have to say it again. NC's Anthony Richards as tough as a bad steak.

3:29 p.m. Development here. Shawn Anderson just piicked up his third foul midway though second quarter. He has 13 points already.

It's not 13-0 Seneca Valley. Upper St. Cliar has missed its first 13 shots.

Check this one out: Seneca Valley leads Upper St. Clair, 6-0, after first quarter. Seriously.


END FIRST QUARTER: New Castle 21, Gateway 18 Gateway doing well. Just don't know if Gators can continue this pace and stay close. NC coach Ralph Blundo just complaining to team gave up six points in transition. 

3:13 p.m. Jordan Landfair killing New Castle on inside shots early. already 10 points and Gateway leads, 14-8

3:11 p.m. - Fast pace. 8-8 with 4:30 left in first quarter. 

3:06 p.m. Game time here in a minute.

CLASS AA FINAL:  Second upset in Class AA. Apollo-Ridge beats Jeannette, 53-49.


Final score: Hampton 71, McKeesport 63 - One Section 3 team in the semifinals. Will there be three more? Ryan Luther was tremendous for Hampton from what I've heard. Had 24 points in first half and finished with 31. Collin Luther, twin brother, had 14. Hampton led at halftime, 50-28.

One coach from another high school said,"I can't believe he doesn't have more scholarship offers already."

Duquesne and Dayton have offered.

CLASS AA FINAL: Quaker Valley 62, Seton-LaSalle 61 - Mike Mastroianni one of the best coaches around. Working some playoff magic again, upsetting Seton-LaSalle. This isn't one of Mastroianni's best teams, but yet here is again in the semifinals.

CITY LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP: The 'House is on firste. Westinghouse beats Perry, 61-52. First City title since 1998.

WPIAL-City League basketball roundup

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Highlights from today's WPIAL boys basketball quarterfinals and City League championship.

City League championship


Westinghouse won its first City League title since 1998 when it defeated Perry, 61-52. (Westinghouse pictured celebrating).

Shaquan Johnson scored 20 points for Westinghouse and Aaron Lyons added 15. The game was tied, 27-27, at halftime.

Shakeem Cox scored 19 points for Perry, but he was 7 of 32 from the field. Perry shot 28 percent (19 of 68) from the field. 

WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinals

New Castle is still perfect and there will be a new champion in WPIAL Class AAAA this year.

New Castle crushed Gateway, 87-55, in a quarterfinal game today at Ambridge. New Castle is now 24-0. Gateway, meanwhile, was the two-time defending champion and had been in the title game three consecutive years.

Afterward, Gateway coach Mitch Adams used the word "great" to describe New Castle.

Gateway stayed with New Castle for a while, trailing by only 27-26 early in the second qiuarter. But over the next 12 minutes of the second and third quarters, New Castle outscored Gateway, 37-12.

Shawn Anderson led New Castle with 26 points, Malik Hooker had 14, Anthony Richards 12 and Brandon Domenick 12. Richards and Domenick both had four 3-pointers. New Castle shot 53 percent (32 of 60) from the field and had 11 3-pointers. Jordan Landfair scored 16 for Gateway.

***** Seneca Valley held No. 4 Upper St. Clair scoreless until the 4:44 mark of the second quarter and went on to defeat the Panthers, 44-34, in a WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinal at North Allegheny.

Seneca Valley led Upper St. Clair, 6-0, after the first quarter. Upper St. Clair missed its first 14 shots and committed seven turnovers prior to scoring its first basket.

Upper St. Clair fought back and got within 32-30 with 2:35 left in the fourth quarter, but Seneca Valley outscored the Panthers, 12-4, the rest of the game. R.J. McCauley led Seneca Valley with 13 points, while Grabowski paced Upper St. Clair with 16.

***** Ryan Luther scored 24 of his 31 points in the first half to help Hampton beat McKeesport, 71-63. 

***** North Allegheny led by only one point after three quarters, but outscored Fox Chapel by 17 in the fourth to pull out a 79-61 win. North Allegheny's R.J. Colabrese scored 12 of his 18 points in the final quarter. Matt D’Amico led Fox Chapel with 23 points.

Class AA quarterfinals

***** Junior guard Elijah Cottrill scored 22 points to help Beaver Falls to a 66-36 win against Brentwood. Beaver Falls forced 28 turnovers. Jason Pilarski scored 21 for Brentwood.

***** In one of three upsets in Class AA, Burrell knocked off No. 2 seed Greensburg Central Catholic, 67-63, in overtime, to put the Bucs in the semifinals for the first time since 1979, when Joey "Sonar" Myers was starring for the Bucs. Burrell's Pete Spagnolo scored six of his team-high 16 points in overtime. The Nos. 2, 3 and 4 seeds in Class AA all lost.

***** No. 4 seed Jeannette was upended by Apollo-Ridge, 53-49. Apollo-Ridge came back from an 18-point first-quarter deficit to gain a semifinal berth for the first time since 1988. Tre Tipton and Connor Billingsley led Apollo-Ridge with 13 points apiece.

No. 3 seed Seton-LaSalle was upended by Quaker Valley, 62-61. Nelson Westwood scored 20 points for Quaker Valley.

 

 

 

WPIAL sets semifinal sites

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The WPIAL boys and girls basketball semifinals will be played Tuesday and Wednesday, and the league has announced sites for all games.

Most of the sites will play host to doubleheaders. But due to the possibility of large crowds, the WPIAL will play the Class AAAA boys semifinals as single games at different sites.

Here are the games and sites.

BOYS

CLASS AAAA

Wednesday - New Castle vs. Seneca Valley at Ambridge, 7 p.m.; North Allegheny vs. Hampton at Chartiers Valley, 7 p.m.

CLASS AAA

Tuesday - Chartiers Valley vs. Beaver at North Allegheny, 8 p.m.; Mars vs. Montour at Moon, 8 p.m.

CLASS AA

Wednesday -Burrell vs. Quaker Valley at North Allegheny, 6 p.m.;  Beaver Falls vs. Apollo-Ridge at North Allegheny, 8 p.m.

CLASS A

Tuesday - Lincoln Park vs. Clairton at Keystone Oaks, 8 p.m.; Vincentian vs. North Catholic at North Hills, 8 p.m.

GIRLS

CLASS AAAA

Tuesday - Mt. Lebanon vs. Chartiers Valley at North Allegheny, 6 p.m.; Gateway vs. Bethel Park at Keystone Oaks, 6 p.m.

CLASS AAA

Wednesday - Hopewell vs. South Park at West Allegheny, 6 p.m.; Blackhawk vs. Elizabeth Forward at West Allegheny, 8 p.m.

CLASS AA

Tuesday - Seton-LaSalle vs. Jeannette at North Hills, 6 p.m.; Bishop Canevin vs. Burrell at Moon, 6 p.m.

CLASS A

Wednesday - Serra vs. North Catholic at Keystone Oaks, 6 p.m.; Vincentian vs. Quigley at Keystone Oaks, 8 p.m.

State basketball rankings ...... other notes

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Some items that fell off my laptop ...


Four teams from Section 3 have made the semifinals of the WPIAL Class AAAA boys basketball playoffs. I spent part of today researching this: It is the first time in the history of the playoffs that four teams from one section have made the semifinals.

Now it should be pointed out that the WPIAL didn't start taking four teams from each section to the playoffs until the 2004-05 season. But still, it was pretty rare when even three teams from one section made the semifinals before then in the 1990s.

New Castle, North Allegheny, Hampton and Seneca Valley are the four Section 3 teams in the semifinals. A year ago, Section 3 became the first section to have five teams advance to the WPIAL quarterfinals.

**** I don't know about you but isn't it nice to see some "new faces" in the WPIAL semifinals? Mars has never been there. Burrell and Apollo-Ridge have been there only once. Nice job by the coaches of those teams, but it also helps when you have some talented players who can make a difference.

**** A good move by the WPIAL to put the two Class AAAA boys semifinals as single games at different sites Wednesday. A doubleheader would be too much for one gym to handle. It's a shame both Class AAAA games couldn't be at the Palumbo Center. The crowd would have been big.

**** I did a story on fathers coaching their sons last week. It's not the same, but Kevin Scuilli plays for Montour and his brother, Adam, is a Montour assistant coach.

"I think Kevin wants to go after his brother on a daily basis," Montour coach Adam Kaufman said with a laugh. "Adam can be a very angry coach."

**** Speaking of brothers, Hampton vs. North Allegheny features two brother combos. For Hampton it's the Luther twins - Ryan and Collin. For North Allegheny, it's the Haus brothers - senior Adam and junior David. Reportedly, the Hauses got all their talent from their father, who played at North Allegheny and La Roche. At least that's what Dad says.

By the way, Adam and David's older brother, Jeff, plays at St. Mary's College of Maryland, a team ranked No. 14 in the country in NCAA Division III. St. Mary's plays in the NCAA tournament Saturday against MIT. Jeff is averaging 7.4 points and 5.9 rebounds a game.

**** It's hard to go against this Clairton team because the Bears know all about winning. All of their players were on the football team. But winning against Lincoln Park is a totally different matter. Clairton and Lincoln Park meet in the semifinals.

**** Dori Oldaker does a terrific job as Mt. Lebanon's coach and the Blue Devils just might win yet another WPIAL title. But I think Class AAAA is a little down this year in terms of top teams.

**** I was very impressed with Fox Chapel 6-3 junior Erin Mathias against Mt. Lebanon in the quarterfinals. Mathias is a Duke recruit. She has excellent post moves and very good hands. Finishes with either the right or left hand, which is unusual for a big girl her age around here.

**** At this point, New Castle's Ralph Blundo has my vote for coach of the year in boys.

**** Beaver Falls' Doug Biega needs only two wins to reach 300 for his career. That's pretty impressive for only 14 seasons.

**** Could there be such a thing as the Varsity Xtra jinx? Our Varsity Xtra video show the past two weeks has featured Bethel Park's Ben O'Conner and Jeannette's Adrian Batts as guests. Both lost playoff games a few days later.

I asked Beaver Falls' Biega if he would come on this week. He texted me after Jeannette lost Saturday and said, "I will never come on your show."

**** Is there any team now from seventh grade up that doesn't use the high ball screen at least a few times in a game?

**** Jerry Shenk of the Middle Atlantic Sports News and LLHoops.com has the state rankings (regardless of class) for this week and a nice rundown of the playoffs in every district around the state.

Don't forget in Sunday's paper, our own Kenny "The Horse" Mrazik will have a complete rundown of what team finished in what place in every district in the state, as well as PIAA matchups.

**** Here are the Harrisburgh Patriot-News and Pennlive.com state rankings for this week:

 

CLASS AAAA

 

No.  School                                         Rec    Pvs

1.     Chester (1)                                   22-3      1

2.     Lower Merion (1)                           24-2      2

3.     Harrisburg (3)                               24-2      3

4.     McCaskey (3)                                25-2      4

5.     New Castle (7)                              24-0      5

6.     Cathedral Prep (10)                       20-2      6

7.     Williamsport (4)                            21-2      7

8.     St. Joseph’s Prep (12)                    20-4      8

9.     Martin Luther King (12)                  23-3      9

10.   York (3)                                        25-2    10

Honorable mention: Abington (1) 21-4, Central Bucks South (1) 16-9, Coatesville (1) 20-7, Freedom (11) 16-8, Gateway (7) 16-6, Great Valley (1) 26-1, Hampton (7) 20-4, Liberty (11) 18-7, Methacton (1) 22-5, Norristown (1) 21-4, North Allegheny (7) 21-3, Parkland (11) 19-7, Penncrest (1) 17-8, Ridley (1) 19-8, Roman Catholic (12) 18-6, Seneca Valley (7) 17-7, State College (6) 16-7, Upper Darby (1) 17-8, Upper St. Clair (7) 20-4, Wilson (3) 20-5.

 

CLASS AAA

 

No.  School                                             Rec     Pvs

1.     Imhotep Charter (12)                        23-4        1

2.     Neumann-Goretti (12)                       19-5        2

3.     Allentown Central Cath (11)               21-3        3

4.     Archbishop Carroll  (12)                    19-5        4

5.     Susquehanna Twp (3)                       24-2        5

6.     Abington Heights (2)                         23-2        6

7.     Mars (7)                                          21-3        7

8.     Berks Catholic (3)                             24-3        8

9.     Chartiers Valley (7)                           21-3        9

10.   Montour (7)                                      20-4      10

Honorable mention: Beaver Area (7) 19-3, Bishop McDevitt (3) 17-7, Crestwood (2) 16-7, Danville (4) 19-4, Donegal (3) 25-1, GAR Memorial (2) 15-8, General McLane (10) 18-5, Girard (10) 19-4, Glen Mills (1) 14-9, Palmyra (3) 17-7, Philly Electrical (12) 14-11, Pottsville (11) 21-4, Scranton Prep (2) 17-7, South Fayette (7) 14-10, Thomas Jefferson (7) 17-7, Uniontown (7) 17-4.

 

CLASS AA

 

No.  School                                                 Rec    Pvs

1.     Beaver Falls (7)                                     21-3        1

2.     Meyers (2)                                            22-2        3

3.     West Middlesex (10)                              20-3        5

4.     Greensburg Central Cath (7)                   22-2        2

5.     Holy Cross (2)                                       21-5        7

6.     Communications Tech (12)                     18-7        6

7.     Trinity (3)                                             17-6        8

8.     Loyalsock (4)                                         22-3        9

9.     Lewisburg (4)                                        22-3      10

10.   Mid Valley (2)                                        22-4      NR

Honorable mention: Apollo-Ridge (7) 18-7, Bald Eagle Area (6) 21-2, Bishop McCort (6) 17-7, Burrell (7) 18-6, Calvary Christian (1) 19-6, Catasauqua (11) 16-6, Constitution (12) 16-9, Elk Lake (2) 20-4, Jeannette (7) 18-5, Lakeview (10) 20-3, Mercyhurst Prep (10) 16-7, Northern Cambria (6) 20-4, Notre Dame-Green Pond (11) 13-10, Penn Cambria (6) 18-4, Quaker Valley (7) 20-4, Seton-La Salle (7) 21-3, Wellsboro (4) 22-1, Westinghouse (8) 15-8.

 

CLASS A

 

No.  School                                                   Rec    Pvs

1.     Vaux (12)                                               19-8       1

2.     Math, Civics & Sciences (12)                     23-2       2

3.     Lincoln Park (7)                                       19-5       3

4.     Vincentian (7)                                         23-1       4

5.     Church Farm (1)                                     19-6       5

6.     Bishop Carroll (6)                                    20-4       6

7.     Johnsonburg (9)                                      24-2       7

8.     Smethport (9)                                         22-1       8

9.     Ridgway (9)                                            21-4       9

10.   St. John Neumann (4)                              21-2      10

Honorable mention: Bishop Guilfoyle (6) 18-5, Clairton (7) 15-6, Delco Christian (1) 18-7, Gospel of Grace (1) 12-8, Greenwood (3) 20-3, Homer-Center (6) 18-5, Kennedy Catholic (10) 15-6, Lebanon Catholic (3) 16-7, Lourdes Regional (4) 18-5, Mahanoy Area (11) 19-5, Marian Catholic (11) 18-5, Muncy (4) 17-6, New Hope Academy (3) 17-4, North Catholic (7) 16-5, North Clarion (9) 23-1, Pius X (11) 19-2, Sankofa Freedom (12) 14-11, Shade (5) 23-1, Shanksville-Stonycreek (5) 20-3, Sullivan County (4) 21-2.

Live WPIAL semifinal blog - Montour beats Mars, 61-52

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Live blog from Tuesday night's WPIAL Class AAA semifinal between Mars and Montour, with reports from other semifinal games. If you have a score or note, "tweet" with #wpial or @mwhiteburgh

FINAL: Montour 61, Mars 52

Rob Julian with 17, Kevin Scuilli 15 and Devin Wilson 12.

Josh Goetz with 12 to lead Mars.

9:12 p.m. - Timeout with 44.5 left and two free throws give Kevin Scuilli a 58-52 lead.

9:09 p.m. - 3-pointer by Matt Getsy brings Mars within 54-49 with 1:15 left.

9:06 p.m. - Mars making small comeback. Cuts to 52-46 on basket by Mitch Buzard with 2:20 left.

TIMEOUT: 2:47 left in game and Montour leads, 52-42. Montour just got its 10th 3-pointer. Three by Kevin Scuilli and five by Rob Julian.

OK, so maybe Kevin Scuilli isn't chunky, like it said in Varsity Xtra story last week and caused his mother to complain just a little about it before the game. He is big on 3-pointers, though.

9:00 p.m. - It's 47-38 Montour with 4:23 left.

After third quarter, it's Chartiers Valley 45-28 over Beaver. Matty McConnell has 15 for CV.

Chartiers Valley crushing Beaver, 32-15, in other Class AAA semifinal at halftime.

8:56 p.m. - Kevin Scuilli basket and it's now 46-34 Montour.

8:51 p.m. - Montour has 27 of 42 points on 3-pointers.

8:49 p.m. - Boy, does Montour play its system well and does coach Adam Kaufman have them drilled to play the system. Fifth 3-pointer of the game by Rob Julian at third-quarter buzzer and Montour leads 42-32.

8:45 p.m. - Mars didn't score until 2:22 this quarter. It's now 36-28 Montour.

8:44 p.m. - Mars in deep, deep trouble. Rob Julian hits a 3-pointer. Look for Montour to put this one in the fridge - or in Wilson's hands.

8:43 p.m. - Six point lead for Montour midway through third. Devin Wilson starting to eat time away with his handle. Tough being down six when he decides to take control.

Lincoln Park leading Clairton 41-37 at half.

8:36 p.m. - Good turnout by student sections.

HALFTIME: Montour 30, Mars 27

Very good game. Devin Wilson started getting to basket in second quarter and finishing instead of passing. Mars took only 12 shots in the first half and made 8. Wilson has eight points in first half.

Only other score update is Clairton was leading Lincoln Park

TIMEOUT: Montour leading Moon, 22-20.

8:14 p.m. - Already five 3's in game for Montour. I think 6-8 Josh Goetz could do some damage on the inside against much-smaller Montour, but Mars doesn't get him the ball much.

8:13 p.m. - Packed house here. Mars made 5 of 6 shots first quarter.

8:11 p.m. - END FIRST QUARTER: Mars 15, Montour 13. - Montour has four baskets, all 3-pointers. Two 3's off bench for Dustin Sleva.

7:57 p.m. - Game time for Montour-Mars.

Bethel Park girls beat Gateway, 36-28

There will be a new girls Class AAAA champion: FINAL: Chartiers Valley 31, Mt. Lebanon 27

FINAL: Bishop Canevin 55, Burrell 19

Erin Waskowiak had 22 points with four 3-pointers. Carly forst also with 22.

END THIRD QUARTER: Bishop Canevin 44, Burrell 13

6:38 p.m. - How about the Burrell girls team has only eight players dressed. Another is out with an injury. This is all Burrell has from ninth-grade on up. The Bucs do not have a JV team this year.

HALFTIME: Bethel Park leads Gateway, 18-14, in a Class AAAA semifinal, from Ryan Riordan.

From Big Brad Everett, Chartiers Valley girls lead Mt. Lebanon, 13-8, after first quarter. Mariah Wells already has 11 points.

6:32 p.m. - HALFTIME: Bishop Canevin 30, Burrell 7

Carly Forse 16 points in first half for Bishop Canevin.

6:14 p.m. - All kinds of internet problems here at Moon. Can't get on Twitter. Might not have lot of score updates.

6:11 p.m. - Hate to say after first quarte, but this one is over. Bishop Canevin girls on a different level than Burrell. Nice run by Burrell making sems for first time since 1994, but Bucs are in over their heads. Bishop Canevin leads 20-2 after first quarter and Burrell has 10 turnovers.

6:07 p.m. - Mars vs. Montour won't start until 8. Right now in Bishop Canevin-Burrell game. Burrell really struggling. Bishop Canevin leads, 10-2, with two minutes left in first quarter.


Live WPIAL semifinal blog - Hampton beats NA; New Castle wins

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Live blog from Wednesday's WPIAL Class AAAA semifinal between Hampton and North Allegheny at Chartiers Valley. We will have score updates and reports from other semifinal games. For updated scores, use Twitter @mwhiteburgh, and also "tweet" updates with #wpial.

Big upset in Class AAA girls. Elizabeth Forward defeats Blackhawk, 78-64. Blackhawk was undefeated.

Final from Class AA boys: Beaver Falls crushes Apollo-Ridge, 71-39.

Upset brewing in Class AAA. Undefeated Blackhawk trailing by 57-45 after three quarters.

FINAL SCORE: Hampton 66, North Allegheny 62

Ryan Luther with 27 for Hampton. 


8:29 p.m. - This one over I think. Ryan Luther just hit two free throws after Ryan Meeker hit 3 for NA. 7.8 seconds left and Hampton leads, 66-62, but NA has no timeouts left.

8:24 p.m. - 20 seconds left. Hampton leads, 62-59. Ryan Luther keeps making every big play for Hampton. 

8:20 p.m. Just sayin'. Ryan Luther just poked ball away from R.J. Colabrese at halfcourt. No foul call. All I'm sayin' is there is blood all over court from Colabrese nose.

FINAL: NEW CASTLE 71, SENECA VALLEY 46

8:16 p.m. - 10-0 run by NA. Hampton turning it over. NA takes 54-53 lead.

8:14 p.m. All sudden. Adam Haus scores. Miss by Hampton. David shove pass to bro' Adam. 3 and it's suddenly 53-50. And then turnover and James Meeker makes two FT and cuts Hampton lead to 53-52 with 3:37 left.

8:09 p.m. - Timeout early in fourth and Hampton leads, 53-44. NA 0 of 9 from 3 this half. But Hampton's defense has also been better. More physical.

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Hampton leads 48-41

7:57 p.m. - Timeout with 1:27 left in third quarter. Hampton leads, 45-39.

7:56 p.m. - Hampton on a run. Luthers taking over. Now 45-37.

7:50 p.m. - 4:19 left in third and we are all tied, 37-37. Don't you get feeling this will come to the end.

Sometimes I wonder why so many kids "help" off their man against NA and leave shooters open. Make them make drives to the basket.


7:48 p.m. 
- Fifve minutes in third and NA leads, 37-34.


FINAL: Burrell going to WPIAL final for only second time in school history: Burrell 43, Quaker Valley 32 in overtime.

Halftime: New Castle 36, Seneca Valley 24

First-half stats: James Meeker with 11 points for North Allegheny. NA 11 of 27 from field. 7 of 18 from 3-point range. Four different players with 3-pointers for NA.

For Hampton, Ryan Luther 13 points. First-half shooting for Hampton: 8 of 20 from field and 9 of 11 from line. 2 of 6 from 3.

HALFTIME: North Allegheny 31, Hampton 27 - North Allegheny hit two 3-pointers in final 40 seconds after Hampton took lead on Joe Lafko 3-pointer. Adam Haus hit one and then James Meeker one with six seconds left.

 

Burrell now beating Quaker Vlalley 42-32 in OT.
7:28 p.m. - Timeout. Hampton has jumped back in front 24-23. Collin Luther's first basket. The 3-2 zone has given NA a few problems. Nice when you can put a 6-7 guy on the top of a 3-2 in high school (Ryan Luther).

South Park beats Hopewell, 75-55, in Class AAA girls.

Final in girls Class A: Serra beats North Catholic, 56-45

7:21 p.m. And NA has gone on one of its runs. Turnover. Forced shot. Next thing you know Luke Soyster hits 3 to give NA 23-19 lead. 5:29 left in half.

7:16 p.m. Start of second quarter and Hampton has gone zone. 3-2.

Quaker Valley and Burrell are going into overtime tied at 30-30.

7:15 p.m. - End of first quarter and NA-Hampton are tied, 16-16. Four 3-pointers in first quarter for NA. Ryan Luther 10 points for Hampton.

7:09 p.m. - Ryan Luther steal and dunk and three-point play.

7:08 p.m. - Joe Mancini with another 3 for NA. Now 10-10 with 2:55 left in quarter.

7:05 p.m. - Timeout with 4:42 left in first quarter. Hampton 8-5. Joe Mancini with a 3 for NA. Ryan Luther and David Huber four each for Hampton.


7:03 p.m. - 6-2 Hampton early going.

7:00 p.m. - Under way. Two blocks for each team on first two possessions. Ryan Luther guarding Elijah Zeise. Luther not even guarding him. Letting him alone when gets ball.

Serra has come back and taken 39-35 lead on North Catholic after three quarters.

Hallie Torris has five 3-pointers for South Park against Hopewell.

Quaker Valley has come back to take 22-18 lead on Burrell in third quarter. Now at the end of three Quaker Valley leads, 23-21. P-G colleague Craig Meyer says certainly not the prettiest game.

South Park with three 3-pointers in third quarter and has extended lead on Hopewell to 49-22.

6:46 p.m. - Not that far from game time. No sign of hardly any North Allegheny students. We'll see. 


6:41 p.m. - These two teams split in regular season. I think one of the keys will be how well Collin Luther plays. Ryan seems to always "get his." Twin brother will be a key along with how well Hampton's players other than Luthers deal with North Allegheny's pressure defense.

Halftime in Class AAA girls: South Park leads Hopewell, 38-20. South Park with five 3-pointers. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough 12 points for Hopewell on 4 of 12 shooting.

Low scoring game in Class AA boys semifinals. Can Burrell make championship for first time in school history? Leading Quaker Valley 15-10


Looks like we might have new girls champion in Class AAA. Big Brad Everett reports South Park is leading defending champ Hopewell, 32-13.

Halftime: North Catholic girls lead Serra, 26-19. 

End of first quarter in Class A girls semifinal: North Catholic leads Serra, 11-6. This from Ryan Riordan of P-G.

6:27 p.m. - Game time about a half hour away here at Chartiers Valley. I still say Char Valley has one of best sound systems and best choices of music in WPIAL. Good mix of old and new.

 

WPIAL championship memories and predictions

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The WPIAL basketball championships are tonight and tomorrow, but before we get to that, just a note on TV-radio.

There is no live TV for the title games. But they will be available on replays through Xfinity "On Demand" starting early next week. Go to the "Get Local" folder, and then "Sports," and then "High School Sports" and then "Basketball" folders.

Also, all of the boys and girls games can be heard live on the MSA Sports network at www.msasports.net. Check listings for the games on radio.

Now, about these championships. One game, in particular, is bringing back a lot of memories. It is the Beaver Falls-Burrell game for the Class AA boys title. The last time Burrell was in a championship game was 1979. The opponent was Beaver Falls. The site was the Civic Arena. It was my first taste of live WPIAL championship basketball - and I thought the whole spectacle of the title games was simply terrific.

I saw two unforgettable games that night. My one mistake that year? I missed a great finish to the Beaver Falls-Burrell game. Seriously.

I always had a penchant for following high school sports. I'd read about them in the Pittsburgh Press and Post-Gazette, pretend I was Dickie DeVenzio on my Nerf basketball hoop when I was very young. As a kid, I can remember watching the WPIAL basketball playoffs and championships live on WQED Channel 13. Bill Cardille, Bill Hillgrove and Red Donley would come into my living room every March. And I will always remenmber "And now for the halftime stats, let's go to Dr. Tony Brungo." Heck, that same Dr. Brungo ended up coaching me when I was in seventh grade at St. Sebastian.

Anyway, in 1979 it was time to see the WPIAL championship games LIVE. I was a junior at North Hills High School and the North Hills girls team had made it to the WPIAL title game against Franklin Regional. I knew the players and I had to go. So my good buddy, Jim "Buster" Lang, and I jumped into my parents red and black Impala and headed into the city to the Civic Arena. I had been to the Civic Arena countless times with my father and three  brothers for basketball games, but now I was a teenager driving and had no idea how to get to a dang parking lot.

Anyway, North Hills couldn't hold up against Franklin Regional's inside tandem of Pam Miklasevich and Cheryl Ellison and North Hills lost.

That was the first game of the championship tripleheader. Then came the two boys games. First, it was Midland and Ford City in the AA title game. Midland. The name was magical to me. Just like the Farrell Steelers. I had no clue where Midland was, but I watched many of those great Midland teams over the years on Channel 13, watched all the Slappy brothers and Chuck Gomez. Now I got to see the Leopards in person.

The Ford City-Midland game had one of the best finishes of a WPIAL championship game ever. I was in an end zone seat. As if it was only a month ago, I can still see Roosevelt "Boo" Kirby's desperation 30-footer in the air. I can hear the buzzer go off. And then I can still see Kirby's shot banking in. Game over. Midland magic again. Midland wins, 48-47. Poor Ford City.

Then came the nightcap - Beaver Falls vs. Burrell in the AAA final. A total of 8,740 fans were on hand at the Civic Arena that night. They saw another fantastic finish in this game. Too bad I missed it.

It was a highly-anticipated game for me. Beaver Falls had this supposed "one-of-a-kind" athlete, Dwight Collins. He was a junior, but he was good enough to start in football and basketball as a freshman, which was unheard of at that time, especially at a place like Beaver Falls. I can still see Joey Myers, the curly, blonde bomber from Burrell, making shots to put Burrell ahead.

Burrell was leading by 54-49 with a minute left. I looked at my buddy, Jim Lang, and said, "You wanna go?" We thought it was over. Besides, I had never driven myself in downtown before, so I was a little afraid of getting in the post-game rush. We left talking about how surprising it was that Burrell was "WPIAL champs." Burrell?

I drop Jim off at his house, go home and turn on the news. What? BEAVER FALLS WON!! How? In the Post-Gazette the next morning, I read how Damon Bryant scored six points in the final minute and scored the winniing basket with eight seconds left. 

But that night in 1979 was the start of it all for me. Two years later, I was already working part-time at the Post-Gazette and was courtside on press row, helping keep stats for Post-Gazette reporters and running down quotes from players and coaches. I haven't missed many WPIAL boys championships since 1979. To me, the basketball championships are the best event in the high school season. The emotion. The electricity. The crowd seems so big at the Palumbo Center and there isn't as much of an empty feeling in the stands as there is when the football championships are played at Heinz Field.

I'm ready for another championship weekend. I won't leave early this time, either.

Here are my predictions for this weekend's championship games.

BOYS

New Castle vs. Hampton - Yes, Hampton proved it can PLAY with New Castle, losing by only four points in early February. But nobody in the WPIAL will BEAT New Castle. Winner: New Castle.

Chartiers Valley vs. Montour - I picked Montour at the start of the playoffs. There is a part of me that wants to change to Chartiers Valley. But I'm not a "flipper." This one should be close. Winner: Montour.

Beaver Falls vs. Burrell - What a story for Burrell, making it to the final for the first time in 34 years. But the feel-good story must end at some point - like tomorrow. Beaver Falls' guards will be the difference. Winner: Beaver Falls.

Clairton vs. Vincentian - I know, I know. How can I go against Clairton? Football or basketball, these Bears just seem to find a way to win. But I just have a hunch on this one, which could be a fast-paced game. Winner: Vincentian.

GIRLS

Bethel Park vs. Chartiers Valley - I picked Bethel Park at the start of the playoffs. I'll stick with that pick. Jonna Burke is a fine coach who finally gets a WPIAL title. Winner: Beaver Falls.

South Park vs. Elizabeth Forward - Hey, if there is any security problems at Palumbo tomorrow, I'm going right to the end of South Park's bench. Coach Reggie Wells is a state policeman and his son, Reggie Jr., is an NFL lineman. But it's South Park's players who will be the difference in this game Winner: South Park.

Seton-LaSalle vs. Bishop Canevin - Bishop Canevin gave Seton-LaSalle a good game earlier this season. But beating Seton-LaSalle is a completely different story. Winner: Seton-LaSalle.

Vincentian vs. Serra - It will be another title for the Royals family. The Vincentian Royals boys will win Friday and the girls Saturday. Winner: Vincentian.

WPIAL girls championship blog - Bishop Canevin upsets Seton-LaSalle

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Live blog from Friday night's WPIAL Class AA girls championship game between Seton-LaSalle and Bishop Canevin.

FINAL: Bishop Canevin 56, Seton-LaSalle 47


Bishop Canevin's FIRST WPIAL TITLE!!!!! Johnie Olkosky ties WPIAL championship game record with seven 3-pointers.

 Olkosky scores 26 for Bishop Canevin. Carly Forse 14. Celina DiPietro 10.

Seton-LaSalle's Naje Gibson and Angela Heintz score 16 each.

6:19 p.m. - I think we will have the big upset. Bishop Canevin leads, 53-47, with 26 seconds left. BCanevin giving Seton chances though. 3-10 from FT line this quarter. Make it 4-11. Carly Forse hits one to make it 54-47.

6:17 p.m. - It's 52-47 with 1:11 left.

6:13 p.m. - 2:44 Cassidy Walsh hits 3-pointer for Seton. Cuts lead to 50-43.

6:12 p.m. - Seton going on a run. Cuts lead to 50-40 with 3:14 left.

6:08 p.m. - Oh. Johnie Olkosky just missed a 3-pointer that would have broken the WPIAL championship recod. Bishop Canevin leading, 50-38, with 5:30 left.

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Bishop Canevin 48, Seton-LaSalle 33


It's Johnie on the spot again. Johnie Olkosky just hit her seventh 3-pointer to give Bishop Canevin a 15-point lead. Can't see Seton coming back. Bishop Canevin's guards are too good at handling the ball. Those guards have been tremendous tonight.

Olkosky's seven 3-pointers ties a 14-year Class AA championship game record.


5:56 p.m. Bishop Canevin still ahead by 12. 41-29. Make it 14 as Carly Forse scores on drive.

Rememer, Seton has won 66 in a row against WPIAL teams.

5:53 p.m. - Difference in game is outside shooting. Seton can't put on in the Mon from outside. 

5:47 p.m. And can you believe this? You'd think Seton-LaSalle might be aware of where Johnie Olkosky is on the court. Nah. She just hit two more 3-pointers. That's six for the game. Bishop Canevin now leads, 34-22, with 6:25 left in the third quarter. Seton-LaSalle is in trouble.

Class AA championship record for 3-pointers for an iindividual is seven.

HALFTIME: Bishop Canevin 28, Seton-LaSalle 22


First half, Johnie Olkosky 12 for Bishop Canevin. For Seton-LaSalle, Naje Gibson 11. Bishop Canevin 5 of 11 on 3's. Bishop Canevin seven turnovers in second quarter.

5:34 p.m. - Seton-LaSalle makes a mini-run, but Celina DiPietro hits 13-footer at buzzer to put Bishop Canevin ahead, 28-22, at the half.

Seton-LaSalle had trouble with Bishop Canevin's three-guard weave. Couldn't defend it very well. Switched to extended 1-3-1 half-court trap for final few minutes. Worked pretty well. 

If Seton goes back to man might need to start "jumping" the handoffs in the weave.

5:29 p.m. - And another 3-pointer for Bishop Canevin. Five this half. Johnie Olkosky has four. Bishop Canevin leads, 26-16, with 2:30 left in first half. 

5:28 p.m. - OK, Post-Gazette colleague just made a "call." Seton-LaSalle coach John Ashalou ------  50 cent. 

Got me laughing on that one. Not bad after I looked at a picture of 50 cent.

5:24 p.m. - Seton-LaSalle has cut lead to 18-12.

5:20 p.m. - Seton-LaSalle is bigger than Bishop Canevin and might get Bishop Canevin in foul trouble. BC's Carly Forse just picked up first. B. Canevin's matchup zone doing a nice job so far. 

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Bishop Canevin 18, Seton-LaSalle 8


Seton-LaSalle 1 of 6 from field in first quarter with five turnovers. Bishop Canevin got off 17 shots. Made 7. No turnovers. Could we have an upset brewing?

5:13 p.m. - And another 3-pointer for Bishop Canevin. 2:10 left and B. Canevin leads, 15-6. Two 3-pointers so far for Johnie Olkosky.

5:09 p.m. - Bishop Canevin coach Tim Joyce said his team had to shoot well from the outside to have a chance. So far, so good. Two 3-pointers already for Bishop Canevin and it's 10-4 Bishop Canevin.

Cassidy Walsh is now in the game.

5:07 p.m. - MSA Sports director Don Rebel doing PA for games this year. What's up with that? He usually is doing play-by-play on radio or internet. Must have learned a new trick.

5:05 p.m. - Pace so far has to be to B. Canevin liking. Not too fast. Bishop Canevin jumps to 4-2 lead with 5:01 left in first quarter.

5:04 p.m. - Cassidy Walsh still not starting for Seton-LaSalle. Stress fracture in left leg. She's Rebels' sophomore point guard already committed to Duquesne. Had been out for a few weeks. Not sure if she will play.


5:00 p.m. - About to get under way. The start of it all.

WPIAL Class A boys championship live blog - Vincentian wins Class A

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Live blog from Friday night's WPIAL Class A boys championship between Clairton and Vincentian at Duquesne's Palumbo Center.

In the first title game tonight, Johnie Olkosky tied a WPIAL championship record to lead the Bishop Canevin girls to an upset of Seton-LaSalle. Check out the live blog from that game.

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FINAL: Vincentian 86, Clairton 74

Clairton players taking loss pretty hard. They're not used to losing in these championship games.

It is the third-highest point total for a team in a Class A final. Vincentian was 31 of 45 from the free-throw line. The 31 makes sets a Class A championship game record.

8:34 p.m. - George Yokitis just put his suit jacket on. Game must be over. It's now 85-74 Vincentian.

8:23 p.m. - Vincentian leading, 76-67, with 1:50 left. The Coaching Lawyer, George Yokitis, about to win his second title in three years. 

8:19 p.m. - 36 free throw attempts now for Vincentian and Royals lead 76-67. Timeout with 3:21 left. .... Clairton obviously has some really good athletes and some good players. Vincentian has few more basketball players, though. 

8:14 p.m. - Vincentian going to its delay game. A little too early??

8:13 p.m. - 5:06 left in the game and Vincentian leads, 71-64. Vincentian averages 83 points. Will the Royals get there?

8:10 p.m. Vincentian has now been to the free-throw line 30 times.

8:08 p.m. - Jim Kenna, the kid with the good moves in the Vincentian Harlem Shake video, has a good shooting stroke, too. Hits another 3 to put Vincentian ahead, 68-60.

8:04 p.m. END OF THIRD QUARTER: Vincentian 63, Clairton 55


Jay Cortese with eight big points off bench in that quarter for Vincentian. Couple excellent passes by Ryan Wolf. Funny. You'd think Clairton would be the team that runs so much. But it's Vincentian that plays at a faster pace.

7:57 p.m. - Clairton has a 6-4 freshman now playing. Aaron Matthews. Bet he's end up a pretty good football prospect.

7:57 p.m. - This place is close to full.

7:53 p.m. - Vincentian on a run. Takes 50-44 lead. Nice back door set by Coach Yokitis.

7:50 p.m. - All tied 44-44 with 5:40 left. And Jim Kenna scores to put Vincentian ahead. 

HALFTIME: Vincentian 39, Clairton 39


For Clairton, Pitt football recruit Terrish Webb has 13 points and Bryon Clifford 13. For Vincentian, Ryan Wolf has nine, Jim Kenna 8 and Kevin Fischer 7. I think Fischer owes all his point total to his coach in 5th and 6th grade.

Clairton 18 of 38 from field and Vincentian 13 of 34.


7:28 p.m. - I'm going to guess there have been maybe .... two offensive sets run this game. Doesn't mean it's not a good game to watch. Armani Ford just made 3-pointer and Clairton takes 36-31 lead with 2:41 left in half.

7:25 p.m. - Terrish Webb basket off pass from Tyler Boyd and Clairton takes lead, 27-26, with 4:27 left.

7:22 p.m. - Vincentian leading, 24-23, with 5:47 left in half.

7:20 p.m. - Clairton having a llittle problem with fouls. Already seven with 6:49 left in half.

END OF THE FIRST QUARTER: Vincentian leads Clairton, 19-15


Jim Kenna eight points for Vincentian. Clairton shot 7 of 19. Vincentian 7 of 16.

7:15 p.m. - Really good crowd here for Class A game. 

7:11 p.m. - Vincentian doesn't have any size, but boy do they box out well. 16-10 Vincentian ahead. 

7:07 p.m. - Two 3's in early going for Vincentian's Jim Kenna. Vincentian leads 9-8 with four minutes left in first. Kenna scores again to make it 11-8.

7:04 p.m. - Vincentian trapping everywhere. Some holes in the back against the traps, but you have to be able to make the pass there. Clairton might be quick enough to go through the traps, too. Clairton leads, 4-3, early going.

6:59 p.m. - And I think we just had record for longest national anthem in WPIAL championship history. About two minutes long. But it was good. By a Penn Hills female student.

6:45 p.m. - I'm liking the bright orange socks on some of the Clairton players.  

6:41 p.m. - Game time for Clairton vs. Vincentian in 15 minutes.

WPIAL AAA boys championship live blog - Montour beats Chartiers Valley

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Live blog from the WPIAL Class AAA boys championship between Chartiers Valley and Montour at Palumbo Center.

The Class A championship between Vincentian and Clairton was played earlier tonight. Check out the live blog from that game.


FINAL SCORE: Montour 47, Chartiers Valley 40


FINAL THOUGHTS: Devin Wilson was the difference. He was excellent in the second half after a shaky first half from him. He finished with 19 points, seven rebounds a handful of assists and steals. He actually took over the game in the final quarter and a half. On top of that, the kid is cool as the other side of the pillow.

Kevin Scuilli hit two gigantic 3-pointers. But what else is new. He always does.

No other Montour player in double figures. Chartiers Valley got 18 points and 10 rebounds from Spencer Casson, but he only took two shots in the second half. Montour did a better job defensively on the back side in the second half, but Montour coach Adam Kaufman said he thought CV stopped trying to go inside in the second half, and relied more on 3-point attempts. CV was 0 of 9 from 3 in the second half.

I don't know if I've ever seen a Chartiers Valley game where the Colts scored only 11 points in the second half. But that happened tonight. After shooting 13 of 22 in the first half, Char Valley was 4 of 21 in the second half.

10:30 p.m. - Montour ahead 43-38 one minute left.

10:26 p.m. - Kevin Scuilli got loose against CV press. Nails another 3. Montour ahead 42-38 with 1:43 left.


10:24 p.m. - Spencer Casson layup off entry pass. CV cuts it to 39-38 with 2:06 left.

 10:22 p.m. - Kevin Scuilli sets the screen, comes off the screen, nails it. Montour ahead 39-36 with 2:53 left.

Chartiers Valley has scored only seven points this half. Montour gets a stop and still leads by three. Look out. Devin Wilson will put the ball in the fridge. Nobody in WPIAL better at it than him.

10:17 p.m. Montour takes lead on Justin Hill basket off Wilson pass. 34-33. 

10:16 p.m. - Char Valley's defense has shut down Montour's 3-point shooting. 

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Chartiers Valley 33, Montour 32

Great move by Devin Wilson and basket to end the quarter.

 10:09 p.m. - Devin Wilson just had a great pin block and then great dish at other end. Montour has cut it to 33-30 with 1:05 left in third.

10:06 p.m. CV is taking away about all of Montour's offensive sets, but Montour has climbed back to 31-26.

10:02 p.m. - Montour made only 7 of 20 shots first half. Missed first three to start the third.

HALFTIME: Chartiers Valley leads Montour, 29-20.


Spencer Cassson with 14 points in first half. Michael Boulos 8. For Montour, Devin Wilson has seven.

The difference has been simple: Casson. Montour can't deal with the 6-6 senior. 

9:45 p.m. - Montour really struggling offensively. Now 29-16 Char Valley. 

9:41 p.m. - Devin Wilson only two points so far.

9:38 p.m. - Another dunk by Casson to start second quarter. Off high ball screen and roll again.

END FIRST QUARTER: Char Valley 18, Montour 11


Montour three 3-pointers in first quarter, but CV's Spencer Casson 10 points.

9:34 p.m. - CV on a run. Montour can't do much with CV's 6-6 Spencer Casson - on screen and rolls. Casson has 10 pts. 3-pointer by Matty McConnell puts CV up 18-8 with 45 seconds left in quarter.

9:30 p.m. - Kevin Scuilli and Rob Julian both with 3's. CV leads, 9-8.

9:27 p.m. - Spencer Casson with a dunk. CV leads, 6-2, with five minutes left.

9:22 p.m. - Game still hasn't started. Starters being announced now.


9:06 p.m. - What's up with shoe selection of Montour's Devin Wilson? Everyone in black Nikes. He's in gray. Just sayin'

9:05 p.m. - Game time about 10 minutes away.

Big student sections here for Montour and Chartiers Valley. Excellent crowd overall.

WPIAL Class AA boys championship live blog - Beaver Falls wins big

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Live blog from this afternoon's WPIAL Class AA boys championship between Beaver Falls and Burrell at Palumbo Center.


FINAL SCORE: Beaver Falls beat Burrell, 61-33.

Senior guard Drew Cook scored 20 points to lead Beaver Falls. Elijah Cottrill added 14 and Danny Stratton 13 points and seven rebounds. Cole Bush and Pete Spagnolo scored 14 each for Burrell.

Burrell finished the game with 28 turnover. Beaver Falls had only six.

Win No. 300 for coach Doug Biega.

2:05 p.m. - And I've just been told the Beaver Falls fan who has been yapping the entire game is none other than Damon Bryant, the star of Beaver Falls' 1979 WPIAL championship team that defeated Burrellfor the title. Bryant scored the final six points of the game to give Beaver Falls a one-point win.

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Beaver Falls beating Burrell, 43-15


Talk about some defense. A year ago, Beaver Falls won title holding Monessen to 27 points. That was somewhat a product of Monessen's poor shooting. This is because of Beaver Falls' defense.

1:48 p.m. - Timeout with 4:17 left in the third quarter and it's 39-13 Beaver Falls.


1:45 p.m. - It's now 37-10.

HALFTIME: Beaver Falls 32, Burrell 8


First half Burrell got only 15 shots. made 4. Beaver Falls got 26, made 13. 

Burrell had 17 turnovers in first half. Can't deal with Beaver Falls heat. Drew Cook with 13 points and Elijah Cottrill 11.

All this is doing is proving my theory this year that Class AA isn't very strong in the WPIAL. At least not like past decade in terms of depth of quality teams. I'm not knocking Burrell. Great job to get this far, but the field in Class AA wasn't terrific this year.

1:27 p.m. - It's now 28-6 Beaver Falls.

1:24 p.m. - On the Class AA level, Beaver Falls plays defense like a mini-New Castle. Tigers get their hands on so many balls.

Really like Drew Cook's game, too, especially in mid-range.

1:21 p.m. - Timeout with 5:43 left in half. Beaver Falls ahead, 20-4. Elijah Cottrill with seven points and Drew Cook and Danny Stratton five each.

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Beaver Falls 15, Burrell 2


Burrell only got five shots in the first quarter. Turned the ball over 12 times.

1:12 p.m. - ELIJAH COTTRILL BREAKAWAY DUNK!!!!

It was 15-0 Beaver Falls.... Cole Bush scores for Burrell. Finally. With 1:04 left in quarter. Burrell now with 11 turnovers. Is this one over already?

1:08 p.m. - Eight turnovers by Burrell in first 6:30. Beaver Falls now leading, 10-0.

1:06 p.m. - Beaver Falls leading, 8-0. Number of turnovers so far for Burrell.

1:05 p.m. - Burrell having all kinds of trouble with Beaver Falls defensive pressure. Can't run any of their sets. Can't get shots.

1:00 p.m. - Beaver Falls basically starts five guards. 

Burrell's Cole Bush -- I wouldn't mess with him. Pretty well put together. No surprise. Football standout. Being guarded by Elijah Cottrill. Interesting matchup.


12:43 p.m. - Game time in about 15 minutes. 

This is the second of five championships at Palumbo today. In the WPIAL Class A girls final earlier, Vincentian won it second consecutive title and third in four years with a 53-46 victory against Serra.

Vincentian's Brenna Wise dominated. Plain and simple, she just gets after it. Does she play hard and aggressive. A 6-1 sophomore, she had 18 points and 20 rebounds. WPIAL female version of Kevin Love.

Game was tied, 28-28, with three minutes left in third quarter. Then it was 43-30 Vincentian in the fourth quarter.

Two freshmen had big games for Vincentian. Kiersten Elliott came off the bench, made 6 of 6 shots and scored 13. Freshman Maia Joiner scored 12. Sophomore Katie Sieg scored 13 for Serra and her sister, Megan, a junior, scored 12.

WPIAL AAAA girls championship live blog - Bethel Park wins first title

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Live blog from tonight's WPIAL Class AAAA girls championship between Chartiers Valley and Bethel Park.

In case you missed it, earlier today Beaver Falls won the Class AA boys title with a 61-33 victory against Burrell. Check out the live blog from that game.


FINAL: Bethel Park 48, Chartiers Valley 36


First girls basketball championship for Bethel Park. Mariah Penascino led with 15 points. Harper Zimmer 11. Megan Marecic had seven points and 11 rebounds.

For Chartiers Valley, Jenna Devinney had nine points, all on 3-pointers. 

8:11 p.m. - Looking like Bethel Park will get first WPIAL girls title in school history. Nice for Jonna Burke. She's done a great job building a perennially strong program. Only missing piece of the puzzle was a WPIAL title. Looks like she'll get it. Bethel Park ahead, 39-29, with 1:22 left.

8:06 p.m. - Jenna Devinney hits third 3-pointer for CV. Cuts lead to 36-29 with 2:31 left.

This place starting to get pretty full for next game.

7:56 p.m. - Char Valley cut it to 25-19 but 3-pointer by Harper Zimmer for BP makes it 28-19.


END OF THIRD QUARTER: Bethel Park 25, Chartiers Valley 16

8:01 p.m. - Bethel Park on a run, leads 35-23 with 3:50 left. No way Char Valley coming back from this.


7:55 p.m. Record for fewest points in WPIAL girls final is 19 by West Mifflin in 1997. Hopefully, Char Valley can break that.

7:46 p.m. - Bethel Park has opened up 23-14 lead. You want offense? Might need to wait for next game.

This is heading for the lowest-scoring Class AAAA final since the class was started in 1983-84 season. Previous low was 68 points in 2004 final. New Castle beat Oakland Catholic, 36-32.

HALFTIME: Bethel Park 18, Chartiers Valley 11


Chartiers Valley shot 20 percent (3 of 15) in first half and had 10 turnovers. Bethel Park shot 9 of 21. Just can't see Char Valley winning this game. Not enough offensively.

7:23 p.m. - OK, Jenna Devinney hits 3 for CV. Now 14-9 Bethel.

7:21 p.m. - Who will score fewer points in first half today???? Burrell boys or Char Valley girls. Burrell scored 8. Char Valley stuck on 6 with 3:30 left in half.

Shoutout to Xavier University assistant Moe Hester, who apparently might be following this wildly popular blog tonight. Former Bethel Park standout.

7:17 p.m. - Harper Zimmer scores again and it's 14-6 Bethel. 

Ha ha. Usually fans always yell cliches at officials. Wish I had a dollar all these years for "Hey ref, you're missin' a good game."

But I just heard a pretty good one from a fan behind me. "Hey ref, you got too much sun today."

7:15 p.m. - Char Valley was 1 for 7 from field in first quarter. Harper Zimmer six points in first quarter for Bethel. Bethel shot 6 of 11.

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Bethel Park 12, Chartiers Valley 6

I thought this game might be low scoring. Both teams play pretty good defense, and the Class AAAA playoffs overall have lacked much scoring this season.

7:12 p.m. - Bethel Park always good on the defensive side. Now leading, 12-6.

7:06 p.m. - Bethel Park leading, 6-3, with four minutes left in first quarter.


6:50 p.m. - Game time in about 10 minutes.

If you plan on coming for the New Castle-Hampton game next, you might want to get here soon. WPIAL says it might be sold out later tonight.

Shame this girl-boy doubleheader couldn't be at Consol. 


WPIAL AAAA boys championship live blog - New Castle wins WPIAL title, 68-53

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Live blog from tonight's WPIAL Class AAAA boys championship between New Castle and Hampton at Palumbo Center.

FINAL: New Castle 68, Hampton 53


New Castle becomes first team in history of WPIAL to win back-to-back championships with undefeated records. Wow.

10:08 p.m. - OK this one is over. NC leads, 59-36. Antonio Rudolph thre 3-pointers this half. 13 points.

But no shame for Hampton. Hey, New Castle has done this to everyone this year.

END OF THIRD QUARTER: New Castle 52, Hampton 32


9:56 p.m. - 
New Castle starting to run away. Antonio Rudolph and Malik Hooker hit 3-pointers. It's now 49-31.

9:47 p.m. - The speed New Castle goes from defense to offense on a turnover is tremendous.

9:45 p.m. - Two early fouls in second half for Collin Luther. Now goes out with four fouls.

9:42 p.m. - Hampton starts second half in press. hard to press NC. But why not? Have to try something.


HALTIME: New Castle 36, Hampton 22


Five 3-pointers in second quarter for Hampton. Anthony Richards on fire. Four 3's first half. 12 points. Ryan Luther leads Hampton with 10. 

Red 'Canes are really tough to deal with when they get lead.

9:24 p.m. - Amazing how New Castle gets their hands on so many balls when a player drives to the basket. It's like you're playing against 20 hands.

Hampton better be careful this doesn't get away from them. It is now 32-20 NC

9:21 - And here come the 3-pointers for New Castle. Anthony Richards now has four 3-pointers, three this quarter. Then Brandon Domenick nailed one. New Castle leads 28-20 with 4:10 in half.

And I've already seen Richards patented dive for loose ball. Probably more of those to come.

9:17 p.m. - Six turnovers now for Hampton.

9:16 p.m. - Hampton switches to man-to-man to start second quarter.

END FIRST QUARTER: New Castle 15, Hampton 10


9:12 p.m. - New Castle starting to heat up. 13-7 NC. Getting inside Hampton zone some and also two 3-pointers. But Hampton gets 3 from David Huber, 13-10, NC

9:07 p.m. - 4:04 left and NC leads, 5-1 . Shawn Anderson has to go out. Blood on wrist. 

9:04 p.m. - Still no score. Timeout 5:35 left in first quarter. New Castle 0 for 3, all 3-pointers. 

9:02 p.m. - Under way. Hampton starts in 1-2-2 zone. Nice to have a 6-7 kid like Ryan Luther on top in a zone like that.

8:49 p.m. - Little sidelight to this game. New Castle's Anthony Richards and Hampton twins Ryan Luther and Collin Luther have played on the same AAU teams for a number of years. Now they're opponents. They played for a team in Western Pa. and then last summer played for an AAU organization in Maryland for the brother of John Miller.

8:43 p.m. - Hampton's Collin Luther has his right them taped. New injury? He didn't have it taped in semifinals I don't think.

8:41 p.m. - Nice electric atmosphere in here.


8:32 p.m. - About 25 minutes to game time. I've been informed it is now a SELLOUT. The place is pretty much jammed.

Great turnout from Hampton students. Many of them dressed up. I see Big Bird, I see what looks like Moses from the bible, I see someone with a "Sugar Daddy" yellow outfit on. Just to name a few.

 

PIAA sets first-round sites

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The PIAA basketball playoffs begin Friday around the state.

An interesting first-round matchup is the New Castle boys vs. Gateway. Yes, they just played in the WPIAL quarterfinals and now meet in the first round of states. It's just the ridiculousness of some PIAA brackets. Oh well. That game is Saturday afternoon.

Here is the schedule for the first round.

BOYS 
PIAAA CLASS AAAA
FIRST ROUND
 
Western Region
Saturday — Harrisburg (24-2) vs. Central Bucks South (17-10) at Milton Hershey, 6:30 p.m.; Bethlehem Freedom (17-9) vs. Upper Darby (18-8) at Allentown Allen, 3 p.m.; Lower Merion (23-3) vs. Carlisle (16-10) at Spring Ford, 3 p.m.; Martin Luther King (23-4) vs. Reading (13-13) at South Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m.; New Castle (26-0) vs. Gateway (16-6) at North Allegheny, 7 p.m.; State College (17-7) vs. North Allegheny (21-4) at Altoona, 7 p.m; Perry (12-13) vs. Hampton (21-5) at Allderdice, 2 p.m.; Erie Cathedral Prep (21-2) vs. Seneca Valley (17-8) at General McLane, 7 p.m.
 
Eastern Region
Saturday — Chester (24-3) vs. Cumberland Valley (15-11) at Norristown, 3 p.m.; Williamsport (22-2) vs Bethlehem Liberty (19-8) at Montoursville, 7 p.m.; Great Valley (25-3) vs. West Lawn Wilson (19-6) at Plymouth-Whitemarsh, 3 p.m.; Parkland (21-7) vs. Ridley (18-9) at Allentown Allen, 7:30 p.m.; Roman Catholic (19-6) vs. Norristown (23-4) at LaSalle College H.S., 5 p.m.; Lancaster McCaskey (23-3) vs. Coatesville (20-7) at Garden Spot, 6:30 p.m.; Abington (22-5) vs. St. Joseph’s Prep (21-5) at William Tennent, 3 p.m.; York (23-3) vs. Methacton (22-5) at Dallastown 6:30 p.m.
 
PIAA CLASS AAA
FIRST ROUND
 
Western Region
Friday — Berks Catholic (23-3) vs. Archbishop Carroll (19-6) at Garden Spot, 7:30 p.m.; Bethlehem Catholic (13-11) vs. Pope John Paul II (15-9) at Bethlehem Freedom 6 p.m.; Johnstown (15-7) vs. Lancaster Catholic (18-8) at Central Cambria, 6:30 p.m.; Chartiers Valley (22-4) vs. Erie Strong Vincent (14-11) at Baldwin, 7:30 p.m.; Montour (21-4) vs. South Fayette (14-10) at North Allegheny 7:30 p.m.; Girard (20-5) vs. Mars (21-4) at Gannon University, 8 p.m.; Bradford (21-2) vs. Beaver (19-4) at Pitt-Bradford, 7 p.m.; General McLane (20-5) vs. Thomas Jefferson (17-7) at Edinboro University, 7:30 p.m.
 
Eastern Region
Friday — Neumann-Goretti (21-5) vs. Bishop McDevitt (18-8) at Archbishop Ryan, 7:30 p.m.; Milton (16-9) vs. Scranton Prep (18-8) at Shamokin, 7:30 p.m.; Wilkes-Barre GAR  (17-9) vs. Donegal (23-1) at Holy Redeemer,7 p.m.; Allentown C.C. (23-3) vs. Northeastern (22-4) at Bethlehem Freedom, 7:30 p.m.; Abington Heights (25-2) vs. Shikellamy (14-11) at Lackawanna College, 7:30 p.m.; Palmyra (18-8) vs. Philadelphia Electrical (15-11) at Lebanon, 7:30 p.m.; Imhotep Charter (23-5) vs. Salisbury (17-9) at South Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.; Upper Moreland (14-11) vs. Susquehanna Township (22-2) at Plymouth-Whitemarsh, 8 p.m.
 
PIAA CLASS AA
PLAY-IN
Western Region
Tuesday — Westinghouse (15-8) vs. Conemaugh Township (22-3) at Somerset, 7 p.m.
 
FIRST ROUND
Western Region
Saturday — Beaver Falls (23-3) vs. Bald Eagle Area (21-4) at North Allegheny, 6 p.m.; Brockway (15-6) vs. Mercyhurst Prep (17-8) at Clarion University, 7:30 p.m.; Penn Cambria (20-4) vs. Greensburg Central Catholic (22-2) at Altoona, 4 p.m.; Lakeview (21-4) vs. Quaker Valley (20-5) at Slippery Rock University, 6 p.m.; Westinghouse (15-8)-Conemaugh Township (22-3) winner vs. Brentwood (14-10) at Pitt-Johnstown, 7:30 p.m.; Northern Cambria (22-4) vs. Apollo-Ridge (17-8) at Central Cambria, 7 p.m.; Burrell (19-7) vs. Bishop McCort (18-8) at Gateway, 4:30 p.m.; West Middlesex (22-3) vs. Jeannette (18-5) at Slippery Rock University, 7:30 p.m.
 
Eastern Region
Saturday — Communications Tech (19-7) vs. Camp Hill (15-10) at South Philadelphia, 6:30 p.m.; Loyalsock (24-3) vs. Mid Valley (23-5) at Williamsport, 3 p.m.; New Hope-Solebury (15-8) vs. Sayre (17-9) at William Tennant, 4:30 p.m.; Wilkes-Barre Meyers (23-3) vs. Camp Hill Trinity (17-7) at King’s College, 4 p.m.; Holy Cross (23-5) vs. Lewisburg (23-4) at Carbondale, 5 p.m.; Conwell-Egan (8-15) vs. Del-Val Charter (9-15) at LaSalle College H.S., 3:30 p.m.; Delone Catholic (17-8) vs. Wellsboro (23-2) at Northern York, 5 p.m.; Notre Dame-Green Pond (15-10) vs. Constitution (16-9) at Allentown Allen, 6 p.m.
 
PIAA CLASS A
FIRST ROUND
 
Western Region
Friday — Vincentian (25-1) vs. North Clarion (23-2) at North Hills, 7:30 p.m.; Bishop Carroll (21-5) vs. Shanksville-Stonycreek (21-4) at Central Cambria, 8 p.m.; Ridgway (22-4) vs. Homer-Center (19-6) at Clarion University, 6:30 p.m.; Kennedy Catholic (17-6) vs. Lincoln Park (19-6) at Farrell, 7 p.m.; Bishop Guilfoyle (19-5) vs. Smethport (22-3) at Altoona, 7:30 p.m.; Clairton (16-7) vs. Cochranton (15-9) at Plum, 7:30 p.m.; Shade (25-1) vs. North Catholic (16-6) at Pitt-Johnstown, 7:30 p.m.; Johnsonburg (24-2) vs. Eisenhower (10-15) at Clarion University, 8 p.m.
 
Eastern Region
Friday — Lebanon Catholic (13-7) vs. Sankofa Freedom (13-10) at Lebanon, 6 p.m.; Old Forge (13-12) vs. Pius X (20-3) at Lackawanna College, 6 p.m.; Math, Civics & Sciences (23-2) vs. Gospel of Grace (14-9) at Monsignor Bonner, 6 p.m.; St. John Neumann (23-1) vs. Harrisburg Christian (12-14) at Montoursville, 7 p.m.; Church Farm (20-5) vs. New Hope Academy (18-5) at Plymouth-Whitemarsh, 5 p.m.; Mahanoy Area (21-5) vs. Muncy (18-7) at Martz Hall, Pottsville, 7 p.m.; Greenwood (19-4) vs. Sullivan County (21-3) at Milton Hershey, 5 p.m.; Vaux (19-8) vs. Delco Christian (18-7) at Germantown, 7:30 p.m.
 
GIRLS
 
PIAA CLASS AAAA
FIRST ROUND
 
Western Region
Friday — West Lawn Wilson (23-2) vs. Garnet Valley (20-7) at Garden Spot, 6 p.m.; Pocono Mountain West (23-4) vs. North Penn (22-4) at Pleasant Valley, 7 p.m.; Mount St. Joseph (24-3) vs. Cumberland Valley (22-4) at Cheltenhem, 7:30 p.m.; Philadelphia Central (14-5) vs. Manheim Township (21-4) at Germantown, 6 p.m.; Bethel Park (23-2) vs. Mt. Lebanon (22-3) at Baldwin, 6 p.m.; Hollidaysburg (22-2) vs. Penn-Trafford (20-6) at Altoona, 6 p.m.; Allderdice (12-13) vs. Chartiers Valley (18-7) at Carrick, 7 p.m.; Erie McDowell (13-10) vs. Gateway (20-5) at Gannon University, 5 p.m.
 
Eastern Region
Friday — Spring Ford (25-2) vs. Hershey (21-5) at Norristown, 7:30 p.m.; Wallenpaupack (20-4) vs. Parkland (20-7) at Scranton, 7:30 p.m.; West Chester Rustin (20-7) vs. Dover (24-2) at Norristown, 6 p.m.; Nazareth (23-4) vs. Pennsbury (14-3) at Catasauqua, 7:30 p.m.; Cardinal O’Hara (21-5) vs. Methacton (22-5) at Monsignor Bonner, 7:30 p.m.; Central Dauphin East (20-6) vs. Central Bucks West (20-7) at Milton Hershey, 7:30 p.m.; Upper Dublin (25-2) vs. Archbishop Carroll (19-6) at Cheltenham, 6 p.m.; Central Dauphin (20-6) vs. Boyertown (19-8) at Milton Hershey 8 p.m.
 
PIAA CLASS AAA
FIRST ROUND
 
Western Region
Saturday — Susquehannock (18-8) vs. Lancaster Catholic (25-1) at Dallastown, 5 p.m.; Archbishop Wood (17-9) vs. Pope John Paul II (18-5) at Archbishop Carroll, 5 p.m.; Forest Hills (19-4) vs. Hampton (18-6) at Central Cambria, 5:30 p.m.; Bradford (21-2) vs. Blackhawk (24-1) at Pitt-Bradford, 6:30 p.m.; South Park (23-3) vs. Hickory (21-4) at Baldwin, 4:30 p.m; Hopewell (21-4) vs. Villa Maria (22-3 at North Allegheny, 4:30 p.m.; Elizabeth Forward (22-3) vs. Central Valley (18-5) at Baldwin, 3 p.m.; Franklin (24-1) vs. Ligonier Valley (16-7) at Slippery Rock University, 4:30 p.m.
 
Eastern Region
Saturday — Phila. Prep Charter (17-2) vs. Eastern York (18-7) at South Philadelphia, 5 p.m.; Merion Mercy (16-10) vs. Gettysburg (19-5) at Spring-Ford, 4:30 p.m.; Bethlehem Catholic (24-2) vs. Bonner-Prendergast Catholic (16-8) at William Tennant, 4:30 p.m.; Honesdale (23-3) vs. Danville (22-5) at Marywood University, 7 p.m.; Palmyra (25-0) vs. Freire Charter (14-11) at Garden Spot, 5 p.m.; Scranton Prep (25-2) vs. Southern Lehigh (21-4) at Marywood University, 4 p.m.; Athens (21-4) vs. Holy Redeemer (20-7) at Williamsport, 4:30 p.m.; Malvern Villa Maria (19-4) vs. West York (20-5) at Norristown, 4:30 p.m.
 
PIAA CLASS AA
FIRST ROUND
 
Western Region
Friday — Bishop Canevin (22-4) vs. Westmont Hilltop (21-5) at North Hills, 6 p.m.; General McLane (22-3) vs. Jeannette (17-7) at Edinboro University, 6 p.m.; Burrell (22-3)  vs. Bellwood-Antis (24-3) at Plum, 6 p.m.; Brookville (24-3) vs. Sharpsville (17-8) at Clarion University, 5 p.m.; Blairsville (24-1) vs. Greensburg C.C. (17-7) at Central Cambria 5 p.m.; Seton-LaSalle (24-2) vs. Kane (20-5) at North Allegheny, 6 p.m.; Everett (18-6) vs. Mohawk (17-7) at Pitt-Johnstown, 6 p.m.; North East (22-3) vs. McGuffey (20-3) at Gannon University, 6:30 p.m.
 
Eastern Region
Friday — Neumann-Goretti (13-11) vs. Annville-Cleona (16-9) at Archbishop Ryan, 6 p.m.; Notre Dame-Green Pond (20-5) vs. Southern Columbia (19-6) at Catasauqua, 6 p.m.; Delone Catholic (19-6) vs. Holy Cross (19-7) at Dallastown, 6 p.m.; St. Basil (17-7) vs. High School of the Future (7-1) at Plymouth-Whitemarsh, 6:30 p.m.; York Catholic (24-1) vs. Parkway Center City (9-4) at Dallastown, 7:30 p.m.; Dunmore (20-6) vs. Muncy (18-7) at Scranton, 6 p.m.; Imhotep Charter (15-5) vs. Pine Grove (22-4) at South Philadelphia, 6 p.m.; Mount Carmel (22-4) vs. Wilkes-Barre GAR (14-11) at Shamokin, 6 p.m.
 
PIAA CLASS A
FIRST ROUND
 
Western Region
Saturday — Vincentian (25-1) vs. Keystone (20-5) at Gateway, 6 p.m; Portage (22-3) vs. Berlin Brothersvalley (22-4) at Central Cambria, 4 p.m.; Port Allegany (21-4) vs. Penns Manor (17-8) at Pitt-Bradford, 5 p.m.; Kennedy Catholic (22-2) vs. North Catholic (15-10) at Slippery Rock University; Bishop Guilfoyle (24-2) vs. Johnsonburg (17-8) at Altoona, 5:30 p.m.; Serra Catholic (23-3) vs. Cochranton (16-9) at Gateway, 3 p.m.; Conemaugh Townshhip (21-4) vs. Quigley Catholic (18-6) at Pitt-Johnstown, 5:30 p.m.; Clarion (22-3) vs. Winchester Thurston (13-9) at Clarion University, 6 p.m.
 
Eastern Region
Saturday — Steelton-Highspire (23-4) vs. Northeast Bradford (16-9) at Northern York, 6:30 p.m.; Paul Robeson (9-3) vs. Jenkintown (20-5) at Archbishop Carroll, 3:30 p.m.; Old Forge (24-0) vs. High Point (14-5) at Marywood University 5:30 p.m.; Tri-Valley (22-3) vs. Sayre (21-4) at Martz Hall, Pottsville, 7 p.m.; Lourdes Regional (20-5) vs. Upper Dauphin (11-15) at Williamsport, 6 p.m.; Girard College (20-4) vs. Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg (8-3) at Milton Hershey, 5 p.m.; Halifax (15-9) vs. Motivation (9-5) at Milton Hershey, 5 p.m.; Southern Fulton (23-3) vs. Juniata Valley (17-9 at Pitt-Johnstown, 4 p.m.
 

Looking back at the WPIAL and ahead to the PIAA

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With the WPIAL basketball championships behind and the PIAA playoffs ahead -- I'm just sayin' .....


The WPIAL doesn't pick an "all-tournament" team from the championships, but I do. This is based only on the title games.

BOYS - Shawn Anderson, New Castle; Antonio Rudolph, New Castle; Anthony Richards, New Castle (I know it's three from one team but I can't pick pick just two); Ryan Luther, Hampton; Devin Wilson, Montour; Drew Cook, Beaver Falls; Jim Kenna, Vincentian.

GIRLS - Mariah Penascino, Bethel Park; Hallie Torris, South Park; Allison McGrath, South Park; Johnie Olkosky, Bishop Canevin; Erin Waskowiak, Bishop Canevin; Brenna Wise, Vincentian.

***** When did it become a must-do ritual at the start of games that when EVERY starter is iintroduced they "fist bump" all three officials? 

***** The Vincentian boys (pictured) and girls both won WPIAL titles and the school became the 12th in WPIAL history to win both titles in the same year. Vincentian is having a big pep rally Thursday morning. John Fedko, Vincentian president, said he already has two WPIAL championship banners to hang during the ceremony.

I'm wondering if there will be a ring ceremony, too?

***** I say Montour's Devin Wilson and New Castle's Shawn Anderson are now neck-and-neck for Player of the Year.

***** I wish the WPIAL and Consol Energy Center could get together on having the championship games at Consol - even just once. Palumbo is a great place for the games, but Consol would be even better sometimes. Actually, Palumbo wasn't big enough for the games Friday night and Saturday night. They had to stop selling tickets.

And I don't want to hear that Consol would seem empty. If they put up the curtains on the upper level like they do for Duquesne games at Consol, capacity is around 10,500. You might have had 6,000 or so in the place this past weekend. That would seem plenty full. It would be great for the players to say they played at Consol, even if it wasn't totally full.

One of the problems, though, is Consol can't guarantee the dates ahead of time for the WPIAL and cost also could be a factor. But maybe Consol could cut some kind of deal with the WPIAL to make it affordable.

***** I used to be against this, but the WPIAL should seriously think about having "playback" games for teams that lose in the quarterfinals. You might get your truly best teams into the PIAA playoffs and maybe you avoid a PIAA first-round game like Saturday's New Castle-Gateway game. Those two just played in the WPIAL quarterfinals and now they have to play again in the first round of the STATE playoffs? Doesn't make sense. That's because only five teams from WPIAL Class AAAA qualify for the PIAA playoffs. The WPIAL decides the No. 5 team by a "follow-the-leader" approach. In other words, the No. 5 seed is whoever loses in the quarterfinals to the team that wins the title.

***** With the start of the PIAA playoffs, it reminds me that this is the 25-year anniversary of the incredible performance of Carlisle's Billy Owens in the 1988 PIAA championship game.

Carlisle won its fourth consecutive title with an 80-54 victory against Central Catholic. The 6-9 Owens (pictured in the game against Central) scored 53 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, made 19 of 22 shots from the field and 14 of 16 from the free-throw line. To this day, that's the best game I ever saw a high school kid play. Owens had thunderous dunks. made outside shots and scored in the paint. I remember him at one point dribbling on his knees. I remember him grabbing a rebound, making the outlet pass, beating everyone up the court and dunking at the other end.

Owens, Alonzo Mourning and Shawn Kemp were considered by many as the top players in the class of 1988. Owens went on to be an All-American at Syracuse and played in the NBA for 10 seasons, although he was never a great player in the NBA.

I've been covering high school basketball for the P-G since 1980. The two best players I ever saw on their high school teams (and not in an all-star game like the Dapper Dan Roundball Classic) were Billy Owens - and LeBron James. I saw LeBron as a senior play New Castle.

***** Not to criticize WPIAL Class AA champ Beaver Falls because the Tigers were dominant throughout the WPIAL playoffs. But I say Class AA was down this year and nowhere near what it was in the past decade or so.

I think WPIAL Class AAAA girls also was down this season.

***** Chester is without a doubt the team to beat in the PIAA Class AAAA tournament. The Clippers' winning streak against PIAA teams is now at 74. Lower Merion, which lost in the District 1 final, also is good. So is Harrisburg.

Lower Merion and Harrisburg will actually play through the western side of the bracket. I think New Castle will play one of those two in the semifinals. New Castle most definitely can play - and beat - Harrisburg and Lower Merion. I think New Castle can also play with Chester. Yes, a lack of size might be a slight problem against one or two of those teams. But the way New Castle plays and its depth of talent will allow the Red Hurricanes to play with any team in this state.

Remember two years ago, Mt. Lebanon took Chester to overtime before losing in the PIAA final. Many thought Mt. Lebanon would get blown out. This Chester team is better than that Chester team, but I'd say this New Castle team is definitely better than that Mt. Lebanon team.

The next few weeks will most certainly be interesting.

***** Over the past few days, I received an e-mail, one phone call and got some comments about how the Clairton boys didn't show much sportsmanship during the medals ceremony after the WPIAL Class A final. To be honest, I didn't see much of the medals ceremony. But from what I've heard, it was nothing like the display of poor sportsmanship Aliquippa showed after it lost to Prep Charter in the 2007 PIAA Class AA final.

The comments of Clairton brought back memories when Aliquippa's Herb Pope left the court immediately after the game. Someone had to bring him back out for the awards ceremony. When Pope was handed his mideal, he dropped it to the ground and walked away.

When Aliquippa's players, including Pope, were called to the center of the court to accept the runner-up trophy they took it, put it on the floor and walked toward the locker room. Almost the entire team walked off the court before Prep Charter was awarded its medals and trophy.

Not to bring up bad memories.

Montour students "red up" for family of student who passed away

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Teenagers these days, right? Maybe it's easy to get jaded into thinking that too many of them care only about themselves, the next text message or who "tweeted" what on Twitter.

But there are still a lot of wonderful teenagers out there - and may I present some students at Montour as an example. And in particular, the Montour Maniacs student section. 

The Montour Maniacs Heck even have their own Twitter account @MHSStudentSect. They are great at basketball games. They are strong in numbers and definitely help add something special to Montour games. They dress up. They chant. But what they are doing this week says a lot about how there are still many teenagers out there who are not all about themselves and can do special things.

Last Thursday night, 13-year-old Ryan Heitzenrater, an eighth-grader at Montour, passed away at Children's Hospital of an illness. Montour basketball coach Adam Kaufman was one of Ryan's teachers. After Montour won the WPIAL Class AAA basketball title last Friday, Kaufman talked about how the championship was a little bittersweet because of Ryan's passing. Kaufman fought back tears on the court after the game, saying it had been a rough day thinking of Ryan, who was a football player at Montour and also played hockey. His older brother, Brandon, is a junior at Montour.

Now, here come the Montour Maniacs stepping up this week. A shoutout to them. With the help of some high school teachers, the Maniacs already have red T-shirts made up that read "Hail to Heitz," "Celebrate Life" and "Montour Spartans" on the front. The back of the shirts read "Ryan 61," in reference to his football jersey number.

The Montour students are selling the shirts to raise money for Ryan's family. And for tonight's PIAA playoff game between Montour and South Fayette, the Montour Maniacs are requesting a "Red Out For Ryan."

The Montour Maniacs Twitter account yesterday had this posted: "The official theme for the game is a #RedOutForRyan so wear as much red as possible in support of Ryan and his family." Other students have "tweeted" the goal is to sell 1,000 shirts and raise $5,000 for Ryan's family.

"They just want to help with expenses, like the funeral," Kaufman said today.

"These kids aren't just doing this for bonus points or something like that. They're doing it out of the goodness for the family. They genuinely care and I think that says something about kids and about our community.

"I don't know any teenagers that don't make mistakes, but I think something like this says something about kids. Obviously, everyone wants to win football or basketball games. But I think things like this put things in perspective. I think these students have seen what's important and it's something to see how they have come together."

So the next time someone says teenagers today are knuckleheads, tell them about the Montour Maniacs.

I will be covering the Montour-South Fayette game tonight. To the Montour Maniacs, I will give a gigantic salute. I bet somewhere Ryan Heitzenrater is also.

 

PIAA live Friday blog - Montour beats South Fayette

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Live blog from Friday night's PIAA Class AAA first-round game between Montour and South Fayette at North Allegheny, with score updates from other first-round games. If you have a score update, tweet with #PIAA

FINAL SCORE: Montour 52, South Fayette 43


Devin Wilson finishes with triple double. 24 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists. Hate to keep writing about the kid, but what a winner. Made just about every play in final five minutes - in front of Jay Wright and Phil Martelli. Justin Hill added 11.

C.J. Rudisill finishes with 15 for South Fayette. Evan Bonnaure 13, son of coach Rich Bonnaure who had an excellent year. Nice player.

8:33 p.m. - Things unraveling for South Fayette. SF had ball, but turned it over, violation. I think Evan Bonnaure went out of bounds off a screen and then was first to touch coming in. And then a technial on coach Rich Bonnaure. 

8:27 p.m. - Timeout 2:27. If you're Montour, you have advantage now. Up 2 with ball. Devin Wilson time to put it in fridge. South Fayette turned it over after Wilson put Montour ahead.

8:25 p.m. Is Devin Wilson going to make every play down stretch again? Basket, blocked shot at other end, nifty pass to Justin Hill for layup. Montour leads, 43-41, with 3:12 left.

8:22 p.m. - 4:41 left in game. Timeout. We're all tied, 39-39. Dustin Sleva hit a 3 for Montour. Lucas Russell hit one for South Fayette.

END OF THIRD QUARTER: South Fayette 34, Montour 33


Pace of the game definitely deliberate. But that's sort of what Montour likes. Devin Wilson only three points that quarter. Montour now 5 of 16 from 3.

8:12 p.m. - Zach Challingsworth three point play. Pitt football recruit. SF on top, 34-31.


8:10 p.m. - Two 3's for C.J. Rudisill this half. SF leads, 31-29 with four minutes left in third.

Vincentian boys lead Clarion, 11-4, early on.

HALFTIME: South Fayette 22, Montour 21


Villanova coach Jay Wright also in house. He and St. Joseph's Phil Martelli. To see Devin Wilson. They can't comment on Wilson, but I know St. Joe's likes Wilson a lot.

South Fayette played triangle-and-two entire half on Montour's Kevin Scuilli and Rob Julian, or another shooter if one of them was out. Devin Wilson with 10 points for Montour. SF letting him shoot, but Wilson has attempted only few outside shots.


Someone from Montour is going to have to hit some outside shots. Justin Hill hit two 3's but he is 2 of 6 overall from 3.

Montour 4 of 11 from 3. South Fayette 4 of 6. Evan Bonnaure doing very nice job. Has 11 points. Two 3's.

7:47 p.m. - Timeout and Montour leads, 21-17.

7:46 p.m. - Wilson hits a 3 and Montour goes on top, 19-17.

 END FIRST QUARTER: Montour 13, South Fayette 13


Four-point play by SF's C.J. Rudisill tied it.

7:38 p.m. - Montour leads, 13-8, with one minute left in half.

7:34 p.m - South Fayette giving Devin Wilson any outside shot he wants, but Justin Hill hits 3. Wilson not real good shooter but always finds ways to score. Already has five points.


7:32 p.m. - South Fayette opens in triangle-and-two on Montour shooters - Kevin Scuilli and Robbie Julian.

7:25 p.m. - Great to see Montour Maniacs out in full force. Doing the "Red Out" for Ryan, for an 8th grade Montour student who passed away last week. 

FINAL: MT. LEBANON GIRLS 37, BETHEL PARK 34


7:15 p.m. - College interest in Devin Wilson keeps growing. Just saw St. Joseph's coach Phil Martelli here. 

Supposedly Villanova coach Jay Wright might be coming, too.


FINAL: Seton-LaSalle girls 67, Kane 16


Natalie Piaggesi and Naje Gibson 16 points each.

General McLane girls leading Jeannette, 37-31.

Mt. Lebanon girls now leading Bethel Park, 34-32, with a little more than two minutes left.


More from PIAA girls. Burrell leads Bellwood-Antis, 41-36, after third quarter in Class AA.

PIAA GIRLS UPDATE


The WPIAL Quad-A champ could be going down. P-G colleague Brad Everett reports that Bethel Park is losing to Mt. Lebanon, 32-27, with 6 minutes left in the game. Really, it wouldn't be a big upset. The two teams split two games during the season.

Meanwhile, here at North Allegheny it's a little absurd. Seton-LaSalle girls are leading Kane, 65-12. with five minutes left.

Seriously, I said Sixty-give to twelve. State playoff game. NOT.

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