A brief look back at the WPIAL basketball championships and a look ahead to the PIAA tournament
You think it was unusual to see the Allderdice boys basketball team play this year with three sets of twins? Well, let's add some more to this Twinsanity.
Just call it Twinsanity II.
Allderdice won the City League basketball championship to qualify for the PIAA Class AAAA playoffs. The Dragons play in the first round Saturday against Hampton. And Hampton has the two most well-known twins in Pittsburgh area high school basketball in Collin and Ryan Luther.
This didn't even hit me until Allderdice coach Buddy Valinsky pointed it out this morning. Hampton plays Allderdice Saturday at 3 at Obama in East Liberty. Just about everywhere you look on that court you'll be seeing double.
The Allderdice twins are pictured above. They are Kenny and Keith Robinson, TIm and James Jackson and DaVaughn and JaVaughn Moultrie.
It should be an interesting game. Allderdice will be at a big size disadvantage, but I think the Dragons might give Hampton a game. It's not easy to come back after the WPIAL loss, although Hampton is experience at it. This is the third year in a row that Hampton lost in the WPIAL title game and will play a City League team in the first round.
PIAA brackets
The schedule for all first-round PIAA games is at the bottom of the blog. Games are Friday and Saturday.
MVPs, all-tourney teams
The WPIAL doesn't pick an MVP or all-tourney team from the WPIAL championships. So I will. This is solely from the championship games.
BOYS
MVP - Elijah Minnie, Lincoln Park (pictured). I know, I know he's 6-8 and 7-8 inches bigger than every Monessen player. But still, a triple double in a title game is rather impressive no matter who it is against. He had 20 points, 16 rebounds and 11 blocks. I will always remember one of those blocks ending up in the third row of seats.
ALL-TOURNEY - Maverick Rowan, Lincoln Park; Jacob St. George, Central Valley; Mike Sims, Central Valley; Jerrad Tuite, Chartiers Valley; Matty McConnell, Chartiers Valley; Dale Clancy, Seton-LaSalle; Levi Masua, Seton-LaSalle (for his defense); Billy Hipp, Greensburg Central Catholic; Stew Allen, New Castle; Drew Allen, New Castle; Malik Hooker, New Castle (even though he scored only six points he still greatly affected the game).
GIRLS
MVP - Brenna Wise, Vincentian (pictured). A few others also could have deserved this. But Wise is a do-everything player for Vincentian. She has been strong on the inside since her freshman year, but she has added an outside game, evidenced by her three 3-pointers in the Class A final. She finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds.
ALL-TOURNEY - Yacine Diop, Seton-LaSalle; Shaunay Edmonds, Seton-LaSalle; Sydney Bordonaro, Burrell; Allison McGrath, South Park; Chassidy Omogrosso, Blackhawk; Bridgette Shaffer, Blackhawk, Halle Denman, Blackhawk; Maria Palarino, Penn-Trafford; Monica Burns, Hempfield.
Ben watches
I don't remember a WPIAL title game that created such ticket demand as the New Castle-Hampton game. The contest was sold out. It even brought out Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger (wonder if he had a ticket?). Pitt coach Jamie Dixon came straight from his team's game at Notre Dame. Dixon and Roethlisberger sat next to each other on the floor under one of the baskets.
Boy-girl talk
Seton-LaSalle became the 13th school in WPIAL history to sweep the boys and girls championships. Here is a list of the others:
1985 – Beaver Falls
1987 – Penn Hills
1987 - Aliquippa
1988 – Aliquippa
1996 – Blackhawk
1996 – Upper St. Clair
1999 – Blackhawk
2000 – Blackhawk
2005 – Moon
2009 – North Catholic
2010 – Mt. Lebanon
2013 – Vincentian
PIAA schedule
Here is the schedule for PIAA first-round games.
BOYS
PIAA CLASS AAAA
FIRST ROUND
Western Region
Saturday — York William Penn (22-6) vs. Haverford (15-10) at Dallastown Area, 6:30 p.m.; Emmaus (18-8) vs. Abington (22-5) at Parkland, 7:30 p.m.; Pennsbury (22-5) vs. West Lawn Wilson (26-3) at Concil Rock South, 4:30 p.m.; Martin Luther King (23-5) vs. Cumberland Valley (19-7) at South Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m.; New Castle (26-0) vs. Bethel Park (18-6) at Chartiers Valley, 3 p.m.; Altoona (13-9) vs. North Allegheny (21-4) at Hollidaysburg, 5:30 p.m.; Allderdice (19-5) vs. Hampton (22-4) at Obama Academy, 3 p.m.; McDowell (22-3) vs. Kiski Area (17-6) at General McLane, 4 p.m.
Eastern Region
Saturday — Chester (22-5) vs. Carlisle (18-8) at Coatesville, 4:30 p.m.; Hazleton (21-4) vs. Stroudsburg (16-11) at Berwick, 5 p.m.; West Chester Rustin (17-10) vs. Central York (24-4) at Coatesville, 3 p.m.; Parkland (21-5) vs. Central Bucks West (15-12) at Freedom, 7:30 p.m.; Roman Catholic (22-4) vs. Oxford (21-6) at Archbishop Carroll, 3:30 p.m.; Hershey (18-8) vs. Lower Merion (19-7) at Milton Hershey, 5 p.m.; Conestoga (23-4) vs. La Salle College (19-6) at Spring-Ford, 3 p.m.; Cedar Crest (25-5) vs. Spring-Ford (22-4) at Milton Hershey, 6:30 p.m.
PIAA CLASS AAA
FIRST ROUND
Western Region
Friday — Susquehanna Township (19-7) vs. Imhotep Charter (20-6) at Central Dauphin East, 8 p.m.; Pottsville (23-5) vs. Lower Moreland (16-8) at Blue Mountain, 7 p.m.; Somerset (16-8) vs. Lancaster Mennonite (20-7) at Richland, 6 p.m.; Chartiers Valley (24-2) vs. Erie Strong Vincent (17-8) at Baldwin, 7:30 p.m.; Central Valley (22-3) vs. Mars (15-9) at Moon, 7:30 p.m.; Erie East (20-5) vs. Thomas Jefferson (22-3) at Mercyhurst Univ., 7:30 p.m.; Punxsutawney (14-9) vs. Uniontown (21-2) at DuBois, 7 p.m.; Farrell (22-3) vs. Montour (16-8) at Sharon, 7:30 p.m..
Eastern Region
Friday — Neumann-Goretti (22-4) vs. Berks Catholic (24-5) at Archbishop Ryan, 7:30 p.m.; Shamokin (22-3) vs. Wilkes-Barre GAR (20-6) at Shikellamy Fieldhouse, 7:30 p.m.; Pittston Area (18-8) vs. Bishop McDevitt (26-2) at Wyoming Area, 6 p.m.; Allentown Central Catholic (27-0) vs. West York (24-4) at Allen, 7:30 p.m.; Abington Heights (25-1)vs. Central Columbia (18-7) at Lackawanna College, 7:30 p.m.; Manheim Central (24-4) vs. Archbishop Carroll (21-4) at Garden Spot, 8 p.m.; Philadelphia Electrical (16-11)vs. Blue Mountain (21-6) at Archbishop Carroll, 7:30 p.m.; Holy Ghost Prep (20-5) vs. Bermudian Springs (22-4) at Cheltenham, 8 p.m..
PIAA CLASS AA
FIRST ROUND
Western Region
Saturday — Seton-LaSalle (25-1) vs. Penns Valley (19-6) at Penn Hills, 5:30 p.m.; Brookville (11-14) vs. Mercyhurst Prep (18-7) at Clarion Univ., 7 p.m.; Richland (20-5) vs. Quaker Valley (21-3) at Central Cambria, 5:30 p.m.; Fairview (22-3) vs. Aliquippa (18-6) at General McLane, 6 p.m.; Conemaugh Township (21-5) vs. Summit Academy (16-6) at Univ. of Pitt-Johnstown, 7 p.m.; Martinsburg Central (16-6) vs. Beaver Falls (18-7) at Altoona Fieldhouse, 5:30 p.m; Greensburg Central Catholic (22-3) vs. Bald Eagle Area (20-5) at Hempfield, 5:30 p.m.; West Middlesex (20-5) vs. Neshannock (18-6) at Slippery Rock Univ., 7 p.m..
Eastern Region
Saturday — Constitution (23-5) vs. Columbia (16-9) at South Philadelphia, 5 p.m.; Lewisburg (23-3) vs. Mid Valley (22-4) at Shikellamy Fieldhouse, 7:30 p.m.; Bristol (16-8) vs. High School of the Future (21-3) at Concil Rock South, 3 p.m.; Holy Cross (20-6) vs. Hanover (19-7) at Scranton, 6 p.m.; Wilkes-Barre Meyers (19-7) vs. Towanda (22-3) at Wilkes Univ., 6 p.m.; West Catholic (11-13) vs. Palumbo (17-6) at Philadelphia Univ., 5 p.m.; Camp Hill Trinity (12-12) vs. Loyalsock (24-3) at Central Dauphin East, 7:30 p.m.; Notre Dame-Green Pond (17-9) vs. Del-Val Charter (17-7) at Parkland, 6 p.m.
PIAA CLASS A
FIRST ROUND
Western Region
Friday — Lincoln Park (25-1) vs. Johnsonburg (21-4) at North Hills, 7:30 p.m.; Bishop Guilfoyle (19-6) vs. Forbes Road (16-8) at Allen Fieldhouse, 8 p.m.; Elk County Catholic (22-3) vs. Homer-Center (22-3) at Clarion Univ., 6 p.m.; Cochranton (21-3) vs. Vincentian (22-3) at Meadville, 7:30 p.m.; Bishop Carroll (25-0) vs. Clarion-Limestone (21-4) at Richland, 7:30 p.m.; Monessen (20-6) vs. Erie First Christian (15-9) at Chartiers Valley, 7:30 p.m.; Berlin Brothersvalley (23-2) vs. Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic (15-10) at Univ. of Pitt-Johnstown, 7:30 p.m.; Ridgway (20-5) vs. Kennedy Catholic (14-9) at Clarion Univ., 7:30 p.m..
Eastern Region
Friday — New Hope Academy (14-9) vs. Sankofa Freedom (9-16) at Dallastown, 7:30 p.m.; Old Forge (11-12) vs. Pius X (19-4) at Wyoming Area, 7:30 p.m.; New Media Charter (14-5) vs. Phil-Mont Christian (16-10) at Archbishop Carroll, 6 p.m.; St. John Neumann (27-0) vs. Greenwood (18-7) at Williamsport, 7 p.m.; Church Farm (23-4) vs. Lebanon Catholic (17-8) at Cheltenham, 5 p.m.; Mahanoy Area (24-2) vs. Galeton (20-5) at Martz Hall, 7:30 p.m.; Mount Calvary (22-4) vs. Sullivan County (19-6) at Central Dauphin East, 6:30 p.m.; Math, Civics & Sciences (11-14) vs. Delco Christian (9-16) at South Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m..
GIRLS
PIAA CLASS AAAA
FIRST ROUND
Western Region
Friday — West Lawn Wilson (22-7) vs. Methacton (19-8) at Garden Spot, 6 p.m.; Pocono Mountain West vs. Abington (19-8) at Stroudsburg, 7 p.m.; Spring-Ford (22-5) vs. Red Lion (17-8) at Coatesville, 7:30 p.m.; Philadelphia Northeast (17-5) vs. Mechanicsburg (22-6) at Archbishop Ryan, 6 p.m.; Penn-Trafford (20-6) vs. North Allegheny (22-2) at Baldwin, 6 p.m; State College (17-7) vs. Mt. Lebanon (16-6) at Altoona Fieldhouse, 6:30 p.m.; Obama Academy (14-6) vs. Hempfield (17-9) at Allderdice, 7 p.m.; McDowell (15-7) vs. Fox Chapel (19-5) at Mercyhurst Univ., 6 p.m..
Eastern Region
Friday — North Penn (24-3) vs. Lebanon (21-7) at Plymouth-Whitemarsh, 7:30 p.m.; Wallenpaupack vs. Northampton at North Pocono, 7 p.m.; West Chester Rustin (21-6) vs. Manheim Township (27-2) at Coatesville, 6 p.m.; Parkland vs. Central Bucks East (16-10) at Allen, 6 p.m.; Archbishop Carroll (14-9) vs. Garnet Valley (25-2) at Lansdale Catholic, 7:30 p.m.; Cumberland Valley (23-5) vs. Central Bucks West (20-6) at Central Dauphin East, 5 p.m.; Mount St. Joseph (24-3) vs. Cardinal O'Hara (17-8) at Cheltenham, 6:30 p.m.; Dover (24-3) vs. Bishop Shanahan (21-6) at South Western, 7:30 p.m.
PIAA CLASS AAA
FIRST ROUND
Western Region
Saturday — Susquehannock (23-5) vs. Palmyra (22-4) at Dallastown, 5 p.m.; Mastery North Charter (15-9) vs. Merion Mercy (15-11) at Philadelphia Univ., 3:30 p.m.; Huntingdon (20-5) vs. Mount Pleasant (15-9) at Hollidaysburg, 4 p.m.; Bradford (21-2) vs. Elizabeth Forward (20-4) at Univ. of Pitt-Bradford, 5 p.m.; Blackhawk (23-2) vs. Mercyhurst Prep (19-6) at Moon, 4 p.m.; West Mifflin (18-6) vs. Villa Maria (21-3) at Penn Hills, 4 p.m.; South Park (21-5) vs. Trinity (17-7) at Moon, 5:30 p.m.; Hickory (25-0) vs. Johnstown (11-14) at Slippery Rock Univ., 5:30 p.m.
Eastern Region
Saturday — Archbishop Wood (21-3) vs. Berks Catholic (19-7) at Archbishop Carroll, 5 p.m.; Malvern Villa Maria (15-10) vs. Lancaster Catholic (25-3) at Spring-Ford, 4:30 p.m.; Bethlehem Catholic vs. Bonner-Prendergast (19-6) at Freedom, 6 p.m.; Scranton Prep vs. Danville (21-4) at Marywood Univ., 7:30 p.m.; West Perry (21-5) vs. Freire Charter (13-12) at Northern York, 7:30 p.m.; Abington Heights vs. Allentown Central Catholic at Marywood Univ., 6 p.m.; Mifflinburg (20-5) vs. Holy Redeemer at Shikellamy Fieldhouse, 6 p.m.; Radnor (14-12) vs. Fleetwood (23-5) at Plymouth-Whitemarsh, 3 p.m.
PIAA CLASS AA
FIRST ROUND
Western Region
Friday — Seton-LaSalle (22-4) vs. Blairsville (23-2) at Chartiers Valley, 6 p.m.; Mercer (18-6) vs. Greensburg Central Catholic (19-5) at Sharon, 6 p.m.; Bishop Canevin (19-6) vs. Juniata (23-3) at Moon, 6 p.m.; Karns City (23-1) vs. Girard (19-6) at Clarion H.S., 7 p.m.; Bellwood-Antis (23-3) vs. McGuffey (20-4) at Altoona Fieldhouse, 5 p.m.; Burrell (25-1) vs. Clarion-Limestone (16-9) at North Hills, 6 p.m.; Tussey Mountain (23-1) vs. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (16-8) at Univ. of Pitt-Johnstown, 6 p.m.; General McLane (22-3) vs. Neshannock (22-2) at Meadville, 6 p.m.
Eastern Region
Friday — Neumann-Goretti (25-0) vs. Camp Hill (18-7) at South Philadelphia, 6 p.m.; Minersville vs. Central Columbia (15-10) at Martz Hall, 6 p.m.; Delone Catholic (20-5) vs. Holy Cross at South Western, 6 p.m.; St. Basil (21-5) vs. Benjamin Franklin (12-3) at Plymouth-Whitemarsh, 6 p.m.; York Catholic (23-4) vs. Philadelphia Academy (11-5) at Dallastown Area, 6 p.m.; Dunmore vs. Warrior Run (21-6) at Lackawanna College, 6 p.m.; Imhotep Charter (22-3) vs. Salisbury at Lansdale Catholic, 6 p.m.; Mount Carmel (23-4) vs. Montrose at Shikellamy Fieldhouse, 6 p.m.
PIAA CLASS A
FIRST ROUND
Western Region
Saturday — Vincentian (22-3) vs. Port Allegany (23-1) at Chartiers Valley, 5 p.m.; Portage vs. Berlin Brothersvalley (21-4) at Central Cambria, 4 p.m.; Keystone vs. Claysburg-Kimmel at Clarion Univ., 4 p.m.; Kennedy Catholic (21-2) vs. California (19-4) at Slippery Rock Univ., 4 p.m.; Bishop Guilfoyle (20-5) vs. Venango Catholic (19-6) at Altoona Fieldhouse, 4 p.m.; Serra Catholic (23-3) vs. Cochranton (19-5) at Hempfield, 4 p.m.; Southern Fulton (23-3) vs. Quigley Catholic (18-6) at Univ. of Pitt-Johnstown, 5:30 p.m.; Clarion (20-5) vs. Frazier (16-6) at Clarion Univ., 5:30 p.m.
Eastern Region
Saturday — Steelton-Highspire (10-16) vs. St. John Neumann (17-8) at Northern, 6 p.m.; Parkway West vs. Jenkintown (19-7) at Lansdale Catholic, 4 p.m.; Old Forge vs. Harrisburg Christian (25-2) at Scranton, 7:30 p.m.; Marian Catholic vs. Northeast Bradford (20-5) at Martz Hall, 6 p.m.; Millville (24-0) vs. Upper Dauphin (13-12) at Danville Area, 6 p.m.; Phil-Mont Christian (21-4) vs. Shenandoah at Plymouth-Whitemarsh, 4:30 p.m.; Halifax (19-6) vs. Math, Civics & Sciences at Central Dauphin East, 6 p.m.; Shade (21-5) vs. Bishop Carroll (11-12) at Univ. of Pitt-Johnstown, 4 p.m..