Section girls basketball games get underway in 3 things to watch Thursday in high school sports

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, December 12, 2018 | 11:45 PM

A year ago, they were both section champions in different sections and in different classifications. Now Beaver and Neshannock meet in the first of two section contests.

Section play tips off for many WPIAL girls’ basketball teams on Thursday.

The Bobcats have won their first three games this season after dropping down from Class 4A to 3A this season.

Last year, Beaver finished tied with Blackhawk for the Section 2-4A title with a 16-5 overall record. The Bobcats reached the WPIAL title game and were seconds away from winning district gold when North Catholic rallied for a buzzer-beating 50-49 championship winning victory.

Neshannock finished 19-3 and won the Section 1-3A championship before falling in the district semifinals to East Allegheny.

The Lancers are 2-0 heading into Thursday’s early season showdown at Neshannock.

Fab Four

Also on opening night of section play, the top four girls basketball teams in Section 1-2A prepare to collide.

Laurel, Northgate, South Side and Sto-Rox are a combined 8-4 overall with all bringing 2-1 records into their section openers.

The Spartans battle the Flames at Laurel while the Vikings take on the Rams at South Side.

Three other intriguing section openers:

Section 2-6A: Peters Township (3-0) at Baldwin (2-0)

Section 1-5A: Chartiers Valley (2-0) at Lincoln Park (2-0)

Section 2-3A: Washington (2-0) at Brownsville (3-1)

Former boys basketball section foes collide

There is a marquee WPIAL boys basketball nonsection game set for Thursday pitting the Trib HSSN preseason No. 2 teams in 6A and 5A.

Last year’s 6A WPIAL champion Penn Hills takes a 2-0 record to Latrobe to face the 3-0 Wildcats.

The Indians are in 5A this season and were ranked No. 2, while the same ranking holds true for the host Wildcats in 6A.

A year ago, these two teams were Section 3-6A rivals with Penn Hills finishing second with a 19-3 overall record and Latrobe was fourth with a mark of 15-7.

The teams split their two games a year ago with each winning high-scoring contests on their home floor. Latrobe won the first meeting 80-66, and Penn Hills won in the regular season finale 94-82.

Don Rebel is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Don at drebel@tribweb.com or via Twitter @TheDonRebel.

Tags: Beaver, Latrobe, Laurel, Neshannock, Northgate, Penn Hills, South Side, Sto-Rox