What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Jan. 20, 2024: Shady Side Academy, Burrell set for key section clash

By: Don Rebel
Friday, January 19, 2024 | 10:31 PM

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Snow postponed most of the high school basketball schedule Friday.

One of the big openers of the second half of section play is now slated for Saturday afternoon.

In Section 3-3A, defending district champion Deer Lakes was perfect in section play in the first half and sits alone in first place with a record of 6-0.

Right behind the Lancers is a Burrell team that is alone in second place with a 4-1 section record, 9-2 overall.

Since losing two of three games in late December and early January, the Bucs have won two straight.

Following a loss to Deer Lakes on Wednesday, Shady Side Academy is tied for third place with Valley with a 3-2 section record and an overall mark of 6-6.

On Friday, SSA tries to keep its section title hopes alive as it hosts Burrell.

In the first meeting at Burrell in December, the Bucs edged the Bulldogs, 46-41.

Junior Tucker Bitar led the Bucs with 18 points while senior Macky Bennis added 16 points.

Senior Eli Teslovich had a team-high 11 points for the Bulldogs.

You can watch the matchup on Trib HSSN at 4 p.m.

Classics and Challenges

There will be plenty of high school hoops going on Saturday in events at Moon, Allderdice and Armstrong.

The PBC Legends Classic takes place at Moon with two girls basketball games pitting Mars against Lincoln Park at 11:30 a.m. and Penn Hills at Moon at 1 p.m.

The event also has three boys basketball games, starting with Bethel Park against Montour at 2:30 p.m. and Ellwood City against Quaker Valley at 4 p.m. and capped by Hampton at Moon at 5:30 p.m.

Five games are slated for The Challenge at Allderdice. The event tips off with Brentwood at Allderdice girls at noon. Then four boys games follow with Northgate playing Plum at 2 p.m., Bishop Canevin facing Neighborhood Academy at 3:30 p.m., Thomas Jefferson meeting South Allegheny at 5 p.m., and the finale is Aliquippa at Allderdice at 6:30 p.m.

The Challenge at Armstrong consists of five games. The two girls contests get the ball rolling with Mohawk against Indiana at 1:30 p.m. and Seneca Valley at Armstrong at 3 p.m.

Three boys games wrap up the day with New Castle against Indiana at 4:30 p.m., Obama Academy taking on Highlands at 6 p.m. and Knoch visiting Armstrong at 7:30 p.m.

County wrestling begins

The best of the best in Allegheny County will be decided with the start of the 2024 Allegheny County Wrestling Championships.

The two-day event at Fox Chapel was slated for Friday and Saturday, but foul weather forced the postponement of Day 1 on Friday.

The tournament featuring 27 schools will begin Saturday and wrap up Sunday.