North Allegheny notebook: NA basketball teams turn attention to playoffs

By: Triblive
Saturday, February 10, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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The North Allegheny boys and girls basketball teams are playoff bound after finishing in the top four of their respective sections when the regular season concluded.

The NA boys earned a 73-52 victory over Seneca Valley last week to improve to 10-11 overall and 7-2 in Section 1-6A.

Ty Iwanonkiw led North Allegheny with 24 points, Joe Dopirak followed with 19 and Carter Melzer added 12.

The Tigers were in the hunt for the section title and were scheduled to play rival Central Catholic (12-8, 7-2) for the section championship Friday.

The North Allegheny girls basketball team locked up a second-place finish in Section 1 with a record of 18-2 overall and 7-2 in section play. Both of the Tigers’ losses came against Norwin (17-3, 9-0) heading into the section finale Feb. 9 against Hempfield.

The Lady Tigers defeated Seneca Valley, 39-35, on Feb. 5. Caroline Henderson connected on six 3-pointers and had 22 points. Kellie McConnell added 10 points for the Tigers, who outscored the Raiders, 10-2, in the final quarter.

Visit tribhssn.triblive.com for updated playoff pairings.

Football players sign letters of intent

Three senior members of the North Allegheny football team signed national letters of intent on Feb. 7.

Linebacker Tyree Alualu signed with Temple, wide receiver/defensive back Khiryn Boyd inked with Duquesne and lineman Jack Pingpank picked Division III Allegheny.

Alualu was a Pa. Football Writers all-state selection and member of the Trib HSSN Terrific 25 after compiling 63 tackles, a sack and three forced fumbles. He also returned an interception for a touchdown. Offensively, he ran for 892 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Boyd, also a member of the Trib HSSN Terrific 25, had 27 tackles and two interceptions on defense. He led the team with 32 catches for 846 yards and scored 16 touchdowns despite missing some time to injury.

Pingpank was a key lineman who helped NA run for more than 225 yards per game as the Tigers finished 13-2 and won a WPIAL Class 6A title. They finished as the PIAA runner-up.

North Allegheny bowlers advance to WPIBLs

The North Allegheny boys bowling team shared the West section title with Moon after finishing 9-1. The Tigers advanced to the WPIBL team tournament, which was set for Feb. 14 at AMF Belle Vernon.

In addition, several North Allegheny bowlers qualified for the WPIBL individual tournaments.

Senior Connor Peoples (192.67 average), senior Willie Harris (190.29), senior Cole Scott (189.37), senior Nate Redondo (186.14) and junior Luca Thomas (185.71) all qualified and will compete Feb. 21, at AMF Mt. Lebanon.

The North Allegheny girls finished 2-8 this season in the West section and fell short of the WPIBL tournament.

Kerber, Long shine in all-star game

North Allegheny’s Evan Kerber had an assist, and Andrew Long made six saves as the Gold team played to a 2-2 tie with Blue in the PIHL Class 3A all-star game Jan. 28, at Robert Morris’ Island Sports Center.

North Allegheny forwards Marc Joyson and Ryan Jackman and defensemen Owen Logan and Travis Lamark also took part. Coach Andrew Seiss was part of the coaching staff.

The Tigers are in fourth place in Class 3A with a record of 10-4-0-2 and 22 points with four games remaining in the regular season. They have clinched a berth in the Penguins Cup playoffs.

Tags: North Allegheny