Westmoreland high school look-ahead: Week of Feb. 5, 2018

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, February 4, 2018 | 5:39 PM

MONDAY

Girls basketball

Greensburg Central Catholic (10-8, 9-3) has won six of its last seven Section 3-2A games to set up a run at the section title. The Centurions, who are tied at the top with California (12-5, 9-3) and Serra Catholic (12-6, 9-3), take on Beth-Center (12-7, 7-5) in Carbon. GCC won the first meeting 35-32.

GCC is 2-0 playing in the school's auxiliary gym after a broken water pipe caused damage to the main gym floor.

• Latrobe (15-4, 6-2) is trying win its first section since 2007. The Wildcats trail Norwin (10-8, 7-2) by a half-game in Section 2-6A. Latrobe hosts Fox Chapel (6-12, 1-8).

• In Section 3-5A, three teams — Franklin Regional, Plum and Kiski Area — are all rapping at the WPIAL playoff door.

Franklin Regional (8-11, 3-7) plays at second-place Mars (15-4, 9-1), Plum (5-14, 3-7) hosts Armstrong (12-6, 6-4) and Kiski Area (7-13, 3-8) hosts first-place Hampton (15-3, 10-0).

Belle Vernon (16-4, 11-1) still can win the Section 3-4A title but will need to knock off first-place Keystone Oaks (16-3, 12-0). The teams play in Dormont.

Boys basketball

Ligonier Valley (14-3, 13-1), the top seed in the Heritage Conference South, hosts West Shamokin (10-8, 10-8), No. 2 in the North, in the conference semifinals at 7 p.m.

Wrestling

The PIAA team playoffs open with preliminary-round matches.

Hockey

A PIHL Class AA doubleheader at Kirk Nevin Arena in Greensburg features Franklin Regional (9-6) vs. Hempfield (9-4) at 7:15 p.m., followed by Upper St. Clair (9-5) vs. Latrobe (11-5) at 9:15.

• Baldwin (8-8) takes on Penn-Trafford (8-8) at 6:30 at Center Ice Arena in Delmont, followed by Norwin (6-10) vs. Greensburg Central Catholic (1-14) at 8:30.

TUESDAY

Boys basketball

Franklin Regional (15-4, 8-1) has only two section titles on a championship banner in the gymnasium. But the Panthers can add a third with a home win over Greensburg Salem (10-9, 3-6) in the Section 3-5A finale for both teams. With a win, Franklin Regional can win the title outright or share it, depending on what Highlands (15-4, 8-1) does against Gateway (10-8, 6-3).

• A key Section 3-6A game could help decide the section title and playoff positioning as Fox Chapel (15-4, 9-3) visits Latrobe (14-5, 9-3). Also in that section, Penn-Trafford (6-14, 3-9) plays at Hempfield (5-15, 2-10).

• Belle Vernon (15-4, 10-2) is close to clinching back-to-back Section 3-4A championships. The Leopards could face a tough out when they visit Uniontown (12-7, 8-4).

• Greensburg Central Catholic (5-14, 4-6), on a three-game winning streak, remains in the Section 1-2A playoff race but likely will need to win at Summit Academy (3-12, 3-8) to keep its chances intact. GCC has made the playoffs 17 years in a row.

• Monessen (11-7, 8-0) will try to secure its fifth section title in a row when it goes to Clairton (15-3, 8-1) in Section 2-A. Monessen has 52 consecutive section wins.

Girls basketball

Hempfield (10-9, 5-3) has clinched a playoff spot but Penn-Trafford (7-12, 3-6) still has an outside shot. The Warriors must win when they visit Hempfield in Section 2-6A. Then, Penn Hills has to lose Friday against Latrobe.

Rifle

The WPIAL team championships will begin at 1 p.m. at Dormont-Mt. Lebanon Sportsmen's Club in Canonsburg. Hempfield will be among the competitors.

WEDNESDAY

Signing day

Wednesday marks the NCAA's opening day of its regular signing period for football and boys and girls soccer. The Norwin and Penn-Trafford girls teams, fresh off championship seasons, will have numerous Division I college signees.

Girls basketball

Belle Vernon hosts Elizabeth Forward in a Section 3-4A game that will help to sort out playoff positioning.

• Norwin visits Bethel Park in a playoff tuneup.

THURSDAY

Girls basketball

Jeannette will try to send Greensburg Central Catholic into the playoffs with a loss in Section 3-2A.

• Southmoreland plays at Mt. Pleasant in Section 3-4A.

Rifle

The WPIAL individual championships will start at noon at Dormont-Mt. Lebanon Sportsmen's Club in Canonsburg.

Wrestling

The PIAA team playoffs first-round matches begin in Hershey. WPIAL Class AA runner-up Derry opens against Chestnut Ridge. WPIAL champion Burrell gets the Muncy-Brockway winner in the first round.

• WPIAL Class AAA champion Kiski Area opens against the winner of Central Dauphin and Boyertown.

FRIDAY

Boys basketball

The top games to watch include: Latrobe at Penn Hills (3-6A), Elizabeth Forward at Belle Vernon (3-4A), Jeannette at GCC (1-2A), Franklin Regional at McKeesport (nonsection) and Monessen at Washington (nonsection).

Girls basketball

Section 2-6A has two potentially pivotal matchups with Hempfield at Norwin and Latrobe at Penn Hills.

• The Heritage Conference finals (District 6) also will be played this night at a time and site to be determined.

Wrestling

The PIAA playoffs move into the quarterfinals and semifinals at Hershey's Giant Center.

SATURDAY

Wrestling

Giant Center will be the stage for the PIAA team championships.