Class 2A boys basketball standings taking shape as part of 3 things to watch Tuesday in WPIAL athletics

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, February 5, 2018 | 9:30 PM

Entering the final week of the WPIAL boys basketball regular season, some sections have been decided, some are coming into focus, but the battle for playoff spots in Class 2A are as clogged as driving on the parkway at rush hour.

In Section 1, Springdale has a one-game lead over Greensburg Central Catholic with two games left in a two-team chase. In Section 2, Bentworth, California and Frazier are separated by only a half game for the final two playoff spots. The Bearcats close out their section slate Tuesday by hosting California in a win-and-in game that will be broadcast on the TribLive High School Sports Network . The Trojans host the Commodores on Friday.

But what about the chaos in the battle for fourth place in Section 3? Shenango is in third place with a 6-5 section record, and while the Wildcats have not clinched, they are in good shape. Only one game separates four teams fighting for fourth place. Laurel and Neshannock are 5-7 while Bishop Canevin and Sto-Rox are 4-8. Laurel hosts Bishop Canevin on Tuesday in a game that will help clarify things a bit or muddy the waters even further heading into Friday.

A pair of Section 3-6A showdowns

The four boys basketball playoff teams coming out of Section 3-6A have been finalized. However the order is very much in doubt as one game is the difference between the four teams.

Things should be clearer after Tuesday though as all four go head-to-head in a pair of games that can be heard on the TribLive High School Sports Network .

The two teams tied for first place with 10-2 section records meet as Penn Hills visits rival Woodland Hills. The Indians beat the Wolverines, 68-60, on Jan. 12, behind Daivon Stephens' 21 points and Cory Fulton's 19 points. Amante Britt scored 21 for Woodland Hills. You can watch this game on the TribLive High School Sports Network at 7:30 p.m.

The two teams right behind Penn Hills and Woodland Hills also meet for a second time on Tuesday as Latrobe hosts Fox Chapel. The first meeting Jan. 12 was not much of a contest as the Foxes won big 72-45. The visiting Wildcats were outscored in the second and third quarters by a combined 47-24. Dom McGriff scored 22 and Carson Cohen added 19 points for Fox Chapel.

Shooting for WPIAL gold

The WPIAL team rifle championships take place Tuesday afternoon at the Dormont-Mt. Lebanon Sportsmen's Club in Canonsburg, starting at 1 p.m..

Seven teams will compete for district gold, including this season's three section champions — Waynesburg, Woodland Hills and Butler.

Trinity is the defending champion after the Hillers edged Woodland Hills in a tiebreaker to end the Wolverines' three-year reign as WPIAL team champions.

Don Rebel is a TribLIVE High School Sports Network broadcaster and staff writer. Reach him at drebel@tribweb.com.

Tags: Bentworth, Butler, California, Fox Chapel, Frazier, Greensburg C.C., Latrobe, Laurel, Neshannock, Penn Hills, Springdale, Trinity, Waynesburg, Waynesburg Central, Woodland Hills