A-K Valley basketball playoff capsules: Games of Monday, Feb. 18, 2019

By: Doug Gulasy
Sunday, February 17, 2019 | 7:19 PM

Class 4A

First round

No. 4 Freeport (18-4) vs. No. 13 Quaker Valley (12-9)

6:30 p.m. Monday at North Allegheny

Winner plays: No. 5 Elizabeth Forward (15-7) or No. 12 Knoch (9-13) on Thursday in the quarterfinals

Coaches: Fred Soilis, Freeport; Tom Demko, Quaker Valley

Points scored/allowed: Freeport, 57.8/44.0; Quaker Valley, 41.8/44.0

Players to watch: Sidney Shemanski, Freeport (jr., G/F); Corrine Washington, Quaker Valley (so., G)

Last WPIAL playoff appearance: Freeport, 2018, first round (lost to Elizabeth Forward, 45-33); Quaker Valley, 2013 (lost to Hampton, 34-25)

About Freeport: The Yellowjackets finished second behind top-seeded North Catholic in Section 1-4A, with their four losses coming to the Trojanettes (twice), Class A No. 1 West Greene and Class 6A playoff team Fox Chapel. Shemanski (15.3 ppg) leads a talented corps of juniors that also includes twins Madeline and Samantha Clark and Harley Holloway.

About Quaker Valley: The Quakers ended their five-season postseason drought with an overtime win over Ambridge in their Section 2-4A finale. Quaker Valley played 10 games decided by four points or fewer, going 7-3. All five of QV’s starters are underclassmen.

No. 11 Apollo-Ridge (15-7) vs. No. 6 Southmoreland (17-5)

6:30 p.m. Monday at Norwin

Winner plays: No. 3 Blackhawk (18-4) on Thursday in the quarterfinals

Coaches: Jim Callipare, Apollo-Ridge; Brian Pritts, Southmoreland

Points scored/allowed: Southmoreland, 48.0/35.7; Apollo Ridge, 46.5/38

Players to watch: Maddy Moore, Apollo-Ridge (sr., G); Maggie Moore, Southmoreland (sr., F)

Last WPIAL playoff appearance: Southmoreland, 2008, first round (lost to West Mifflin, 48-19); Apollo-Ridge, 2018, quarterfinals (lost to Neshannock, 50-22)

About Apollo-Ridge: The Vikings, who finished tied for fourth in Section 1, surrendered the second fewest points per game in Class 4A. They are in the postseason for the fourth time in the last five years. Maddy Moore is a Seton Hill recruit.

About Southmoreland: The Scotties, who finished second in Section 3, allowed the fewest points per game of any team in Class 4A. They lost three of their last four games in the regular season, but that was preceded by a 10-game winning streak. Maggie Moore is a Navy recruit.

No. 12 Knoch (9-13) vs. No. 5 Elizabeth Forward (15-7)

6:30 p.m. Monday at Mt. Lebanon

Winner plays: No. 4 Freeport (18-4) or No. 13 Quaker Valley (12-9) on Thursday in the quarterfinals

Coaches: Chris Andreassi, Knoch; Krystal Gibbs, Elizabeth Forward

Points scored/allowed: Knoch, 40.9/42.0; Elizabeth Forward, 52.9/44.3

Players to watch: Nevaeh Ewing, Knoch (so., G); Bri Spirnak, Elizabeth Forward (sr., F)

Last WPIAL playoff appearance: Knoch, 2018, first round (lost to Belle Vernon, 54-45); Elizabeth Forward, 2018, quarterfinals (lost to Blackhawk, 60-57)

About Knoch: The Knights got into the playoffs after Freeport beat Apollo-Ridge in a Section 1-4A finale, which forced a three-way tie for third place. The team replaced all five starters from last season. The Knights are looking to bounce back after dropping six of their final seven regular-season games.

About Elizabeth Forward: The Warriors won Section 3-4A with a 12-2 record. Two of their losses came in a tournament in Orlando, Fla. Spirnak, a three-sport star and Pitt track and field recruit, averages more than 19 points.

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review Staff Writer. You can contact Doug at 412-388-5830, dgulasy@tribweb.com or via Twitter .

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Elizabeth Forward, Freeport, Knoch, Quaker Valley, Southmoreland