A-K Valley boys basketball notebook: Deer Lakes, Knoch, North Catholic to battle for Section 1-4A title

By: Bill Hartlep
Thursday, January 30, 2025 | 6:45 PM

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Friday’s anticipated rematch between the Deer Lakes and Knoch boys basketball teams will go a long way in determining a Section 1-4A champion.

It also will give the WPIAL basketball committee an idea of where the Section 1 contenders should be seeded for the district playoffs.

But this game will be only part of a crucial final stretch for the A-K Valley rivals, along with fellow section contender North Catholic. All three are among the top five teams in this week’s Trib HSSN rankings behind Avonworth (14-3) and Belle Vernon (16-4).

Deer Lakes (16-3 overall) enters the game 9-1 in section play, just ahead of Knoch and North Catholic, both at 8-1. The three teams will all face off in the final days of the regular season.

The Lancers beat Knoch, 45-38, in the teams’ first meeting Jan. 7, as Nathaniel Moore poured in 24 points. They have won four straight games and nine of their past 10, the lone loss being a 61-46 decision against North Catholic.

Deer Lakes will wrap up section play Feb. 7 at home against the Trojans.

Knoch (13-5 overall) went on a five-game winning streak after falling to Deer Lakes. The Knights, who had their streak snapped by Belle Vernon in a nonsection game Saturday, will finish section play at North Catholic on Tuesday and against Freeport on Feb. 7.

North Catholic (13-5 overall) suffered its lone section loss to Knoch, 61-56, on Jan. 10, but has won four straight since and 11 of its past 12.

The Trojans play at Highlands on Friday, followed by the games with Knoch and Deer Lakes next week.

All three teams are vying for the highest possible seeds when the WPIAL playoff brackets are revealed Feb. 10.

Cavs going dancing

Kiski Area joined the WPIAL playoff field with a 50-41 victory over Armstrong on Tuesday.

Behind Carson Heinle’s 17 points, the Cavaliers improved to 11-6 overall and 8-1 in Section 2-5A with their seventh straight win.

With a playoff berth locked up, the Cavs can turn their attention toward securing the section title.

Kiski Area is tied atop the section with Penn Hills (8-8, 8-1) with three games remaining: at Shaler on Friday, against Plum on Tuesday and a rematch with the Indians on Feb. 7 at Penn Hills.

Kiski Area won the first meeting with the Indians, 68-53, at home Jan. 14, as Heinle had 21 points, and Jacob Musselman added 20.

Fox Chapel clinches

The Fox Chapel boys, who lead Section 1-6A at 9-2, also have clinched a playoff berth.

The Foxes have won three straight games and will head to North Hills for a section matchup Friday night.

Fox Chapel won the first meeting 54-52.

On the bubble

Several A-K Valley boys basketball teams remain in the hunt for a playoff berth.

• Plum (8-9, 4-5) remains in playoff contention in Section 2-5A. The Mustangs, who are tied for the fourth and final spot with Shaler (7-11, 4-5), host Penn Hills on Friday.

• While Deer Lakes, Knoch and North Catholic battle for the three top spots in Section 1-4A, the final playoff berth will come down to Highlands (4-12, 3-6), Burrell (6-12, 3-7) or Freeport (5-12, 2-7).

Highlands has lost three straight games and will wrap up with North Catholic, Freeport and Valley.

Burrell is riding a five-game losing streak with section games remaining against Freeport and Valley.

Freeport, which has won two of its past three games, will play Burrell, Highlands and Knoch to finish off the section slate.

Valley (5-13, 0-10) has been eliminated.

• In Section 3-3A, Apollo-Ridge (5-13, 1-6) is on the cusp of being eliminated but remains alive for a playoff berth in the six-team section. A win over fourth-place Shady Side Academy (5-12, 3-4) on Friday would help the Vikings’ cause.

• Five teams will advance in Section 1-2A, and Springdale (11-6, 5-5) and Riverview (7-11, 5-6) are in the hunt behind Greensburg Central Catholic (16-2, 10-0), Jeannette (15-1, 8-1) and Clairton (7-7, 7-3).

• Leechburg (3-15, 2-7) is sixth in Section 2-2A with three games to play.

• Fifth-place St. Joseph (7-10, 2-5) plays three teams ahead of it in Section 2A — Serra Catholic, Monessen and Neighborhood Academy — and could vault into playoff position.

Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Highlands, Kiski Area, Knoch, Leechburg, North Catholic, Plum, Riverview, Springdale, St. Joseph, Valley