A-K Valley high school basketball playoff preview capsule for Feb. 21, 2024

By: Bill Hartlep
Tuesday, February 20, 2024 | 1:35 PM

WPIAL basketball playoffs

Boys

Class 4A

Quarterfinals

1-Lincoln Park (20-3) vs. 8-Knoch (15-8)

8 p.m. Wednesday at North Allegheny

Winner plays: Winner of 4-Uniontown (20-3)/5-North Catholic (14-8) Saturday in semifinals (time, site TBD)

Coaches: Mike Bariski, Lincoln Park; Alan Bauman, Knoch

Section finish: Lincoln Park 1st, Section 2; Knoch 2nd, Section 1

Players to watch: Meleek Thomas, Lincoln Park; Jackson Bauman, Knoch

Layup lines: Top-seeded Lincoln Park opened the postseason with a 93-63 victory over No. 16 Freeport. Meleek Thomas scored 30 points, while Pitt recruit Brandin Cummings added 23. Rhaki Lum (17 points) and Dorian Clark McGhee (16) also were in double figures. The Leopards are chasing a second straight WPIAL Class 4A title and seventh overall. They average 80.2 points, which leads the WPIAL. … Knoch got past No. 9 Beaver in the first round 52-48 behind a balanced scoring effort. Derek Lang had 17 points, Teegan Finucan scored 14, and Jackson Bauman had 12 as the Knights closed the game on a 17-5 run. They also relied on the defense of Kaden Spencer and 6-foot-11 center Zane Pacek, who had five blocks.

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: Knoch, Lincoln Park