A-K Valley high school basketball playoff preview capsules for Feb. 16, 2026

By: Triblive And Michael Love And Bill Hartlep
Sunday, February 15, 2026 | 10:01 AM

WPIAL basketball playoffs

Boys

Class 6A

First round

9-Norwin (11-11) at 8-Fox Chapel (13-9)

7 p.m. Monday

Winner plays: 1-Upper St. Clair (21-2) Thursday in quarterfinals (time, site TBD)

Players to watch: Alex Graney, Norwin; Grant Fenton, Fox Chapel

Layup lines: Norwin tied with Imani Christian for fifth in Section 2. The Knights are 2-4 in their last six games, but beat Imani Christian, 66-49. Norwin dropped both games to Upper St. Clair, the team it will see if it wins. A number of players have contributed big minutes throughout the season, including Nate Kuch, King Carver, Chris McKnight and Mario Csukas. Graney will play Monday despite suffering a bad cut above his eye in the Section 2 finale at Hempfield. … Fox Chapel lost its playoff opener last year as the No. 4 seed, falling 51-45 to Central Catholic. The Foxes, who won a WPIAL title in 2022, lost to Hempfield this season, 44-41. They have won five of six. John Rehak leads the team in scoring (11.4 ppg), followed by Joey McGivney (10.5) and Fenton (9.4).

Class 2A

First round

11-Springdale (12-9) at 6-Jefferson-Morgan (21-1)

7 p.m. Monday

Winner plays: Winner of 14-Bentworth (15-6)/3-OLSH (18-4) Thursday in quarterfinals (time, site TBD)

Players to watch: Robbie Simmen, Springdale; Jeremiah Robertson, Jefferson-Morgan

Layup lines: Springdale tied for third in Section 1 at 9-5. The Dynamos finished strong with five wins in their final six games. They also stayed close with section champion and top-seeded Jeannette before falling 53-44 on Feb. 4. The Dynamos average 54.6 points while allowing 50.2. Junior Robbie Simmen leads the Dynamos with 20.2 ppg. … Jefferson-Morgan shared the Section 3 title at 13-1 after splitting the two-game series with Chartiers-Houston. A 50-45 loss to the Bucs on Jan. 13 was the Rockets’ only blemish. They have won nine straight since. The Rockets were one of the best defensive teams in the WPIAL, holding opponents to 34.5 ppg, second to only Sewickley Academy (30.2) in Class 2A. Senior Jeremiah Robertson is the Rockets’ top scorer at 19.1 ppg.

Girls

Class 4A

First round

9-Burrell (15-7) at 8-Hampton (15-7)

7 p.m. Monday

Winner plays: At 1-Blackhawk (20-0) Thursday in quarterfinals (time TBD)

Players to watch: Casey Brancato, Burrell; Brynn Rodgers, Hampton

Layup lines: Burrell hopes to end a six-game losing streak in playoff games, including a five-game drought in WPIAL first-round contests. The Bucs took third in Section 1-4A behind Oakland Catholic and North Catholic. Burrell gave the Eagles and Trojanettes battles during the regular season. Burrell was the 11th seed last year and lost to South Park in the first round. The Bucs have shown the ability to hit shots from everywhere on the court, including several from beyond the arc. Freshman Chase Coury leads the team in scoring at 15.6 points per game. Seniors Casey Brancato and Mikayla Coury and junior McKenna Miller have helped provide veteran leadership. … Hampton won six of eight to finish the regular season. That run included a 33-23 victory over No. 6 Beaver to close out Section 2 play and secure third place in the standings behind the Bobcats and No. 1 Blackhawk. The Talbots lost 65-14 to Oakland Catholic in last year’s first round to finish 10-12, but they turned around their fortunes this season with four returning starters leading the way. Hampton is in the postseason for the 32nd time in the past 34 seasons. Rodgers, a freshman guard/forward, scored a game-best 17 points in a 49-28 win over Knoch in the regular-season finale Feb. 9. Junior forward Harper Gibbons added 13.

10-Freeport (13-9) at 7-South Park (14-8)

7 p.m. Monday

Winner plays: At 2-Oakland Catholic (18-2) Thursday in quarterfinals (time TBD)

Players to watch: Sydney Reiser, Freeport; Hayley Bennett, South Park

Layup lines: Freeport counted on its experienced lineup with all five starters back from last season to make a run to the WPIAL playoffs. The Yellowjackets finished fourth in Section 1 behind Oakland Catholic, North Catholic and Burrell. Freeport defeated Knoch, 44-22, in the section finale Feb. 5 to clinch fourth outright and eliminate the rival Knights from playoff contention. Freshman Sydney Reiser, a scoring leader throughout the season for the Yellowjackets, tallied a team-best 10 points in the win. The Freeport defense surrendered just 35.9 points a game in the regular season. South Park also will have to keep an eye on the talents of senior guards Nia DiSanti and Jaisa Gaillot and junior guards Macy Stivenson and Lilly Holloway. … South Park was right in the mix for the Section 3 title with Belle Vernon and Elizabeth Forward. The Eagles averaged 47.5 points a game in the regular season and handed Belle Vernon one of its three losses with a 39-28 victory right before Christmas. South Park won six of eight to close out the regular season. An experienced group that includes Bennett, seniors Bella Stromberg and Andrea Kuczma, along with junior Nika Contakos, fronts the Eagles’ attack. South Park owns three WPIAL titles (2013, 2008, 1998). The Eagles, as the No. 6 seed, finished sixth in the WPIAL last year and qualified for the PIAA tournament.

Tags: Burrell, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Hampton, Jefferson-Morgan, South Park, Springdale