A-K Valley lookahead for Week of Dec. 24, 2018

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, December 23, 2018 | 6:27 PM

THURSDAY

Boys basketball: The Apollo Trust Company Holiday Tournament tips off with former section rivals Leechburg and Riverview at Apollo-Ridge. Both teams are off to hot starts, with Leechburg leading Section 3-A and Riverview winning its first three games of the season.

The nightcap of the Highlands holiday tournament features a matchup of Alle-Kiski Valley teams as the host Golden Rams take on Burrell. Both teams made playoff appearances last season. Burrell coach Shawn Bennis previously coached Highlands and is the high school principal. Valley will play Blackhawk in the first game.

Fox Chapel will take on neighboring Shady Side Academy at SSA’s Peter Sauer Memorial tournament.

Girls basketball: Off to a 5-1 start, Apollo-Ridge will face Leechburg on the opening day of the Apollo Trust Company Holiday Tournament. The Blue Devils are hoping to bounce back from a two-game losing streak.

Knoch, which saw its four-game winning streak end with a narrow loss to Greensburg Salem, will face Shady Side Academy at the Peter Sauer Memorial tournament at Shady Side Academy. The host Indians won their first six games. Fox Chapel plays Avonworth in the tournament’s other game.

Wrestling: Fox Chapel, Highlands, Plum and Riverview make up part of the field at the annual Steve DeAugustino Holiday Classic at West Mifflin.

Friday

Boys basketball: In the opening game of Freeport’s holiday tournament, Kiski Area will play Knoch. Both teams are trying to establish momentum after up-and-down starts. Freeport will take on Eden Christian in the second game of the doubleheader.

Plum and Norwin no longer share the same section after two years together in Class 6A, but they will play each other on the second day of Penn-Trafford’s round-robin holiday tournament.

St. Joseph will host Evangel Heights Christian Academy on the first day of the Spartans’ holiday tournament, with Springdale playing Aquinas Academy in the opener.

Girls basketball: Deer Lakes beat Quaker Valley for the championship at the Lancers tip-off tournament, and the teams will meet again on the opening day of St. Joseph’s holiday tournament.

In the St. Joseph tournament nightcap, the host Spartans will take on Riverview. St. Joseph is seeking its first win of the season. Riverview has won three of its last four games.

Wrestling: Burrell and Kiski Area will travel to one of the top tournaments in the country: the Powerade Christmas Tournament at Canon-McMillan High School. The tournament draws teams throughout the PIAA and other states.

The Steve DeAugustino Holiday Classic will conclude.

Saturday

Boys basketball: The Freeport tournament will conclude with Knoch vs. Eden Christian and Kiski Area against Freeport.

St. Joseph’s tournament will conclude.

Girls basketball: St. Joseph’s tournament will conclude.

Wrestling: The Powerade Christmas Tournament will conclude.

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Doug at dgulasy@tribweb.com or via Twitter @dgulasy_Trib.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Cheswick Christian, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Highlands, Kiski School, Knoch, Leechburg, Plum, Riverview, Springdale, St. Joseph, Valley