Alle-Kiski Valley high school look-ahead: Week of March 5, 2018

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, March 4, 2018 | 4:51 PM

MONDAY

Burrell returned to varsity hockey last season and now will play its first home playoff game since that comeback. The No. 3 Bucs (13-5) will host No. 6 Kennedy Catholic (8-10) in the Division II first round at 9 p.m. at Pittsburgh Ice Arena. The teams split their regular-season meetings, with Burrell winning, 4-2, on Jan. 15 and Kennedy Catholic winning, 4-3, on Feb. 20. Burrell's Tyler Stewart ran away with the Division II scoring title, putting up 44 goals and 67 points.

• Fox Chapel closed the PIHL regular season strong, winning eight of its final 10 games, and the Foxes will look to keep up the momentum in their PIHL Class A Penguins Cup opener against No. 8 Sewickley Academy (13-7) at 8:30 p.m. at RMU Island Sports Center. Chase Villani leads No. 9 Fox Chapel (11-9) with 30 goals and 56 points. The Foxes beat Sewickley, 7-5, on Jan. 15.

TUESDAY

Kiski Area grabbed the last spot in the PIHL Class A playoffs with a win over Deer Lakes in its regular-season finale, and the Cavaliers look to post a first-round upset of No. 5 Indiana (15-5) at 7:30 p.m. at S&T Bank Arena. Austin LaPiana scored a team-high 39 goals and 57 points for No. 12 Kiski Area (10-10), which dropped a 5-4 decision in its only meeting with Indiana this season.

• After a difficult start to its first season in PIHL Class AAA, Plum came on late to secure the eighth and final playoff spot in the Penguins Cup playoffs. The No. 8 Mustangs (7-11) will face No. 1 Peters Township (14-4) in a first-round game at 7 p.m. at Southpointe. Although Peters Township swept the season series, the second game ended 1-0.

THURSDAY

The PIAA wrestling championships begin at Giant Center in Hershey, with 11 Alle-Kiski Valley wrestlers scheduled to compete. Burrell and Kiski Area will bring five wrestlers each, and David Schuffert will represent Valley. Ian Oswalt, A.J. Corrado, Corey Christie, Shaun Gates and Austin Mele will compete for the Bucs, and Noah Levett, Cam Connor, Jack Blumer, Nick Delp and Isaac Reid will compete for the Cavaliers.

FRIDAY

The PIAA wrestling championships continue in Hershey, with the day's events including the quarterfinals and semifinals in Class AA and the quarterfinals in Class AAA.

• Highlands will look for revenge in the opening round of the PIAA Class 5A boys basketball playoffs, as the Golden Rams (18-5) take on Section 3-5A rival Franklin Regional (20-5) at 6 p.m. at Fox Chapel. The Panthers beat Highlands, 48-40, in the WPIAL semifinals last week after the teams split the section title this season.

• In the PIAA Class 2A girls basketball playoffs for the second consecutive season, Leechburg meets District 10 champion West Middlesex at 5 p.m. at Slippery Rock. The Blue Devils (19-5) made their PIAA debut last season and posted a first-round victory over Coudersport.

• Valley opens the PIAA Class 4A playoffs against District 10 champion Sharon in the first round at 8 p.m. at Slippery Rock. The Vikings (14-5), who lost in the WPIAL quarterfinals, last advanced to the state tournament in 2009.

SATURDAY

The PIAA wrestling championships conclude in Hershey. The day will begin with the Class AAA semifinals and end with the Class AAA championship and consolation finals, with the Class AA finals in between. Burrell has eight state champions, with Damon Greenwald winning the most recent in 2016. Kiski Area's lone state champion in its history was Matt McCutcheon in 2012. Valley's lone state champion was Dave Brown in 1985.

• Fox Chapel opens the PIAA Class 6A boys basketball playoffs against Section 3-6A rival Penn Hills at 4:30 p.m. at North Hills. The teams split their season series, with Penn Hills taking the first contest, 47-36, and Fox Chapel responding with a 61-54 victory in the rematch.

• Leechburg makes its first PIAA basketball tournament appearance since its WPIAL championship season of 2007. The Blue Devils (14-7), who lost in the WPIAL quarterfinals, will play District 10 runner-up Cambridge Springs in the Class 2A first round at 5:30 p.m. at Meadville High School.

• Springdale opens the PIAA Class 2A boys basketball playoffs against District 10 champion West Middlesex at 7 p.m. at Sharon High School. The Dynamos (13-9) qualified for the postseason on the final day of the regular season but made it to the state playoffs thanks in part to their first playoff win in 10 years.

Tags: Burrell, Fox Chapel, Highlands, Kiski School