Apollo-Ridge, Knoch among girls teams in mix for playoff berths

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, February 6, 2019 | 10:48 PM

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After two months of Section 1-4A play, the Apollo-Ridge and Knoch girls basketball teams still are fighting to solidify WPIAL playoff spots.

North Catholic (13-0) and Freeport (10-2) own the top two spots, but positions three and four from the section still are up for grabs between the Vikings (7-5), Knights (7-6), Greensburg Salem (6-7) and Indiana (6-7).

It’s a playoff chase loaded with scenarios but not uncommon throughout the WPIAL as several girls teams battle to earn postseason berths with section races concluding Saturday.

“I figured it would be a logjam like it is,” Apollo-Ridge coach Jim Callipare said. “When you get certain matchups, you have to take care of business and make sure you get the tiebreakers you need. We knew it was going to be a pretty competitive.”

The remaining schedule starts Thursday with Knoch hosting North Catholic, Greensburg Salem at Apollo-Ridge and Freeport at Indiana.

Apollo-Ridge hosts Freeport on Friday.

The Knights can qualify Thursday with a win over North Catholic or an Apollo-Ridge victory over Greensburg Salem. The Vikings, winners of three straight in the section and five overall, are in with a win Thursday or Friday or a Knoch loss to North Catholic.

Knoch (9-11 overall) defeated Burrell, 59-40, on Tuesday to snap a four-game losing streak that included section setbacks against Greensburg Salem, Apollo-Ridge and Freeport.

“The win over Burrell was a big morale-booster for the girls,” Knights coach Chris Andreassi said. “Burrell had struggled with injuries, but we knew they could be a dangerous team. We played well and got a much-needed win. Now we have to wait and see how everything plays out.”

It’s simple math for Riverview in Section 2-2A. The Raiders and Winchester Thurston are tied for fourth at 5-6. Riverview can clinch with a win Thursday at Springdale.

Riverview and Winchester Thurston split their season series — the Raiders earned a 41-35 victory over the Bears on Jan. 28 — so both would qualify if they finish tied.

“When we can limit our turnovers and rebound the basketball, the girls are talented enough to give themselves a chance,” Riverview coach Keith Stitt said. “That win over Winchester Thurston was a must-win for us. Without it, we would already be on the outside looking in.”

Freeport, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Plum and Leechburg already clinched playoff spots.

The Yellowjackets hope to solidify their seeding with wins over Indiana and Apollo-Ridge.

“Every step of the way we have to focus on the next game and the next win we want to get,” Freeport senior forward Haley Graham said. “We want to be playing our best and build for the playoffs.”

Deer Lakes (10-3), in third place in Section 3-3A behind Shady Side Academy (12-1) and Carlynton (11-2), survived a challenge Monday from Derry (8-11, 6-7), winning 44-43.

The Lancers will get another crack at Shady Side on Thursday at home.

“I told the girls that we have everything to gain from this game,” Deer Lakes coach Dave Petruska said. “It should be a playoff atmosphere with it being senior night and our youth night. I think it will be buzzing in there.”

Plum was 3-5 in Section 2-5A after a 64-47 loss to Mars on Jan. 24, but the Mustangs responded with wins over Armstrong, Hampton and Kiski Area to clinch a spot in the postseason.

“The girls really took care of business,” Plum coach Steve Elsier said. “We knew we couldn’t look past any of those teams. The girls knew what they needed to do and played well.”

The Mustangs (10-10, 6-5) close their section slate Thursday at Gateway.

Despite a loss to Seneca Valley in a Section 1-6A game Monday, Fox Chapel knows it will be playoff-bound after a two-year hiatus. The Foxes (14-6, 8-5) clinched with section victories over Butler, Pine-Richland, Shaler and North Hills the past two weeks.

“The girls were really focused in practice knowing that we needed to win those games,” Fox Chapel coach Jennifer O’Shea said. “We couldn’t afford to slip up at all. The girls took that to heart.”

Fox Chapel got back in the win column Wednesday with a nonsection victory over Freeport (15-4).

Leechburg, which lost all five of last year’s starters to graduation, has secured the fourth playoff spot from Section 3-1A. The Blue Devils (6-11, 3-6) are in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

The WPIAL pairings, with the dates and times of the first-round games, will be released at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Michael at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MLove_Trib.