Belle Vernon boys set to take on No. 2 New Castle in semifinals

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, February 27, 2018 | 6:07 PM

Boys

Class 4A

Semifinals

No. 2 New Castle (19-4) vs. No. 3 Belle Vernon (18-5)

6 p.m. Wednesday at Moon

On the air: <a href='http://Tribhssn.triblive.com.Tribhssn.triblive.com.<span class=”bold”>

Winner plays: Winner of No. 1 Quaker Valley (22-0) and No. 4 Indiana (18-5)

Coaches: Ralph Blundo, New Castle; Kyle DeGregorio, Belle Vernon.

Players to watch: Marcus Hooker, 5-11, Sr., G, New Castle; Joe Sabolek, 6-4, Sr., F, Belle Vernon

Layup lines: Belle Vernon is in the semifinals for the first time in 20 years and is seeking its first trip to the finals since it won the 1978 Class 3A championship. The ‘78 championship is the only time the Leopards have made the finals. Sabolek had 25 points in Belle Vernon's 64-59 win over Ambridge on Saturday. Cameron Nusser, who scored 15 points, hit a 3-pointer in the final minute to put Belle Vernon ahead for good after the Bridgers had rallied from a 15-point deficit. … New Castle, the defending Class 4A champion, is looking to clinch its 15th appearance in a WPIAL title game. The Red Hurricanes have 11 WPIAL titles dating back to 1927. Hooker, an Ohio State football recruit, had a game-high 17 points to help New Castle rally from six-point halftime deficit and defeat South Fayette, 55-45, on Saturday. Carrington Smith scored 16 points in the victory.

— Jerin Steele

Tags: Belle Vernon, New Castle