Carnegie area basketball teams have work to do in playoff hunt

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, February 3, 2018 | 2:03 AM

There is a lot of uncertainty for the boys basketball teams in the Signal Item area.

Only one team clinched a WPIAL playoff berth by the end of January, and most of them faced an uphill battle to reach the postseason.

Every section sends four teams to their class' playoffs.

South Fayette clinched its 14th straight WPIAL playoff appearance with a 58-51 win over Uniontown on Jan. 31. Conner Mislan led the team with 23 points.

The win moved South Fayette into second place in the Section 3-4A standings at 8-3. Belle Vernon was in first and clinched a playoff berth with a 9-2 record. Uniontown and South Park are right behind right behind the Lions at 7-4. Keystone Oaks still was challenging for a spot at 5-6.

The Lions close the season with the Golden Eagles, Waynesburg (1-10) and McGuffey (4-7). Even if South Fayette loses all three games and Keystone Oaks wins out, the teams would have split the regular-season series and both would advance.

“It is hard to think about the playoffs with our section,” South Fayette coach Dave Mislan said. “Quaker Valley and Ambridge have been doing fantastic in their section. And Indiana has a great team up there.”

Meanwhile, Charters Valley closed January on a five-game losing streak and sits in fifth place in Section 2-5A — one spot outside of clinching a WPIAL playoff berth. The team has been relying on underclassmen for production, has no seniors and has been battling injuries.

“We have had freshmen who had to grow up really fast,” Charters Valley coach Tim McConnell said. “Sometimes we turn the ball over too much. We need to learn to value the ball a little more and do a better job with shot selection.”

After a 60-49 loss to Hampton on Jan. 30, the Colts dropped to 4-5 and fifth place in Section 2. With games remaining against Knoch (0-10), Mars (9-0) and West Allegheny (6-3), Chartiers Valley needs to win at least two of the three to help keep pace with the Talbots (5-5), who have games with Knoch and Mars remaining.

The Colts have been to the playoffs 24 consecutive times and have never missed the postseason under McConnell.

Carlynton has a chance to reach the playoffs in Class 3A.

The Cougars (2-6) are in fifth place in Section 2-3A. They are chasing fourth-place Brentwood, which has a 3-5 record. Seton-La Salle (8-0), Avonworth (5-3) and Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic (5-3) have clinched three of the section's four playoff spots.

Carlynton has games with North Catholic and Freedom (1-7) remaining, and the Spartans have to face Avonworth and Seton-La Salle. The teams split their regular-season series, so the Cougars and Spartans would advance to the postseason if they finish tied for fourth place.

Carlynton has not made trips to the postseason in back-to-back seasons in more than 20 years.

Bishop Canevin has a chance to clinch a playoff berth in Class 2A but will need to win out and get a little help along the way.

The Crusaders — just a season removed from a section title and trip to the PIAA semifinals — are in seventh place at 3-8 in Section 3-2A. Only Our Lady of Sacred Heart (11-0) and Sewickley Academy (10-1) had clinched playoff spots from the section by the end of January.

Bishop Canevin has games with Sto-Rox (4-7), Laurel (5-6) and Shenango (5-6) to finish the season and must win each to be in the running for a spot in the postseason. There are five teams competing for the final playoff spots.

Nathan Smith is a freelance writer.

Tags: Bishop Canevin, Carlynton, Chartiers Valley, South Fayette