Basketball
Excitement level high as Quaker Valley basketball teams return from layoff
January 10, 2021
In the first five minutes of practice on Jan. 4, Quaker Valley girls basketball coach Tom Demko could tell his girls were excited to be back.
Norwin athletes return to action after preaching positivity during shutdown
Tried and true, some Norwin athletes were ready when Gov. Tom Wolf put high school sports on pause again for three weeks.
Deep roster to play key role for North Hills boys basketball
North Hills boys basketball coach Buzz Gabos has plans for the 10th, 11th and maybe even 12th player on the team’s bench.
Hampton girls basketball carries momentum through ‘pause’
Hampton had the “best, most intense” three-week preseason in Tony Howard’s 14 years as a girls basketball coach.
Shady Side Academy boys basketball ready to conquer obstacles of season restart
Unlike most teams around Western Pennsylvania, the newly named Shady Side Academy Bulldogs didn’t get an opportunity to start practices on Jan. 4.
Penn-Trafford boys look to build off strong start to season
Penn-Trafford boys basketball coach Doug Kelly learned a lot about his team during its first game of the season back on Dec. 11.
Hampton boys basketball eager for restart
Joe Lafko has seen a lot in three decades as a basketball coach, but this is the first season he has held court at a computer screen.
Highlands senior Dom Pesci excited for return after missing most of junior season
January 9, 2021
When the Highlands boys basketball team won its first WPIAL basketball title since 1995 last season, the Rams did so with three talented seniors and several important role players who clicked when the time was right.
Coronavirus taking bite out of Allen Deep’s usual basketball showcase schedule
Basketball season in western Pennsylvania would not seem complete without the showcase events organized by Allen Deep.
Limited offseason workouts impacts winter sports coaches, athletes
The winter sports offseason is when players and teams can use their extra time to improve for the following season. They get together, play in fall leagues, hold open gyms and attend summer team camps in order to become more of a team.
Mt. Lebanon’s strong 3rd quarter spoils Jeff Ackermann’s Baldwin debut
After practicing just four times since late November, Mt. Lebanon coach Joe David could only wonder what his basketball team might look like this season.
W2W4 in WPIAL sports for Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021
January 8, 2021
There is always something going on at North Allegheny High School, but Saturday will be a long and busy day of activities at the gym in McCandless.
Yofan scores 34 to lead Fox Chapel boys basketball past Hempfield
It didn’t look like Fox Chapel senior Eli Yofan sat around doing nothing the past month.
Springdale boys sloppy in 1st quarter but beat Northgate in opener
Springdale boys basketball coach Aaron Epps was expecting his team to be sloppy Friday night as it opened its season with a nonsection matchup against Northgate at Donald C. McGhee Fieldhouse.
Schedule change pits mother against son as Deer Lakes girls basketball meets Mars
Mother and son are set to go head-to-head again.
Return policy: Answering the big questions as WPIAL teams get back on the court
January 7, 2021
Worried? Skeptical? Angry?
Positive tests shut down Seton LaSalle, St. Joseph girls basketball programs
The Seton LaSalle and St. Joseph girls basketball seasons have been suspended and team members will attend classes remotely through Jan. 19 because of positive coronavirus tests for people associated with the programs, the Diocese of Pittsburgh announced Thursday.
Westmoreland County basketball notebook: Teams jumping right into section play
January 6, 2021
A number of local basketball teams will take to the court Friday night and finally open the season after the state’s three-week shutdown of winter sports ended earlier this week.
From the piano to the paint, Ellie Schwartzman plays key role for Fox Chapel
Ellie Schwartzman is proficient at playing the piano, having studied and practiced the craft for more than a decade.
WPIAL champion Highlands excited to get back in gym after long layoff
January 5, 2021
All basketball teams around Western Pennsylvania have been through a series of ups and downs in the past few weeks. The Highlands boys, however, didn’t even get to take the court for so much as a practice before Gov. Tom Wolf put a three-week pause on high school sports.
