Basketball

West Allegheny’s Kam Kruze defends McKeesport’s Kenneth Thompson in a Class 5A WPIAL playoff game Monday, Feb. 17, 2020.

West Allegheny, last team into WPIAL boys playoff field, shocks McKeesport

February 17, 2020

The WPIAL playoffs apparently don’t follow a last-in, first-out policy.

OLSH new No. 1 in 2A with few other changes in latest HSSN PIAA boys basketball rankings

Only one team dropped from this week’s Trib HSSN boys basketball state rankings as the transition from regular season to postseason is made.

Franklin Regional senior Johnny O’Toole (left) defends South Fayette senior Joe Alcorn during a WPIAL Class 5A first-round game at Peters Township High School.

St. Ledger’s last-second layup lifts South Fayette over Franklin Regional

As South Fayette brought the basketball up the floor in the closing seconds, its season on the line and elimination perhaps one unlucky bounce away, the Lions had an air of calmness about them.

Indiana’s Lexi Smathers keeps the ball away from McKeesport’s Laila Taylor in a Class 4A WPIAL playoff game Monday, Feb. 17, 2020.

Indiana girls clean glass, knock off shorthanded McKeesport

All season long, the McKeesport girls basketball team wreaked havoc on the glass thanks to the play of Jhayla Bray.

Trib HSSN boys basketball team of the week: Week ending Feb. 15, 2020

Neshannock finished in fourth place in Section 1-3A and seeded No. 9 for the WPIAL playoffs, which meant a first-round game against Section 4-3A co-champion and perennial power Washington.

Shaler Area’s Mekhi Reynolds (right) drives by Gateway’s Carlos Parks during a WPIAL Class 5A first-round game Feb. 17, 2020 at North Hills.

Reynolds makes clutch plays as Shaler boys beat Gateway

Late in the fourth quarter of Monday’s WPIAL Class 5A first-round game, seventh-seeded Shaler Area’s 14-point halftime lead was gone, erased by upset-minded, 10th-seeded Gateway.

Freshman Rodney Gallagher scored 13 points for Laurel Highlands on Monday night.

High school roundup for Feb. 17, 2020: Laurel Highlands handles Hampton

Thanks to a first-round victory Monday night, Laurel Highlands will find itself in an intriguing WPIAL boys basketball quarterfinals matchup on Friday.

Madilyn Boyer led Knoch with 15 points Monday night.

Knoch girls use defense, free-throw shooting to hold down New Castle

It wasn’t easy for the Knoch girls basketball team in its WPIAL Class 4A first-round game against New Castle on Monday at Fox Chapel.

Freeport’s Madeline Clark scored a team-high 13 points against Belle Vernon.

Freeport comes up big in 4th, holds off Belle Vernon

After three hotly-contested quarters, Freeport was looking for players to come up big in the fourth quarter.

Plum’s Kennedie Montue (21) looks to pass against West Allegheny Jan. 4, 2020 at Plum.

A-K Valley basketball playoff preview capsules: Games for Feb. 18, 2020

Tuesday’s games

Greensburg Central Catholic’s Gia Scala drives to the basket during a game against Leechburg Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, at Leechburg High School.

Westmoreland County basketball playoff preview capsules: Games for Feb. 18, 2020

Boys

Moon’s Emma Theodorsson pressures Chartiers Valley’s Aislin Malcolm during their game Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020, at Moon Area High School.

Chartiers Valley sophomore Aislin Malcolm receives Princeton offer

Chartiers Valley sophomore Aislin Malcolm, who hasn’t lost a game in two seasons, announced a college basketball offer Sunday from Princeton.

WPIAL Girls Basketball Team of the Week: Week ending Feb. 15

February 16, 2020

With a Jan. 13 loss to defending WPIAL Class 2A champion Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, the South Side girls basketball team dropped to 7-5 overall.

WPIAL Girls Basketball Player of the Week — Week ending Feb. 15

There were only 34 WPIAL girls basketball games played last week: 30 on the final night of the regular season and four playoff games Friday.

Rochester’s Corynne Hauser drives past West Greene’s Madison Lampe during the WPIAL Class A championship game Friday, Mar. 1, 2019, at Petersen Events Center.

Trib HSSN girls basketball state rankings for Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020

Last week around the PIAA was a lot like the classic movie “All Quiet on the Western Front,” except you could add on the Central Front and the Eastern Front.

Franklin Regional’s Caden Smith attempts to block a shot by Mars’ Mihali Sfanos (33) while Franklin Regional’s Kadyn Hannah (14) looks for a potential rebound Friday, Jan. 24, 2020 in WPIAL basketball at Franklin Regional High School.

Trib HSSN broadcasts for Week of Feb. 17-23

The Path to the Pete continues with more opening-round and second-round WPIAL basketball postseason play this week on the TribLive High School Sports Network.