Basketball
High school roundup for Dec. 13, 2019: Thomas Jefferson wins Class 5A thriller
December 14, 2019
Jake Pugh scored the go-ahead basket with 36 seconds left and Shane Stump blocked a shot with time running out to preserve a 63-62 win for Thomas Jefferson over South Fayette in Section 2-5A on Friday night.
Greensburg Central Catholic uses second-half surge to run past St. Joseph
December 13, 2019
Greensburg Central Catholic coach Christian Hyland thought his team wasn’t playing hard enough in the first half.
Jake Hoffman scores 30 again as Mt. Lebanon wins showdown with Pine-Richland
Mt. Lebanon senior Jake Hoffman wears uniform No. 33.
Leechburg boys start section play with win over Propel Andrew Street
The Leechburg boys basketball team turned in its best section performance since 2006-07 last season, and the Blue Devils continued that performance Friday night at Propel Andrew Street.
High school roundup for Dec. 12, 2019: Alyssa Pollice lights it up for Bishop Canevin
Alyssa Pollice had a big night, scoring 27 points, hitting seven 3-pointers and pulling down 10 rebounds to lead Bishop Canevin (1-2, 1-0) to a 52-42 Section 3-2A girls basketball win Thursday night. Diajha Allen added 14 points. Emily Prasko had 14 points and Madison Kozares added 11 for Burgettstown (3-1, 0-1).
Sophomores help Fox Chapel beat Penn Hills, pass early season test
December 12, 2019
It was a night for sophomores to shine as Fox Chapel won its fourth game of the season, leading Penn Hills the entire way to a 66-45 final.
Southmoreland girls stop West Mifflin, continue promising start to season
With long arms and long legs, Southmoreland is not the longshot it once was in WPIAL girls basketball.
Alle-Kiski Valley boys basketball notebook: Fox Chapel, Highlands and Springdale build perfect records
Building an undefeated record early in the season is the best a team can do, and three Alle-Kiski Valley squads entered Thursday unbeaten.
Westmoreland high school basketball notebook: Greensburg Salem boys moving up to Class 6A
When the PIAA last week released a list of schools that plan to play up in classification for the 2020-21 and 2012-22 school years, one team stood out.
Zach Rocco helping Penn-Trafford boys basketball be all it can be
Zach Rocco is an Army of one.
Kiski Area boys basketball on verge of taking next step
A year ago, the Kiski Area boys basketball team finished their 2018-19 season with just four wins in the first year of coach Will Saunders’ tenure.
Focus on defensive effort lifts Shaler Area girls to fast start
Senior guard Meghan Lacey wants this season to be a revenge tour for the Shaler Area girls basketball. The Titans made quite a statement to open the season at the Ambridge tournament.
High school roundup for Dec. 11, 2019: Elizabeth Forward wins early season showdown on Class AA mats
Elizabeth Forward used five pins to post a 46-31 victory over Southmoreland in a matchup of top teams in WPIAL Class AA on the opening night of section wrestling action Wednesday.
The debut of the 2019-20 Trib HSSN basketball power rankings
December 11, 2019
For the first time in the 2019-20 WPIAL basketball season, the Trib Live High School Sports Network presents the boys and girls weekly power rankings.
Westmoreland girls basketball notebook: Penn-Trafford savors dramatic victory
Penn-Trafford showed a flair for the dramatic Tuesday night against a quality opponent.
A-K Valley girls basketball notebook: Freeport looks to repeat fast start
Last season, the Freeport girls basketball team went 1-1 at the season-opening Southmoreland tournament before winning six straight to head into the new year 7-1 en route to an 18-4 regular season and a runner-up finish in Section 1-4A.
Coach turns Jeannette girls basketball into trending topic
Clear back in the spring, when basketballs were tucked away on dusty racks in darkened equipment rooms, Jonathan Bass was starting the hype.
Deer Lakes’ Makayla Blair makes successful return from hoops hiatus
Makayla Blair scored a game-best 18 points and pulled down 10 rebounds Monday in the Deer Lakes’ girls basketball team’s 57-41 victory over Burrell.
Greensburg Central Catholic takes down rival Jeannette
December 10, 2019
Greensburg Central Catholic rookie basketball coach Christian Hyland said his young lineup was not starstruck playing at Jeannette.
High school roundup for Dec. 10, 2019: Sizzling Tommy DiRienzo scores 51 for Bethel Park
Senior Tommy DiRienzo had a night he’ll never forget, scoring 51 points to lead Bethel Park to a 107-80 victory over Trinity on Tuesday night in WPIAL boys basketball. DiRienzo went 19 of 22 from the floor and 9 of 11 from 3-point range. Ryan Meis added 24 for the Black Hawks (2-1). Anthony Chiccitt had 15. Dylan King led Trinity (2-1) with 22 points.
