Basketball
WPIAL Alum Q&A – Carly Forse
March 22, 2016
Last month, the Bishop Canevin girls' basketball team captured its second WPIAL crown with a decisive victory against Greensburg Central Catholic. The previous title came back in 2013, when Carly Forse helped guide the Crusaders to gold. Forse, who has carried her success on the hardwood over to Point Park University, is the focus of this week's WPIAL Alum Q&A.
2016 PIAA GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS Results
March 20, 2016
Over the last three years, WPIAL girls basketball teams have brought home two state titles in each of the seasons to close out the 2013, 2014 and 2015 campaigns. This year, only one district team qualified for the state finals in Hershey and the gold rush continued as WPIAL Class A runner-up Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic was the last Class A team left standing in the PIAA postseason increasing the run of WPIAL girls teams with at least one state crown to eight straight years. Here are ALL of the final scores from the Road to Hershey and the 2016 PIAA Girls Basketball Playoffs. All results followed by (MSA) are games that can be heard archived on the MSA Sports Network.
Roman Catholic Rolls the ‘Dice to Repeat in PIAA Boys AAAA
After the first 10 minutes of Saturday’s PIAA boys Class AAAA Championship, newcomers Taylor Allderdice held a sizeable lead, opening the game on a 10-0 run on District 12 powerhouse Roman Catholic. In fact, it took the Cahillites nearly five and a half minutes to score a point from the foul line. That foul line just so happened to be the way Roman Catholic thrived Saturday, downing the District 8 champion Dragons 73-62 to repeat as state champions.
Second Time Is a Perfect Charm for Aliquippa In Hershey
March 19, 2016
They say that Hershey is the sweetest place on Earth. But for Aliquippa that wasn’t the case after last year’s loss to Conwell-Egan in the Class AA PIAA Boys Basketball Championship Game. The Quips finished 29-1 but took it one step further this year. Aliquippa completed a perfect 30-0 mark with a 68-49 victory over Mastery Charter North at Herhsey's Giant Center on Saturday afternoon. Sheldon Jeter and Jassir Jordan each scored 22 points as Aliquippa pulled away in the third quarter, claiming the fifth state crown in school history and the first since 1997.
Eight is Great as Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Wins Girls PIAA A Finals
Coaches always say rebounding is a key to winning basketball games. Never was it so evident on Saturday afternoon as Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic used a 50-28 edge on the glass to claim a 56-33 victory over Lourdes Regional in the PIAA Class A girls state final at the Giant Center in Hershey. The victory gives Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic their 8th PIAA crown and first in Class A. Sam Breen saved her best performance for last this year, as the 6-1 junior scored 27 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and dished out 9 assists to lead her team to the title.
Neuman-Goretti Wins Third Straight State Title With Rout of Mars
March 18, 2016
Following all the pomp and circumstance after Friday’s PIAA boys Class AAA Championship game between District 12 powerhouse Neumann-Goretti and Mars, it seemed as if Mars came away with a state championship trophy. That was, of course because of the standing ovation a senior-laden Fighting Planets team received from their sizeable section of supporters in the Giant Center. However, the scoreboard told a completely different story, as Neumann-Goretti picked up another state championship, the sixth in seven years, by a score of 99-66.Scholastic Notebook – 03/18/2016
Two boys teams from the WPIAL (Mars and Aliquippa) and one girls team (Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic) have made it to Hershey for the state championships. Here is information and some factoids for the three games. All games are at the Giant Center in Hershey. CLASS AAA BOYS The game: Mars (23-6) vs. Neumann-Goretti (26-4) of Phildelphia, 8 p.m. Friday. Coaches: Mars Rob Carmody and Neumann-Goretti’s Carl Arrigale. Leading scorers: Mars: Robby Carmody (20) and John Castello (18). Neuman-Goretti: Quade Green (18.4), Zane Martin (18.3) and Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree (14.5).
2016 PIAA Basketball Championship Recaps
While the MSA Sports Network had broadcast coverage of four of the eight games this weekend from Hershey, we also have summaries of the other four state championship games. Here are recaps of the PIAA Boys A, Girls AAAA, Girls AAA and Girls AA title games from the GIANT Center in Hershey. CLASS AAA GIRLS PIAA CHAMPIONSHIP Archbishop Wood Vikings 46 - Villa Maria Victors 29 In a sloppy game, the District 12 champions Vikings handled the Victors their first loss of the season. Drexel recruit Bailey Breenburg led all scorers with 14 points and cleaned the glass with 13 rebounds.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 03/14/2016
March 14, 2016
The winter high school sports postseason comes to an end this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have the Semifinals and State Championship Game coverage from Hershey of the boys and girls 2016 PIAA State Basketball Playoffs along with video and audio stream coverage of the 2016 PIHL Penguins Cup Playoffs Championships, plus the season finales of both Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle and The WPIAL Roundball Report as well as The PIHL Power Play Show ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, March 14th: TALK SHOW - Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle at 7:00pm on MSAsports.netScholastic Notebook – 03/11/2016
March 11, 2016
Eight WPIAL boys basketball teams are left in the PIAA playoffs. For most of those teams, there is a certain football flavor to them. It’s a neat little storyline that some of the top basketball players on those eight teams were also top football players. Of the eight quarterfinalists from the WPIAL, the two that don’t have top football players are Lincoln Park and Sewickley Academy. But that’s because they don’t have football programs. But there is a common thread among the other six, and that is this: It doesn’t matter the gridiron or the court. Players can excel. In this day and age of athletes wanting to specialize in one sport, these are athletes proving that you can still be good in two.
WPIAL Alum Q&A – Heather Davis
March 8, 2016
Playing four sports in high school is a tremendous accomplishment, while playing two sports at the college level is equally, if not even more impressive. Heather Davis achieved both of these feats during her time at Ford City High School and Waynesburg University. While at the now defunct Ford City, Davis starred in basketball, as well as golf, volleyball and track. On the hardwood, she was a four-year letterwinner, and earned all-section distinction as a senior in 2011-12. That season, she helped guide the Sabers to a 16-7 mark, including a playoff bid in Class AA. Additionally, she was named the MVP of the Cager Classic All-Star Game.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 03/06/2016
March 6, 2016
With all of the battles for district winter sports gold in the rear view mirror, we focus on the chase for state championships on the mat and on the hardwood along with the Final Four of the high school hockey postseason this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have the Second Round and Quarterfinals of the boys and girls 2016 PIAA State Basketball Playoffs, the Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals for Class AAA and Class AA of the 2016 PIAA Individual Wrestling Championships and the PIHL Penguins Cup Playoff Semifinals, plus Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle, The WPIAL Roundball Report and a special night for The PIHL Power Play Show ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, March 7th:Scholastic Notebook – 03/04/2016
March 4, 2016
There is always a lot of talk at this time of year about hangovers. Not from too much imbibing. But from winning a WPIAL basketball championship. There is a belief that teams that win WPIAL championships have so much trouble getting back up and ready for state playoff games. Is the WPIAL hangover real? Is it hogwash? Well, the evidence shows there isn’t much to this hangover theory for WPIAL boys champions, except for Class AAAA. A check of the past 10 seasons shows the only class where the WPIAL champion has trouble in the PIAA playoffs is Class AAAA. And that could be because the WPIAL champ has to play tough competition. A look back at the past 10 years showed:
WPIAL Alum Q&A – Sheldon Jeter
February 29, 2016
Over the weekend, the Beaver Falls boys' team captured its 10th WPIAL basketball title. The Tigers have built a dynasty, especially in recent years, as the team has been consistently in title contention in both Class AA and AAA. This installment of the WPIAL Alum Q&A focuses on the player who likely stands out as the face of the Tigers' recent run of success, Sheldon Jeter. Jeter, a 2012 graduate, enjoyed a terrific four-year run at Beaver Falls, including three years as a starter. In his time with the Tigers, he netted just shy of 1,500 points, and twice was an first-team All-State selection.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 02/29/2016
There is MORE district gold to be won on the mat and in the pool, plus the start of the state playoffs on the hardwood and the Penguins Cup playoffs on the ice this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have the tip off of the boys and girls 2016 PIAA State Basketball Playoffs along with the start of the 2016 PIHL Penguins Cup hockey postseason. We also have the 2016 WPIAL Individual Wrestling Class AAA Championships and the PIAA Class AA Southwest Regionals and the 2016 WPIAL boys and girls Swimming Championships, plus Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle and The PIHL Power Play Show and The WPIAL Roundball Report back to its normal Wednesday night ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, February 29th:2016 WPIAL BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS Results
February 28, 2016
A pair of #4-seeds knocked off the top seed in the Semifinals, then followed with a title game win. That was the path taken by Pine-Richland in winning their first ever basketball championship in Quad-A and also by Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, who stunned heavy favorite Monessen in the Semi's before knocking of two-seed Sewickley Academy in the finals. Highlands could not follow the same path after stunning Triple-A top-seed New Castle in the Final Four, the Golden Rams fell to last years runner-up and now ten time champion Beaver Falls.
2016 WPIAL GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS Results
Two new champions were crowned and two others were hoisting gold again as the district playoff concluded the The Petersen Events Center at the University of Pittsburgh. Bishop Canevin was ranked #1 most of the season but slipped to the fourth seed late in the season. However the Crusaders cruised to a second title in four years. South Fayette won a first ever girls basketball crown in Class AAA. Norwin needed a big comeback and overtime in the finals, but the Knights won a second straight Quad-A championship. Then there is Vincentian Academy. The Royals won the rubber match against section rival and top-seed Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic to capture a fifth consecutive district gold ball.
Pine-Richland Cruises To First WPIAL Quad-A Basketball Title
February 27, 2016
Following a 77-75 double-overtime win against top-seeded Latrobe Wednesday, Pine-Richland got off to a mildly sluggish start early in the first quarter of Saturday’s WPIAL Class AAAA Championship game. However, that didn’t last long. The Rams opened up a 12-0 run midway through the first quarter, and never looked back, defeating North Hills 70-53 at the Petersen Events Center to win the first District 7 Championship in school history. “We went really light for two days after that,” said Pine-Richland head coach Jeff Ackermann. “We didn’t watch any film; I think it helped us that we played them twice in section play. From that standpoint, we didn’t need as much preparation. Nothing full court, we kept it light so they had legs. It was more about executing.”
Beaver Falls Goes From Silver to Gold
February 26, 2016
Last year, Beaver Falls lost the Class AAA Championship Game on a last-second shot. This year, the Tigers left no doubt, as they took control early, and secured a 56-45 victory against Highlands at the Petersen Events Center to capture the tenth WPIAL championship in school history. The Tigers won their first championship since capturing back-to-back crowns in 2012 and 2013. Leading the way for Beaver Falls was Josh Creach, the Tigers’ 6-foot-7 junior guard, who scored a game-high 17 points and collected 17 rebounds.Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Golden in Boys Class A Title
The Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans used a strong defense and excellent free throw shooting to claim their third WPIAL boys basketball championship with a 50-36 victory over the Sewickley Academy Panthers. The Trojans were 14 of 18 in the fourth quarter from the line and held the Panthers to 4 of 15 shooting in that final frame to pull away for the win.
