Basketball
Scholastic 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.
Defense Wins Girls AA Championship for Bishop Canevin
A couple of late regular season losses knock the team down to second place and a section title and top-seed also vanish. But as the #4-seed, the team gets hot and runs through the playoffs en-route to a WPIAL championship. Bishop Canevin fans are all too familiar with the above scenario as first the Crusaders girls volleyball team this fall, then the girls basketball team have followed the exact same path. Friday, the basketball team captured a second Class AA girls title in four years with a dominating 53-33 victory over the 14th-seed Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions at the Petersen Events Center. Bishop Canevin used a stifling defense to jump out to an 11-0 lead through a pair of Greensburg Central Catholic early time outs.Scholastic Notebook – 02/26/2016
For the Aliquippa boys and Norwin girls, Saturday could be a perfect day to walk hand in hand into WPIAL lore. Both the Aliquippa boys and Norwin girls take undefeated records into WPIAL championship games Saturday at Pitt’s Petersen Events Center. If they both win, it will be only the fifth time in WPIAL history that boys and girls teams have won WPIAL titles with perfect records in the same year. The first time it happened was 1983 when Sto-Rox and Mount Alvernia were both undefeated while winning WPIAL titles. The last time it happened was 2012 when Seton-LaSalle and New Castle did it.Path to the Pete Recaps From Thursday 2/25
February 25, 2016
While there were a couple of games that were for seeding only, most of the eleven games were win and advance to the state playoffs, lose and hang up the uniforms for good. This was the second straight year that the WPIAL held consolation round games to determine the order and qualifiers for the PIAA postseason. However with expansion next year to six classifications, the WPIAL will go back to the old follow the leader. Anyway, here are the recaps form the final night of consolation basketball game sin the WPIAL. A special thanks to Mark Uriah, Kyle Dawson, Bob Orkwis, Steve Nagler, Dennis Fischer, Greg Kuntz, Bob Gregg, James Dotson, Matt Vandriak and Don Rebel for their help on these recaps. BOYS WPIAL CLASS AAAA Consolation Finals:Path to the Pete Recaps From Wednesday 2/24
February 24, 2016
While it may not measure up to the incredible hardwood action on Tuesday, there was still plenty of excitement at the four venues hosting WPIAL Semifinals action on Wednesday. While the boys Quad-A #1-seed fell in double overtime, the favorites were winners in Boys AA, Girls AAA and Girls A as in those three tournaments, it will be #1 vs #2 at The Pete on Saturday afternoon. Here are summaries from all eight WPIAL Semifinals games on Wednesday. A special thanks to Dennis Fischer, Tom Hays, Cory Campano, Steve Nagler, Aaron Anderson, Bob Gregg and Bob Barrickman for their help on these recaps. BOYS WPIAL CLASS AAAA Semifinals:Path to the Pete Recaps From Tuesday 2/23
February 23, 2016
While Tuesday was a bad night for top-seeds, it was a GREAT night to be a high school basketball fan. Five of the eight Final Four games turned into thrillers with teams laying it on the line for a spot in Championship Weekend. Four #1-seeds entered the night two wins from securing an expected championship. The night ended with only one team still alive and great heartbreak for eight teams that now must wait for the state postseason. Here are recaps from the Boys AAA, Boys A, Girls AAAA and Girls AA Semifinals. A special thanks to Mike Azadian, James Dotson, Bob Barrickman, Bob Orkwis, Josh Rowntree, Mark Schaas, Kevin Zielmanski and Randy Gore for their help on these recaps. WPIAL CLASS AAA Semifinals:
WPIAL Alum Q&A – Angela Heintz
In the 2011-12 season, the Seton-La Salle girls basketball team achieved history, as the Lady Rebels went undefeated en route to the WPIAL and PIAA championships. While several players and coaches contributed to reach those accomplishments, arguably nobody was more important than Angela Heintz. Heintz, who now excels for Mercyhurst University, is this week's feature for the WPIAL Alum Q&A. Heintz was a junior in 2011-12 when the Rebels recorded those accolades, and individually, she was recognized as an All-State performer that campaign, as she averaged more than 14 points per contest. In the PIAA title game against York Catholic, she notched a team-best 18 points and five assists.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 02/22/2016
February 22, 2016
There is plenty of district gold to be won on the hardwood, on the mat and in the pool this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have ALL the Semifinals, Championships and Consolation boys and girls games in the 2016 WPIAL Basketball Playoffs along with the District 6 boys and girls high school hoop playoffs. We also have the 2016 WPIAL Individual Wrestling Class AA Championships and the Class AAA-4 Sectionals, the end of the regular season in PIHL high school hockey and the 2016 WPIAL boys and girls Diving Championships, plus Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle and The PIHL Power Play Show and The WPIAL Roundball Report on a special night ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, February 22nd:Path to the Pete Recaps From Friday 2/19
February 20, 2016
Quarterfinals Weekend began with every boys and girls district basketball team knowing they were no longer in do-or-die mode. Sure, you lose and your WPIAL title hopes vanish, but with the Consolation Round, hopes that your season would continue into the state playoffs keep the season going for this weekends losers. Here are summaries from Quarterfinals Friday in Boys AAA, Boys A, Girls AAAA and Girls AA around the WPIAL hardwood. A special thanks to Mark Uriah, T.J. DiStefano, Randy Gore, Tom Hays, James Dotson, Bobb Gregg, Dennis Fischer, Lee Mohn, Steve Nagler, Cory Campano, Mark Schaas, Bob Barrickman, Sean Meyers, Bob Orkwis and Melissa Carle for their help with these recaps. WPIAL CLASS AAA Quarterfinals:Scholastic Notebook – 02/19/2016
February 19, 2016
The first round of the WPIAL boys and girls basketball playoffs are over, and this opening round set a record for records. For sure, the 2016 first round should always be remembered for so many memorable individual scoring performances. Hockey has the Frozen Four. The WPIAL first round had the Hot Four. Four players – two boys and two girls – broke long-standing scoring records for their classifications.
