Basketball
State Gold for the VA Royals
March 22, 2014
The second trip was the charm for Ron Moncrief and the Vincentian Academy Royals. Vincentian fell to Tri-Valley 59-42 in the return for PIAA basketball at the Giant Center last year, but the Royals finished 2014 in a big way, beating Old Forge 58-34 to win the second PIAA girls basketball championship in school history. Junior Brenna Wise dominated the first quarter, scoring 12 of her game-high 21 points in the first eight minutes. Wise hit a three late in the quarter that put Vincentian Academy up 18-9 after one. Vincentian Academy led 27-10 but some sloppy play and fouls led to 6 straight free throws for the Blue Devils and a 27-16 deficit at the break.
PIAA Boys AAA and Girls AAAA Championship Recap
The only two PIAA state basketball championship games this weekend at the GIANT Center in Hershey NOT involving teams from the WPIAL took place Friday night. Here are recaps from both the Boys AAA and Girls AAAA state title games.
Lincoln Park Comes Back to Earn First PIAA Boys Class A Basketball Crown
March 21, 2014
The third time was the charm for the Lincoln Park Leopards, who claimed their first PIAA Class A boys basketball title with a huge comeback over Philadelphia Math, Civics and Science Mighty Elephants 70-66 at the Giant Center in Hershey. The Leopards trailed by 16 points in the second quarter before rallying for the victory. Sophomore Maverick Rowan led the charge back for Lincoln Park, scoring 37 points in all 32 minutes. Rowan shot 13 of 24 from the floor in the game and came up with several huge baskets. The game was a rematch of the 2011 title game, won by MCS 70-55 at Penn State University.
Seton-LaSalle Girls Win Second State Basketball Title in Three Years
The Seton LaSalle Rebels claimed their third PIAA girls basketball championship with a 58-50 win over the previously unbeaten Neumann-Goretti Saints on Friday afternoon at the Giant Center in Hershey. The victory gives the Rebels their second Class AA title in three years, winning the 2012 title at Penn State University. Senior Yacine Diop had one of the most dominant performances in years in the championships. The Pitt recruit scored 10 point and grabbed 23 rebounds, adding six blocks to lead the Rebels to a 50-36 rebounding advantage.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 03/16/2016
March 16, 2014
Welcome to our own version of March Madness and the winter sports Championship Week all this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have coverage of the Semifinals and the State Championships from Hershey as we conclude our coverage of the 2014 PIAA State Basketball Playoffs along with the three Championship games from CONSOL Energy Center of the 2014 PIHL Penguins Cup high school hockey playoffs and the debut of college basketball featuring Slippery Rock University, plus the final edition of the PIHL Power Play Show and the next to last WPIAL Roundball Report ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, March 17th:Scholastic Notebook – 03/14/2014
March 14, 2014
Seton-LaSalle boys basketball coach Mark Walsh is known as “Knobby.” He has two brothers, Kevin and Danny, who also are known as “Knobby.” The boys’ father, Ed, also is known as “Knobby.” It is a crazy name game. But at Seton-LaSalle, just call Mark Walsh one thing. “Winner.” Walsh has made Seton-LaSalle basketball relevant again. Well, more than relevant. He has guided the Rebels to one of the best seasons in school history. Seton-LaSalle won a WPIAL title for only the second time since joining the league in the mid 1970s. Also, Seton-LaSalle has a 27-1 record. That is the most wins since the school joined the WPIAL.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 03/09/2014
March 9, 2014
We winter sports season continues to wind down with the spotlight on both the state basketball playoffs and the high school hockey postseason this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have coverage of the Second Round and Quarterfinals in the 2014 PIAA State Basketball Playoffs along with Semifinals and Championship action from the 2014 PIHL Penguins Cup high school hockey playoffs and women's college lacrosse, plus the final edition of Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle for the season, the PIHL Power Play Show on a special night and The WPIAL Roundball Report ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, March 10th: TALK SHOW - Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle powered by Synerfac at 7:00pm on MSAsports.netScholastic Notebook – 03/07/2014
March 7, 2014
Another postseason tournament starts this weekend for the New Castle boys basketball team and the Red Hurricanes. While New Castle has achieved a number of historical feats the past few seasons, the start of the PIAA playoffs means New Castle will take another shot at joining a most special group. But to become a member, New Castle will have to look just perfect. For the third year in a row, New Castle will take a perfect record into the PIAA tournament after winning a WPIAL title with an undefeated record.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 03/03/2014
March 3, 2014
We switch gears from the district postseason to the state playoffs and the start of the high school hockey chase for the Penguins Cup this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have complete coverage from Hershey of the PIAA Class AAA and Class AA Individual Wrestling Championships along with the start of the PIAA state basketball playoffs and the PIHL Penguins Cup scholastic hockey playoffs and men's college basketball postseason play, plus Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle, the PIHL Power Play Show on location at a special time and The WPIAL Roundball Report ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, March 3rd:2014 WPIAL BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS RESULTS
March 2, 2014
A sellout to watch two heavyweights, a double overtime thriller, a back-and-forth dandy and an old fashioned blowout were the backdrops this weekend for the boys title games at the Palumbo Center as New Castle, Central Valley, Seton-LaSalle and Lincoln Park (3 top-seeds and a #2-seed) captured district basketball gold.Here are ALL of the results from the 2014 WPIAL Boys Basketball Playoffs. ALL of the games were broadcast on the MSA Sports Network and you can go back and listen to any game you want at any time. 2014 WPIAL CLASS AAAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: New Castle Red Hurricane 55 - Hampton Talbots 49 (MSA) WPIAL CLASS AAAA Semifinals:2014 WPIAL GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS RESULTS
"What does it take to be #1?" well in the 2014 WPIAL gilrs basketball postseason, it takes a #1-seed as Blackhawk, Seton-LaSalle and Vincentian Academy went wire from wire on top, capped with district championship gold this weekend at the Palumbo Center. The lowest seed to win a 2014 district hoops crown was 7th-seed Penn-Trafford, who used a comeback for the ages to capture their first title. Here are ALL of the results from the 2014 WPIAL Girls Basketball Playoffs. ALL games were broadcast on the MSA Sports Network can can be listened anytime you want. 2014 WPIAL CLASS AAAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Penn-Trafford Warriors 56 - Hempfield Spartans 45 (MSA)
New Castle Storms to 3rd Straight WPIAL Unbeaten Title
March 1, 2014
There is a major storm brewing for Western Pennsylvania late this weekend, but it pales in comparison to the storm that has been crushing the WPIAL for three basketball seasons now. The New Castle Red Hurricane continued their dominance of District 7 boys hoops with a 55-49 victory over the rival Hampton Talbots Saturday evening at a jam-packed A.J. Palumbo Center at Duquesne University.
Vincentian is Wise in Winning Third Straight WPIAL Crown
In a rematch of last year’s WPIAL A Championship game, the Vincentian Academy Royals defeated the Serra Catholic Eagles by the score of 66-46. Royals’ sensational junior Brenna Wise scored 25 points, 15 of which came in the pivotal 3rd quarter when Vincentian Academy effectively pulled away from the Eagles. Wise added 13 rebounds and 7 blocks to her dominating performace.WPIAL Boys Basketball Championship Preview
February 28, 2014
Kudos to the WPIAL basketball steering committee for their excellent work in setting up the boys basketball playoffs. In the end, which is their starting goal, they try to get the two best teams playing for gold. This weekend it will be #1 vs #2 in three of the four finals, with the lone exception being the #1 vs #3 matchup in Class A. Here is a look at this weekend four boys championship hoop games. CLASS AAAA: The game: New Castle (25-0) vs. Hampton (22-3) Saturday at 7 p.m.WPIAL Girls Basketball Championship Preview
For one of the few times in district basketball finals history, the WPIAL will have book-end girls basketball championship games with the Class A title games lifting the curtain and the Class AAAA finals concluding two days of championships. Here is a look at all four of the 2014 WPIAL Girls Basketball Championship Games which can be heard only here on the MSA Sports Network. CLASS AAAA: The game: Hempfield (17-8) vs. Penn-Trafford (19-6) Saturday at 9 p.m. Coaches: Aaron Epps, Hempfield … John Giannikas, Penn-TraffordWPIAL Qualifiers for PIAA Basketball Playoffs
As we wind down the Battle to the Bluff this weekend, we look ahead to next weekend and the start of the Road to Hershey. Here is a list of WPIAL boys and girls basketball teams that will be participating in this years state basketball playoffs, plus those teams on the bubble heading into WPIAL Championship Weekend through Friday nights action. BOYS CLASS AAAA (5): IN: 1 - New Castle Red Hurricane 2 - Hampton Talbots 3 - Kiski Area Cavaliers 4 - North Allegheny Tigers 5 - Bethel Park Black Hawks BOYS CLASS AAA (6): IN: 1 - Central Valley Warriors 2 - Chartiers Valley Colts
WPIAL Semifinals Wednesday Spotlight Game: New Castle 77 – Kiski Area 23
February 27, 2014
Totally dominant. That is the best description for New Castle’s 77-23 semifinal win over Kiski on Wednesday night at North Allegheny High School. The Red Hurricanes (25-0) used scoring runs of 7, 6 and 6 points in the first half to build a 22-point lead at halftime, then put the pedal down with full throttle in the third, outscoring the Cavaliers 27-3 to kick in the mercy rule. Senior Malik Hooker, an Ohio State football recruit, scored 20 points and continued his streak of YouTube moments with a tremendous one-handed jam down the lane. The thunderous jam brought a standing ovation from the over one thousand New Castle fans in attendance.WPIAL Basketball Playoffs – Wednesday 2/26 Recaps
February 26, 2014
Things got off to an interesting start in several of the early games, but by the time the final horn sounded in the late games, all was well as the higher seeds won most of the contests on Wednesday setting up some outstanding matchups for Championship Weekend. Here are the summaries for the eight Boys AAAA, Boys AA, Girls AAA and Girls A games on Semifinals Wednesday around the WPIAL. A special thanks to Steve Nagler, Bob Gregg, Don Rebel, Randy Gore, Bob Barrickman and Mark Schaas for their help on these recaps. WPIAL CLASS AAAA Semifinals:
WPIAL Semifinals Tuesday Spotlight Game: Seton-LaSalle 62 – Bishop Canevin 40
In a rematch of last year's WPIAL Class AA Championship game, the Seton-LaSalle Rebels got a bit of revenge against their rivals, knocking Bishop Canevin out of the 2014 tournament with a 62-40 victory at Chartiers Valley High School.WPIAL Basketball Playoffs – Tuesday 2/25 Recaps
It was a banner night on MSA Sports...The highest scoring game in WPIAL playoff history, a pair of overtime games, a 12th-seed Cinderella stuns a top-ranked team, an undefeated team rallies to remain perfect and a team wins to clinch a sixth straight trip to Championship Weekend. Not bad for Semifinals Tuesday. Here are the recaps from the Boys AAA, Boys A, Girls AAAA and Girls AA Semifinals. A special thanks to T.J. DiStefano, Paul Paterra, Randy Gore, Don Rebel, Josh Rowntree, Brian Mroziak and Bob Barrickman for their help on these recaps. WPIAL CLASS AAA Semifinals:
