Basketball
Scholastic Notebook – 02/21/2014
February 21, 2014
If the WPIAL basketball quarterfinals are a party for eight, Class AAAA Section 1 has done and unusual thing and made reservations for two. It’s like Section 1 has finally stood up and said “what about us?” Hempfield and Kiski Area are Section 1 teams that have made it to the quarterfinals. It might not seem like much, but seeing two from Section 1 eating at the quarterfinal table doesn’t happen often. Since 2000, this is only the fourth time that two teams from Section 1 have made the quarterfinals and the first time since 2010. In 2007, Albert Gallatin and Norwin made the quarterfinals. Norwin and Franklin Regional made it in 2008. Kiski Area and Latrobe made it in 2010.WPIAL Basketball Playoffs – Wednesday 2/19 Recaps
February 19, 2014
Four days and 64 high school basketball postseason games later, the First Round of the 2014 WPIAL Basketball Playoffs has come to an end. While the surprises were kept to a minimum, there were enough eye-brow raisers to make things interesting heading into the Second Round this weekend. Here are recaps from opening round action in the Boys AAAA, Boys AA, Girls AAA and Girls A District 7 playoffs on Wednesday night. A special thanks to Dennis Fischer, Jason Tennant, Paul Paterra, Steve Nagler, Pete Blais, Mark Schaas, Sean Meyers, Matt Vandriak, Josh Rowntree, Don Rebel, Lou Rood, Bob Barrickman, Brian Mroziak, Randy Gore, Mike Sackley, Bob Gregg, John Smathers and Mark Uriah for their help on these recaps. WPIAL CLASS AAAA First Round:WPIAL Basketball Playoffs – Tuesday 2/18 Recaps
Tuesday featured 20 First round games in Boys AAA, Girls AAAA and Girls AA. Of the 20 games played, only three lower-seeds were able to punch their ticket for the Quarterfinals as double-digit seeds Hempfield girls, Montour boys and Blackhawk boys attempt to bust the brackets. Here are the recaps from opening round action on Tuesday. A special thanks to Bob Orkwis, Mark Uriah, Sean Meyers, Lou Rood, Terry Neary, Adam Hoerner, Mike Sackley, Mark Schaas, Steve Nagler, Sam Hall, Steve Nagler, T.J. DiStefano, Bob Gregg, Mike Azadian, Brian Mroziak, Paul Paterra, Don Rebel, John Smathers and Adam Gusky for their help on these recaps. WPIAL CLASS AAA First Round:NEW WPIAL BASKETBALL ALIGNMENT
February 18, 2014
Chartiers Valley and Lincoln Park boys are moving up, New Castle boys and Hampton boys are moving down and Pittsburgh Central Catholic boys are moving north...again. The WPIAL Board of Control on Tuesday approved the new alignment for bot the boys and girls in high school basketball.2014 Pittsburgh City League Basketball Playoffs
2013 was the Year of the Bulldogs in District 8 high school hoops after Westinghouse swept bot the boys and girls basketball championships. 2014 could be either the Year of the Eagles OR the Year of the Dragons as both Pittsburgh Obama Academy and Allderdice have made it to the boys and girls City League title game. Here are all the results through the Semifinals in the 2014 Pittsburgh City League Boys and Girls Basketball Playoffs. 2014 PITTSBURGH CITY LEAGUE BOYS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: #1 Pittsburgh Obama Academy Eagles (22-0) vs #3 Allderdice Dragons (18-5) AT To Be Determined on Saturday, February 22nd at 12:00pm CITY LEAGUE BOYS Semifinals:This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 02/17/2014
February 17, 2014
We are without regret to again inform all of the parents, players and fans of THE Network that we continue our exclusive coverage of the district postseason this week ONLY here on the MSA Sports Network. We will broadcast every WPIAL Basketball Playoff boys and girls First round and Quarterfinals game, along with coverage of the District 6 boys and girls basketball postseason.WPIAL Basketball Playoffs – Saturday 2/15 Recaps
February 15, 2014
The focus of Day Two of the 2014 WPIAL basketball Playoffs switched to Class AAAA Boys First Round, Class AA Boys Preliminary Round, Class AAA Girls Preliminary Round and Class A Girls First Round. Outside of Latrobe throwing a scare into two-time defending boys champions New Castle, all went pretty much as expected Saturday afternoon. Here are ALL of the recaps from the 12 boys and 10 girls postseason contests. A special thanks to Zach Zeigler, Dow Carnahan, Josh Rowntree, Dennis Fischer, Jordan Thompson, Steve Nagler, Lou Rood, T.J. DiStefano, Brandon Showers, Bob Orkwis, Sean Meyers, Mark Schaas, Sam Hall, Greg Kuntz, Chris Lackner, Bob Gregg and Mike Sackley for their help on these recaps. WPIAL CLASS AAAA First Round:WPIAL Basketball Playoffs – Friday 2/14 Recaps
February 14, 2014
The curtain rose on the 2014 WPIAL Basketball Playoffs Friday night with First Round action in Boys Class A and Girls Class AAAA along with Preliminary Round play in Boys Class AAA and Girls Class AA. Here are recaps from most of the games played on opening night of the Battle to the Bluff. A special thanks to Bob Gregg, Mark Uriah, Mike Azadian, Mark Schaas, Jason Colangelo, Bob Orkwis, T.J. DiStefano, Terry Neary, Steve Nagler, Sam Hall, Sean Meyers, Jason Tennant, Randy Gore, Don Rebel, Lanfer Simpson, Josh Rowntree, Bob Barrickman, Lou Rood and Brian Mroziak for their help on these recaps. WPIAL CLASS AAA Preliminary Round:2014 WPIAL Boys Basketball Playoff Preview
There are plenty of teams looking for gold, but after two weeks of on-court battles, only four will come away with district gold. Here is a preview of the 2014 WPIAL Boys Basketball Playoffs which tip off this weekend and conclude at Duquesne University's A.J. Palumbo Center on Friday, February 28th and Saturday, March 1st. CLASS AAAA: Top four seeds: New Castle first, Hampton second, North Allegheny third, Plum fourth.2014 WPIAL Girls Basketball Playoff Preview
February 13, 2014
There are plenty of teams looking for gold, but after two weeks of on-court battles, only four will come away with district gold. Here is a preview of the 2014 WPIAL Girls Basketball Playoffs which tip off this weekend and conclude at Duquesne University's A.J. Palumbo Center on Friday, February 28th and Saturday, March 1st. CLASS AAAA: Top four seeds: North Allegheny is first, Mt. Lebanon second, Fox Chapel third and Bethel Park fourth. Leading scorers: Monica Burns, Hempfield, 20.1; Maria Palarino, Penn-Trafford, 18.1; Alayna Gribble, Norwin, 17.6; Krista Pietropola, Plum, 17.3; Erin Mathias, Fox Chapel, 16.4; Christine Ehland, Mt. Lebanon, 15.5; Rachel Mazzie, Upper St. Clair, 15.2.FINAL 2013-2014 WPIAL Girls Basketball Standings
February 11, 2014
Here are the FINAL WPIAL girls basketball standings for the 2013-2014 regular season...including the FINAL WPIAL PLAYOFF CLINCHINGS. The standings will be updated daily throughout the rest of the regular season here on the MSA Sports Network. Don't forget weekly WPIAL girls roundball rankings are released each Monday and girls hoops talk every Wednesday during the WPIAL Roundball Report only here on the MSA Sports Network. Top FOUR teams in ALL sections qualify for the WPIAL playoffs: # - Clinched Section Title Outright & - Clinched a Share of Section Title * - Clinched a WPIAL Playoff Spot x - Eliminated From Playoff Chase @ - Ineligible for WPIAL PlayoffsFINAL 2013-2014 WPIAL Boys Basketball Standings
Here are the FINAL WPIAL boys basketball standings for the 2013-2014 regular season...including the FINAL WPIAL PLAYOFF CLINCHINGS. The standings will be updated daily throughout the rest of the regular season here on the MSA Sports Network. Don't forget weekly WPIAL boys roundball rankings are released each Tuesday and boys hoops talk every Wednesday during the WPIAL Roundball Report only here on the MSA Sports Network. Top FOUR teams in ALL sections qualify for the WPIAL playoffs: # - Clinched Section Title Outright & - Clinched Share of Section Title * - Clinched a WPIAL Playoff Spot x - Eliminated from Playoff Chase @ - Ineligible for WPIAL Playoffs
MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Boys Basketball Playoff Rankings 2014
February 10, 2014
For the final time in this 2013-2014 high school basketball season, MSA Sports ranks the Top Ten WPIAL Boys Basketball teams. However this time we aren't ranking the Top 10 in each classification, no this time we are seeding all 77 playoff bound teams in their respective classes. This is NOT a straight ranking because of the rule of thumb that teams in the same section can not play each other in the Preliminary or First Round, so there is always some shuffling that needs done. Don't forget the WPIAL Basketball Playoff Pairings Show is Tuesday night from 7pm to 9pm right here on the MSA Sports Network. We will also have exclusive coverage of every WPIAL boys basketball playoff game sponsored by McDonalds and First Commonwealth Bank.
MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Girls Basketball Playoff Rankings 2014
For the final time in this 2013-2014 high school basketball season, MSA Sports ranks the Top Ten WPIAL Girls Basketball teams. However this time we aren't ranking the Top 10 in each classification, no this time we are seeding all 79 playoff bound teams in their respective classes. This is NOT a straight ranking because of the rule of thumb that teams in the same section can not play each other in the Preliminary or First Round, so there is always some shuffling that needs done. Don't forget the WPIAL Basketball Playoff Pairings Show is Tuesday night from 7pm to 9pm right here on the MSA Sports Network. We will also have exclusive coverage of every WPIAL girls basketball playoff game sponsored by Carlow University.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 02/09/2014
February 9, 2014
The Battle to the Bluff tips off with exclusive coverage of EVERY boys and girls district postseason game this week here on the MSA Sports Network. After the WPIAL Basketball Playoff Pairings Show gets the ball rolling, we have coverage of Preliminary and First Round boys and girls District 7 playoff action this weekend. Meanwhile, the regular season continues with District 6 and District 9 high school hoops, with men's and women's college basketball and PIHL high school hockey as well as the start of WPIAL Individual Wrestling postseason action, plus Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle, the PIHL Power Play Show and The WPIAL Roundball Report ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, February 10th:FINAL WPIAL Girls Basketball Playoff Field
February 8, 2014
Here is the FINAL playoff picture for WPIAL Girls Basketball. 79 girls hoop teams are now set to play for the four district titles starting next weekend with every playoff game ONLY here on the MSA Sports Network. Class AAAA: (SET WITH 16 TEAMS) Section 1: Penn-Trafford (co-champ), Norwin (co-champ), Hempfield and Latrobe are in. Section 2: Fox Chapel (champ), Plum Penn Hills and Gateway are in. Section 3: North Allegheny (champ), Shaler, Seneca Valley and Pine-Richland are all in. Section 4: Mount Lebanon (champ), Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair and Baldwin are all in. Class AAA: (SET WITH 21 TEAMS)FINAL WPIAL Boys Basketball Playoff Field
Here is the FINAL playoff picture for WPIAL Boys Basketball after Friday's games. 77 boys basketball teams are set for the four postseason tournaments that begin next weekend. Class AAAA: (SET WITH 16 TEAMS) Section 1: Hempfield (champ), Kiski Area, Norwin and Latrobe are all in. Section 2: Plum (champ), Franklin Regional, Gateway and Fox Chapel are all in. Section 3: New Castle (champ), Hampton, North Allegheny and Seneca Valley are all in. Section 4: Upper St. Clair (champ), Bethel Park, Mount Lebanon and Peters Township are all in. Class AAA: (SET WITH 21 TEAMS)Scholastic Notebook – 02/07/2014
February 7, 2014
Mars High School was built in 1918. So you could say it took almost 100 years for Mars to win a basketball section title outright. Now, Mars is on the verge of winning two sections in two years. Mars plays at Knoch Friday night in a big WPIAL Class AAA Section 1 game. Mars leads the section with a 10-1 record and is guaranteed at least a share of the section championship. Knoch is 9-2 in section and Indiana 9-2. But a Mars victory will give the Planets the section title outright. The first time they won a section title outright was last year and the Planets also made it to the WPIAL semifinals for the first time in school history.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Boys Basketball – 02/04/2014
February 4, 2014
Here are the latest MSA Sports Top Ten WPIAL Boys Basketball rankings for the 2013-2014 season...including another NEW #1 team in Class AA. Each Tuesday during the regular season, MSA Sports will release a new Top Ten boys hoops rankings plus daily updated standings with various daily broadcasts and the WPIAL Roundball Report on Wednesday nights at 6:00pm ALL here at MSAsports.net WPIAL CLASS AAAA: 1. New Castle Red Hurricane (19-0) (Last Week #1) 2. North Allegheny Tigers (16-2) (Last Week #3) 3. Hampton Talbots (18-2) (Last Week #2)MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Girls Basketball – 02/03/2014
February 3, 2014
Here are the latest MSA Sports Top Ten WPIAL Girls Basketball rankings for the 2013-2014 season...including another NEW #1 team in Class AAA. Each Monday during the regular season, MSA Sports will release a new Top Ten girls hoops rankings plus daily updated standings with various daily broadcasts and the WPIAL Roundball Report on Wednesday nights at 6:00pm ALL here at MSAsports.net WPIAL CLASS AAAA: 1. North Allegheny Tigers (16-1) (Last Week #1) 2. Fox Chapel Foxes (16-3) (Last Week #4) 3. Mount Lebanon Blue Devils (14-4) (Last Week #2)
