Basketball

Mars hires Cornell assistant from Oakmont as new girls basketball coach

June 16, 2023

Mars has reached into the college ranks for its next girls basketball coach.

Hampton’s Peter Kramer grabs a rebound from Highlands’ Jordyn Taverez last season.

Hampton staying sharp with summer basketball schedule

June 10, 2023

So much for resting on your laurels.

Leechburg basketball coach Damian Davies works with his Blue Devils varsity team during a practice Nov 29, 2021.

Leechburg boys basketball coach Damian Davies resigns

June 2, 2023

Damian Davies said it was time to step away as head coach of the Leechburg boys basketball team but said he leaves with many positive moments from the four seasons of his second stint with the program.

Penn Hills notebook: Drew Schifino plans basketball camp

May 21, 2023

Drew Schifino enjoys that his family’s name has deep ties within the Penn Hills community. Schifino, who is the Indians’ all-time leading scorer with 2,320 points, went on to play at West Virginia collegiately and overseas professionally.

Rich Macura spends time with his nephew, Wyatt Roder, at the 2017 Freeport Elementary basketball camp.

Freeport grad takes over boys basketball program

May 14, 2023

For more than two decades, Rich Macura served as an assistant coach in a number of scholastic boys basketball programs.

OLSH’s Jake DiMichele scores past Constitution’s Jamal Carr during the PIAA Class 2A state championship game Friday, March 25, 2022, at Giant Center in Hershey.

Former OLSH basketball star Jake DiMichele commits to Duquesne

May 12, 2023

Former Our Lady of the Sacred Heart basketball star Jake DiMichele, who graduated a year ago as one of WPIAL’s all-time leading scorers, committed Friday to Duquesne.

Penn Hills’ Daemar Kelly celebrates after scoring against Peters Township during the WPIAL Class 5A championship game March 2 at Petersen Events Center.

Penn Hills notebook: Daemar Kelly earns all-state honors

May 7, 2023

Penn Hills guard Daemar Kelly was determined to finish his senior season with a WPIAL Class 5A championship in boys basketball.

Geoff Dutelle, St. Joseph girls basketball

New St. Joseph coaches excited to take over basketball programs

April 30, 2023

Geoff Dutelle and Logan Acri are ushering in new chapters for the St. Joseph basketball programs, and both got a chance last week to meet and talk with each other about what the future holds on and off the court.

Quaker Valley’s Nora Johns works against Blackhawk’s Ava Davis during their game Jan. 12 in Leetsdale.

WPIAL scholar-athlete award shines spotlight on Nora Johns’ remarkable Quarter Valley career

Nora Johns’ high school resume is exemplary.

North Hills’ Royce Parham dunks against Mechanicsburg during their PIAA Class 5A first round state playoff game on Friday, March 10, 2023, in Ross.

North Hills’ Royce Parham commits to Marquette

April 26, 2023

North Hills junior Royce Parham, one of the WPIAL’s top college basketball recruits, committed Wednesday to Marquette.

North Allegheny head coach Dan DeRose talks with an official during a game against Butler on Feb. 22, 2021, at North Allegheny High School.

Former North Allegheny basketball coach Dan DeRose files lawsuit against Fox Chapel School District after ’21 altercation

Dan DeRose wants to coach high school basketball again, but the former WPIAL champion said school districts have shied away because of criminal charges he faced two years ago involving Fox Chapel school police.

<strong>buzzer beater</strong>
Quaker Valley girls basketball lost a 40-37 decision to Harbor Creek in the first round of the PIAA Class 4A tournament as Georgia Weber hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the Huskies, who improved to 20-6 with the win. <strong>See full story, Page 18.</strong>

Before buzzer-beating finish, Quaker Valley girls basketball season filled with highlights

April 2, 2023

A last-second buzzer beater.

Upper St. Clair’s Rylee Kalocay drives past Mt. Lebanon’s Quinn Murdoch during their WPIAL Class 6A semifinal on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023, at Bethel Park.

Trib HSSN Head of the Class: Best of WPIAL girls basketball 2022-23

April 1, 2023

There were a lot of players and coaches who put in plenty of time on the basketball court this season to be the best they could be.

Deer Lakes’ Bryce Robson is introduced before the start of the PIAA Class 3A state championship game March 25 at Giant Center in Hershey.

Valley News Dispatch boys basketball all-stars: Deer Lakes’ Bryce Robson strikes gold

Here are the 2022-23 Valley News Dispatch boys basketball all-stars:

Norwin starters Lauren Palangio (left), Kendall Berger, Bailey Snowberger (3) and Ava Kobus (right) celebrate beating North Allegheny in a PIAA Class 6A girls quarterfinal Friday, March 17, 2023, at Fox Chapel Area High School.

Norwin girls take pride in long playoff run, 24-win season

Norwin did not make its way through the PIAA girls basketball playoffs like it was touring a museum, pausing to look at others’ accomplishments with an enjoy-the-ride mentality.