Basketball

Ligonier Valley senior Matthew Marinchak loses his glasses as he drives past Avonworth’s Colin Crawford on Monday in a WPIAL Class 3A playoff game.

Avonworth uses speed on defense, offensive spurts to take down Ligonier Valley

February 21, 2022

It took Avonworth a little more than a quarter to hit its stride Monday in its WPIAL Class 3A first-round game, but when it did, Ligonier Valley couldn’t keep up.

St. Joseph’s Julie Spinelli brings the ball upcourt against Apollo-Ridge on Jan. 19.

St. Joseph girls halt playoff losing streak

The St. Joseph girls basketball team is back in the WPIAL postseason win column.

Freeport’s Abby DeJidas shoots a three-pointer against Highlands on Feb. 7, 2022, at Highlands High School.

Alle-Kiski Valley WPIAL basketball playoff capsules for Feb. 22, 2022

Boys

Jenna Dawson (right) and her Belle Vernon teammates face Quaker Valley in the playoffs Tuesday.

Westmoreland WPIAL basketball playoff capsules for Feb. 22, 2022

Tuesday’s games

Allderdice celebrates its City League title with a 60-44 victory over Brashear on Feb. 20, 2022, at the Petersen Events Center.

Allderdice fends off Brashear to win City League boys title

February 20, 2022

Coming off an upset win over Obama Academy in the City League semifinals, the Brashear boys entered Sunday’s championship game with designs on their first title since 1989.

Deer Lakes’ Armend Karpuzzi (left) celebrates with Justin Brannagan after Brannagan’s 3-pointer to beat Blackhawk, 39-37, at the buzzer during WPIAL Class 2A first-round playoff action Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, at Deer Lakes High School.

Trib HSSN Boys Basketball Team of the Week for week ending Feb. 20, 2022

Outside of Quaker Valley and Montour, the top two seeds in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball playoffs, the hottest team in the classification coming into the postseason was Section 1 third-place finisher Deer Lakes.

Mohawk’s Erynne Capalbo (right) helped lead the Warriors into the 2021 WPIAL playoffs.

Trib HSSN Girls Basketball Team of the Week for week ending Feb. 20, 2022

While most of last season’s WPIAL basketball champions continued to enjoy great success this winter, that wasn’t the case for the Mohawk girls basketball program.

Obama Academy’s Samaree Perkins (left), coach Monique McCoy and Rickie Johnson talk about Sunday’s Championship game victory over Allderdice.

Obama Academy gets past Allderdice, wins 5th City League championship

In just 11 seasons, Obama Academy has established itself as a City League power in girls basketball. The Eagles on Sunday won their fifth City crown since the school opened for the 2011-12 school year with a 58-40 victory over Allderdice.

Penn Hills’ Noah Barren pressures Gateway’s Kaleb Pryor during their Section 3-5A game on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, at Gateway High School.

Trib HSSN broadcast schedule for week of Feb. 21-26

The February Frenzy is off and running with winter sports postseason action galore all week on the TribLive High School Sports Network.

Ellwood City’s Joseph Roth shoots a 3-pointer during the WPIAL Class 3A championship game against South Allegheny on Monday, March 15, 2021, at North Allegheny High School.

What to watch for in WPIAL sports for Feb. 21, 2022: Class 5A, 3A boys playoff matchups on tap

Welcome to Day 2 of Round 1 in the 2022 WPIAL basketball playoffs.

Apollo-Ridge’s Sydney McCray (center) celebrates with Sophie Yard (right) and Delaney Fitzroy after scoring during their game against St. Joseph’s on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, at Apollo-Ridge High School.

A-K Valley WPIAL basketball playoff capsules for Feb. 21, 2022

Monday’s games

Greensburg Central Catholic senior Bailey Kuhns is a Mercyhurst recruit.

Westmoreland WPIAL basketball playoff capsules for Feb. 21, 2022

Monday’s games

Sewickley Academy players, from left, Olivia Jackson (33) and Des Nance (32) compete against Aliquippa on Jan. 27, at Sewickley Academy.

Sewickley Academy girls basketball comes together during challenging season

After reaching the WPIAL semifinals the past two seasons, the Sewickley Academy girls basketball team hoped to make another strong run in the playoffs this year. But the SA girls team, much like the SA boys, had to replace five starters from 2020-21.

Sewickley Academy senior Josh Chico (4) is shown shooting the ball with junior Colin Helbling (12) and freshman Quentin Gibbs-Green (21) looking for a possible rebound.

Second-half improvement makes tough season ‘enjoyable’ for Sewickley Academy boys

It was a rough year for Sewickley Academy basketball.

Butler’s Braylon Littlejohn drives against Pine-Richland’s Andrew Alexander during their game on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Pine.

Pine-Richland looks to make another playoff run

The regular season didn’t go quite the way the Pine-Richland boys basketball team would’ve wanted, but it finds itself in a similar position to last year.

Gateway’s Marina Grado bring the ball upcourt against Penn Hills on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, at Gateway High School.

Gateway girls hope strong finish provides momentum for next season

Despite not having the entire season it wanted, the Gateway girls basketball team finished on a positive note with three wins over its final four games.