Decade’s best WPIAL finals: Boys basketball No. 2

By: Don Rebel
Monday, February 24, 2020 | 7:52 PM

There were a lot of changes to the WPIAL basketball championships over the last 10 years.

They expanded from two days to three days and from eight boys and girls finals to a dozen championship games. The district also switched venues, moving from the Palumbo Center at Duquesne to the Petersen Events Center on the Pitt campus.

Bigger and better has led to some fantastic championship moments over the course of the just completed decade. So as we prepare for the first finals of the 20s, here is a look back with a countdown of the top 10 WPIAL boys and girls basketball championship games from the last 10 years.

Boys No. 2 – Double dose of CV goes to double OT

Not only was the 2014 WPIAL Class AAA boys basketball championship a battle of CV’s as Chartiers Valley faced Central Valley, it was also the only boys title game to go beyond one overtime period this past decade.

The one question fans, coaches and players asked afterward: Was it a charge, a foul or a no call? The call by the officials was a foul that sent Central Valley senior Tony Gates to the line with 0.6 seconds left in a tie game.

Gates became a Warriors legend when he hit the first of two in a 70-69 classic victory that gave Central Valley its first, and to date, only district basketball crown.

Click below for Trib HSSN’s Chris Harlan’s recap with photos, highlights and interviews.

Central Valley 70, Chartiers Valley 69 in double overtime

Previous Top 10:

Girls No. 2 – The Knights’ night

Boys No. 3 – Out of this world

Girls No. 3 – A perfect scare

Boys No. 4 – Perfect finish

Girls No. 4 – Shaler stunner

Boys No. 5 – Class A cat fight

Girls No. 5 – Royal run begins

Boys No. 6 – Three-peat chopped

Girls No. 6 – Golden Gators

Boys No. 7 – Stormy repeat

Girls No. 7 – Thrilling three-peat

Boys No. 8 – Panthers survive

Girls No. 8 – High flying Hawks

Boys No. 9 – A Royals flush

Girls No. 9 – Surprise bolt

Boys No. 10 – Hat trick

Girls No. 10 – Ram tough

Tags: Central Valley, Chartiers Valley