It’s such a good feeling for Neighborhood Academy, back-to-back WPIAL Class A champs with win over Serra Catholic

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, February 26, 2026 | 6:51 PM

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It’s another beautiful day in the Neighborhood.

Neighborhood Academy blew open a tight game with a 14-0 run to end the game, beating Serra Catholic for the WPIAL Class A championship for a second straight year Thursday at the Petersen Events Center, 60-48.

The victory was the third this season for the Bulldogs over the Eagles.

Neighborhood Academy defeated Serra Catholic twice in the regular season by scores of 47-44 and 65-55.

A year ago, the Bulldogs cruised to their first WPIAL title with a 69-46 win over the Eagles.

The game was filled with runs and momentum changes on both ends.

Trailing 4-2, Neighborhood Academy scored the next 10 points to lead by eight; however, Serra Catholic finished the first quarter strong to pull to within three at 16-13.

The second quarter was even as the Eagles were more aggressive in going to the basket. They trailed by one at the half, but Serra scored 22 of its 25 first-half points in the paint.

“We wanted to attack (Derrick) Hardenman and get him into foul trouble,” Serra Catholic coach A.J. Corso said. “So we went (inside) to Tyler (Sapida) to start there. We were hoping it would open up some 3-pointers, but that wasn’t the case.”

Neighborhood Academy looked like it was poised to turn the game into a rout in the third quarter, building up a 14-point lead before a later surge started by back-to-back steals and layups by Serra Catholic freshman Tyler Graham pulled the Eagles to within nine points heading into the fourth quarter at 45-36.

“Ty really sparked us there with the steals that really brought us back into it,” Corso said. “It’s impressive to see that from a freshman.”

Serra’s plan to get Hardenman into foul trouble worked perfectly when the 6-foot-5 senior picked up his fourth foul and headed to the Neighborhood Academy bench.

“Derrick is obviously a huge catalyst for what we’ve done the last four years,” Neighborhood Academy coach Jordan Marks said. “He’s a phenomenal player, and he’s even a better person. Derrick is one of the best bigs in the WPIAL. The way he affects every single game we play with rebounds, blocking shots, altering shots and being there as a leader.”

With Hardenman on the bench, Serra scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter to take the lead at 46-45.

“We were coming together and getting stops, and when we got stops, we scored,” Sapida, a senior forward, said of his team’s comeback. “We just kept stopping and scoring, and that got us back into the game.”

The Eagles managed only two more points the rest of the game.

“Coach kept us together,” Neighborhood Academy junior guard Kedron Gilmore said. “We stayed in the game and didn’t let it get to us.”

“We’re used to that pressure,” Hardenman added. “We practice every day like we are playing for a state championship. When we’re in situations like this, its second nature to us.”

Trailing 48-46 late in the fourth quarter, the defending district champion Bulldogs shut down the Eagles and scored the final 14 points.

“They fought so hard, especially to come back (in the second half),” Corso said. “I just wish it was a different outcome.”

One of the key stats was the lack of success shooting 3-pointers for Serra Catholic. The Eagles finished 0 for 13.

“I don’t think we made a 3-pointer. That’s the whole game,” Corso said. “We usually make six to eight, and those weren’t falling (Thursday). They are very aggressive defensively and throughout the game, so it wears you down.”

Gilmore led the Bulldogs with 24 points.

“Ked is one of the top players in the entire WPIAL,” Marks said. “He’s made such strides (as a player), but as a person as well with the growth and maturity. He’s one of the best there is.”

Gilmore, who started a year ago, is one of the top scorers in the district this season, averaging 24.7 points per game.

“Last year, the WPIAL was important,” Gilmore said. “This one is more important to me because I feel I did a better job of leading the team.”

Sapida led the Eagles, also scoring 24 points.

Serra Catholic is 14-10 and will host District 6 runner-up Bishop Carroll in the PIAA first round next weekend.

Neighborhood Academy improves to 21-3 and will take on the winner of Saturday’s game between Shanksville-Stonycreek and St. Joseph Catholic in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs.

“We didn’t play great defensively, and they know that and they will run in practice Monday,” Marks said. “But they fought together and they never gave up.”

Tags: Neighborhood Academy, Serra Catholic