Sewickley Academy overpowers frustrated Jeannette to win WPIAL Class 2A title

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Friday, February 27, 2026 | 6:39 PM

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Jeannette coach Adrian Batts said the taller basketball team isn’t always the best team.

But on this occassion, it was.

This WPIAL Class 2A championship game was played at Pitt’s Petersen Events Center, but it was more Victory Heights for these Panthers.

Second-seeded Sewickley Academy used its size, casting a long shadow over top-seeded defending champion Jeannette, to win the title game 52-38 on Friday night at the “Pete.”

The Panthers (25-1) are WPIAL champions for the first time since 2018 and the sixth time overall.

“We prepared for this all season,” Sewickley Academy coach Mike Iuzzolino said. “Every time we lost, we worked on our weaknesses.

“Everyone expected us to win. All year long we heard it. That is a lot of pressure on our kids. I heard it all year long: Wait ‘til you play (this team or that team). That’s why this is so rewarding.”

Jeannette (22-2) saw its 20-game winning streak come to an end. It was its first loss to a WPIAL team this season.

The Jayhawks beat Sewickley Academy, 45-25, in last year’s semifinals. The Panthers have not lost to a WPIAL team since and are 30-2 following that defeat. They went on to the PIAA final last year.

The “Twin Towers” almost had identical stats.

Sophomore Mamadou Kane, one of the Panthers’ two 6-foot-8 post players, scored a game-high 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds. The other, junior Adam Ikamba, added 14 points and eight rebounds.

“If you have size, it doesn’t matter if you don’t play hard,” Kane said. “We played hard tonight.”

Jeannette had trouble scoring at the rim, as layups were contested and the Panthers refused to give up space. Jeannette made only one 3-pointer.

“It’s tough when there is a size and age advantage,” Batts said. “We did have a tough time with their height. They are a lot better and a year older than last year. That’s a really good team.

“This is tough for our guys. We haven’t lost in a while.”

Jeannette players voiced their frustration, not only with the loss but with other issues, which made for a spirited postgame press conference.

Jeannette didn’t hold back.

“They can go out and recruit kids from Africa. We can’t,” Jayhawks senior point guard Kymon’e Brown said. “That’s the difference. If we play them again, we’re going to win. With the same five guys. We ain’t recruiting anybody.”

The teams exchanged words in a confrontation after the handshake line before cooler heads prevailed.

Jeannette players said at least one Panthers player taunted them in the handshake line, which started the skirmish.

Iuzzolino did not comment on the altercation, instead focusing on his team’s achievement.

“I am so proud of these guys and happy for them,” Iuzzolino said. “It’s great to see our guys grow up.”

Senior Xavier Odorisio-Farrow and junior Markus McGowan scored 10 each to lead the Jayhawks, who never led.

Ikamba helped to set the tone early with three slam dunks, one off the opening tip.

Sewickley Academy led 16-13 after the first quarter and took a 29-21 lead into the half, stretching the margin to 10 four times in the first half.

Kane made consecutive field goals, and freshman Eric Craciun hit a 3 as part of a 9-0 run for the Panthers.

Sewickley Academy took a 12-point lead early in the third, before Jeannette cut it to four (33-29) with an 8-0 run.

Jeannette shot 38.1% from the field (16 for 42). Sewickley Academy was 17 for 31 (54.8%).

“We played terrible the whole first half,” Brown said. “We gave them wide-open 3s. We didn’t play to who we were in the first half, and it killed us.”

Brown made a 3 to open the fourth, but the Panthers went ahead 46-34 after a 3 by Caiden Battles and a layup by Kane.

Battles’ free throw increased the advantage to 50-38 with about two minutes to play.

The Panthers made 14 of 18 free throws, Jeannette 5 of 13.

Both teams will open the PIAA playoffs next Saturday.

The WPIAL recognized Olympic bobsled bronze medalist Jasmine Jones, a Jeannette native and Hempfield graduate, who was at the game to watch her nephew, Jayce Powell, play for Jeannette.

Former Steelers Ben Roethlisberger, James Harrison and Charlie Batch were also in attendance.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Jeannette, Sewickley Academy