Sports

Burrell’s Chase Coury brings the ball upcourt against California on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (Floyd Kish | Mon Valley Independent)
Burrell girls basketball clamps down in rout of California
December 4, 2025
The California girls basketball team was making shots and getting stops in the first quarter in their season opener Thursday against Burrell.

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Upper St. Clair’s Ryan Robbins works against Central Catholic’s Jaydan Brown on Jan. 17. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
WPIAL basketball tipoff tournament schedule for Dec. 5-7, 2025
Here is a look at the WPIAL boys and girls basketball tipoff tournament schedule for this weekend:

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Latrobe’s Ian DeCerb scores past Richland’s Glaiden Hale on Friday. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)
Westmoreland boys basketball notebook: Katarski’s 1st win is streak breaker
That a streak was broken was a bonus for Mark Katarski, the first-year boys basketball coach at Mt. Pleasant.

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Springdale’s Cambra Fersch (left) was selected to the We Serve First foundation’s all-star event this weekend. (Courtesy of Sara Swickrath)
We Serve First all-star game gathers best volleyball players
For the fourth consecutive year, the We Serve First foundation will fill the gym at Kiski Area High School on Saturday for its all-star classic, highlighting several high school volleyball players from around the Pittsburgh area.

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Clairton celebrates after beating Bishop Guilfoyle in the PIAA Class A championship game Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (Jeff Helsel | Mon Valley Independent)
Clairton dominates Bishop Guilfoyle, returns to top of PIAA Class A football mountain
MECHANICSBURG – Things were already looking good for Clairton when the PIAA Class A football championship reached halftime Friday afternoon.

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Mud-caked Jason Gregg picked up a New Brighton fumble and raced 61 yards for the decisive touchdown as Burrell upset the then-defending champion Lions, 14-8, in a WPIAL Class 2A semifinal at Baldwin’s Cibik Stadium on Nov. 17, 1995. The Bucs’ win was dubbed the “Miracle in the Mud.” (Louis B. Ruediger | TribLive)
Through the Years: Burrell coach, players recall 1995 WPIAL championship
Each week throughout the high school football season, the Valley News Dispatch has taken a look at the players, coaches and events that shaped our scholastic legacy.

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The Bill Fralic Memorial Award, which goes to the best interior lineman in the WPIAL. This is the seventh year for the award. (Bill Beckner Jr. | TribLive)
Bill Fralic Memorial Award continues to honor namesake in 7th year
In its formative years, Bill Fralic Memorial Award organizers wondered what could lie ahead for the honor, created to remember a legend and annually highlight the WPIAL’s top two-way football lineman.

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Clairton’s Donte Wright intercepts a pass intended for Greenville’s Justin Schell during their PIAA Class A semifinal last Friday at Helling Stadium in Ellwood City. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
Fast, fearless Clairton eager to end 9-year state finals ‘drought’
Clairton’s Brandon Murphy fielded a punt in the state semifinals and lateraled to teammate Donte Wright, who then tossed it back to Murphy for a 75-yard sprint to the end zone.

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High school scores, summaries and schedules for Dec. 3, 2025
High schools

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Derry’s Stanley Rajkovich scores over Freeport’s Danny King during their game on Wednesday at Freeport. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
High school roundup for Dec. 3, 2025: Derry gets 29 from Stanley Rajkovich, pulls away from Freeport
Stanley Rajkovich scored 29 points to power Derry to a 70-64 victory over Freeport in nonsection boys basketball Wednesday night.

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Peters’ Kaleb Lira pins Fox Chapel’s Torrin Gniewkowski Wednesday. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)
Peters Township wrestlers snag close win over Fox Chapel
December 3, 2025
Andrew Kratsa was in perfect position to secure a pin during his 145-pound match. But the Fox Chapel senior couldn’t quite guide Peters Township sophomore Dane McMillon’s shoulders to the mat.

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Greensburg Salem’s Solomon Cain drives around Valley’s Leonidus Moore on Wednesday. (Paul Schofield | TribLive)
Greensburg Salem boys rally from ‘sloppy’ start to defeat Valley
The way things started out Wednesday night at Greensburg Salem, it looked like visiting Valley was going to win going away.

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Jeannette boys basketball coach Adrian Batts (far right) joins his team in a huddle during a WPIAL championship ring ceremony Wednesday night at Jeannette High School. (Bill Beckner Jr. | TribLive)
Jeannette boys basketball team gets WPIAL championship rings
Jeannette: WPIAL Class 2A champions. It has a nice ring to it.

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Norwin’s Chris McKnight shoots a 3-pointer against Penn-Trafford on Tuesday at Norwin. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
Shot clock officially coming to Pennsylvania high school basketball (but not in a hurry)
The longstanding debate about whether Pennsylvania high school basketball needs a shot clock is no longer up for discussion.

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Clairton’s Brandon Murphy smiles in the snow during the Bears’ PIAA Class A semifinal against Greenville last Friday at Helling Stadium in Ellwood City. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Dec. 4, 2025: Clairton opens PIAA football championship weekend
Forget what the calendar says, if you need to know what season we are in, just look out a window.

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Avonworth’s Romello Harris celebrates his pick-six against Imani Christian with Bryce Metz during the WPIAL Class 3A championship game Nov. 22 at Acrisure Stadium. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
Trib 10: 3 power-ranked teams playing for state titles
For only the third time in the 10-year history of the PIAA football playoffs with six classifications, the WPIAL has three teams in the finals playing for state gold.

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Greensburg Central Catholic senior Erica Gribble has 1,749 career points. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
Westmoreland high school girls basketball notebook: Greensburg Central Catholic’s Gribble 1 shot from school record
With one school record out of the way, Erica Gribble will go for another Dec. 11 when Greensburg Central Catholic travels to Steel Valley for its Section 2-3A opener.

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Pine-Richland’s Jay Timmons carries past Peters Township’s Cole Neupaver during the WPIAL Class 5A championship game Nov. 22 at Acrisure Stadium. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
WPIAL players in 2026 recruiting class sign with Division I FBS, FCS programs
Here’s a look at senior football players from the WPIAL who signed with Division I programs on the first day of the early-signing period Wednesday:

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Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett is introduced during the induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Canton, Ohio. (AP)
Tony Dorsett, Andrew Stockey selected to National HS Football Hall of Fame
As the story goes, when Tony Dorsett was a sophomore at Hopewell, coaches did not think he was big enough to play running back.

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Peters Twp.’s Lucas Shanafelt and Nolan DiLucia take the field before the start of their PIAA Class 5A state semifinal against Bishop McDevitt on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, at Mansion Park in Altoona. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
Early signing day for 2026: WPIAL, City League football players finalize Division I plans
Despite the cold weather outside, Wednesday was the hottest day on the calendar for college football recruits.

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