Sports

The North Allegheny boys bowling team poses with its WPIBL team title. The team includes, in front, from left, Marc Sostmann, Cole Scott, Andrew Cook, Dylan Scheidler, Joey Lydon, Noah Sostmann; in back, Jeb Jorden and Gavin Rush.

North Allegheny boys win state bowling championship

March 20, 2021

A month after winning the first WPIBL boys team championship in program history, the North Allegheny bowling team made another significant addition to its trophy case Saturday.

High school scores, summaries and schedules for March 20, 2021

High schools

Upper St. Clair’s Josh Matheny won three gold medals at the PIAA Class AAA championships March 20, 2021, at Cumberland Valley.

Upper St. Clair’s Josh Matheny betters his national record in winning PIAA breaststroke title

As a sophomore, Josh Matheny wowed the crowd at Bucknell’s Kinney Natatorium and many others watching on television with a time of 52.52 seconds in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Franklin Regional’s Jason Tosh dives in alongside Penn-Trafford’s Austin Prokopec to compete in the 200-yard freestyle relay March 7, 2021, in the WPIAL swimming championships at Upper St. Clair High School. They helped their relays to PIAA medals on Saturday.

Penn-Trafford, Franklin Regional, Hempfield relays earn PIAA medals

The Penn-Trafford boys 200-yard freestyle relay entered Saturday’s PIAA Class AAA swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School tied for the 10th seed.

Bushy Run celebrates their victory over Hempfield East in the 2019 American Legion District 31 championship at Pitt-Greensburg.

District 31 American Legion baseball to field 11 teams

While practice for the start of the high school baseball season is underway, Westmoreland County District 31 teams are holding sign-ups for the start of their season May 20.

Fox Chapel’s Sophie Shao (right) edged Sydney Gring from Muhlenberg (left) in the 100 fly at the PIAA Class AAA championships March 20, 2021, at Cumberland Valley.

Fox Chapel’s Sophie Shao defends PIAA title in 100 butterfly

After defending her WPIAL title in the 100-yard butterfly two weeks ago, Fox Chapel sophomore Sophie Shao went looking for a similar repeat performance Saturday at the PIAA Class AAA championships at Cumberland Valley.

Rochester’s Alexis Robison (3) shoots a foul shot in the WPIAL Class A finals on March 15.

High school roundup for March 20, 2021: Beaver drops heartbreaker, Rochester rolls in state playoffs

Freshman Jayden McBride hit a free throw with 14.7 seconds left to score the only point of overtime as Villa Maria Academy knocked off Beaver, 29-28, in a battle of undefeated teams in the PIAA Class 4A girls basketball playoffs Saturday afternoon.

OLSH’s Dante Spadafora scores past Karns City’s Nathan Waltman during the PIAA 2A boys quarterfinals on Saturday, March 20, 2021 at OLSH High School.

Spadafora, DiMichele guide OLSH past Karns City into PIAA semifinals

District 9 champion Karns City rolled into Our Lady of the Sacred Heart’s Angela Activities Center Saturday with hopes of finding the rhythm that had led to 23 Gremlins victories.

Upper St. Clair’s Ethan Dahlem celebrates after defeating Erie, 62-57, in a PIAA Class 6A quarterfinal on Saturday, March 20, 2021, at Upper St. Clair High School.

Short-handed Upper St. Clair wins PIAA quarterfinal with 6 players, volunteer coach

Screenwriters might not turn the “Upper St. Clair Six” into a movie, but their improbable story has every element for a covid-era drama about high school basketball.

Jonathan Bass took over the Jeannette girls basketball team after Janine Vertacnik went to Monessen in 2018.

Westmoreland notebook: Jeannette looking for new girls basketball coach

Jeannette is taking its girls basketball program in a new direction.

The North Allegheny girls swim team celebrates after winning the PIAA Class AAA title March 20, 2021, at Cumberland Valley.

North Allegheny girls capture 1st PIAA swimming championship since ’97

The last time a North Allegheny girls swimming and diving team won a PIAA state championship, the TV show “Friends” was all the rage on NBC and the Green Bay Packers reigned as Super Bowl Champions.

Chartiers Valley’s Perri Page celebrates after scoring against Warren during a PIAA Class 5A quarterfinal on Saturday, March 20, 2021, at Chartiers Valley High School.

Chartiers Valley girls cruise past Warren in PIAA quarterfinals

Despite a “flawed” game plan, Chartiers Valley scored 26 of the final 37 points in the first half, then used a 13-0 run in the third quarter to blow open a tight game and roll to a 61-38 victory Saturday afternoon.

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. Roth had 22 points in Saturday’s PIAA quarterfinal loss.

Brookville ousts WPIAL champion Ellwood City from PIAA playoffs

Jace Miner stole the ball on an inbounds play and scored on a layup with 10 seconds remaining, and in the blink of an eye Ellwood City’s magical run came to an end.

Derry’s Alanna Meloy works out in the batting cage on Thursday, March 18, 2021, at Derry Area High School.

Derry softball to be tested early on by nonsection opponents

The message was clear. With an entire year to think things over, it’s time to make a move.

Derry senior Matt McDowell works out in the batting cage on Thursday, March 18, 2021, at Derry Area High School.

Section championship the goal for Derry baseball team

After planning to publicly do so last year before the pandemic canceled the schedule, the Derry baseball team will try again this season to honor the memory of the mother of one of its players by including her initials on the team’s hats.

Leechburg’s Kristen Knapp is sent home against Union during WPIAL A softball semifinals Wednesday, May 22, 2019, at Hampton Coummnity Park.

George Guido: Despite pandemic cancellation, high school streaks live on

We don’t quite know if 48 years of covering high school sports allows me to issue a decree, but if so, some streaks weren’t interrupted with the pandemic of 2020.