Sports

Belle Vernon girls hold on for section win against McKeesport

January 30, 2020

Two days ago, Belle Vernon girls basketball coach Ronnie Drennen made a statement with the utmost confidence.

Rochester races to big lead, holds on to clinch section title

Rochester opened the game with an 18-2 run and held off Vincentian Academy down the stretch Thursday night in a 56-49 victory.

Gateway’s Marino Grado drives to the basket to score between Armstrong defenders during their game Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, at Gateway High School.

WPIAL clinched: Girls basketball clinchings through Jan. 30, 2020

The WPIAL girls basketball regular season is winding down. There is less than two weeks left in section play.

Christiane Frye leads Central Valley past Blackhawk

Central Valley is right back in the Section 2-4A championship race.

Shaler’s Sam Stayduhar (17) competes against Plum October 1, 2019 at Alpha Ice Center.

Shaler hockey trying to salvage season

Things were admittedly bleak for Shaler Area senior Blake Kucharski and teammates.

Chartiers Valley junior guard Brayden Reynolds leads the team in scoring at 19 points per game.

Chartiers Valley boys basketball piles up wins but searches for perfect game

Nobody is perfect. That hasn’t stopped the Chartiers Valley boys basketball team’s pursuit of that elusive ideal.

Bishop Canevin’s Nathan Kirsch looks to make a pass during a drill Nov. 26, 2019, at Bishop Canevin High School.

Defensive pressure helps Bishop Canevin boys climb to top of Section 2-A

The Bishop Canevin boys basketball team is out to prove defense wins championships.

Penn Hills’ Jasmyn Golden (12) goes up for a shot over Woodland Hills Tatiana Vasquez (24) Jan. 14, 2020 at Woodland Hills.

Penn Hills girls basketball team stays in WPIAL playoff hunt

Last season, the Penn Hills girls basketball team was on the doorstep to the WPIAL Class 5A championship game. This year, after all the seniors left, the Indians find themselves fighting for their WPIAL playoff lives down the stretch of the regular season.

Penn Hills’ Tony Grimes (1) looks for some running room against North Hills during an Oct. 25 game at Penn Hills.

Penn Hills’ Grimes to play football at Akron

With National Signing Day approaching, Penn Hills’ Tony Grimes took his turn at announcing where he will play the sport he has loved since he was 6.

Norwin’s Cassie Cole reaches for a loose ball against North Allegheny’s Emma Fischer (20) during their game Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, at Norwin High School.

North Allegheny girls proving to be quick learners

The North Allegheny girls basketball team showed it can play fast and slow in a 60-42 victory against section rival Norwin on Tuesday night.

North Allegheny junior Richard Mihm competes in the boys 200 individual medley during the AAA WPIAL Swimming/Diving Championship on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019, at the University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool.

North Allegheny’s Mihm listed among nation’s top swimmers

North Allegheny senior Rick Mihm was recently named to a list of the country’s top 18-and-under male swimmers by USA Swimming.

Lincoln Park’s Andre Wilder drives past Aliquippa’s Zuriah Fisher during their game on Dec. 17, 2019, in Midland.

Lincoln Park boys basketball seeking consistency

Lincoln Park’s boys basketball team has chased consistency all season.

Ligonier Valley’s Mike Marinchak during practice in the school gym, on Monday, Dec. 2, 2019.

Ligonier Valley boys basketball rebounds from poor start

If you witnessed Ligonier Valley’s boys basketball game against Nazareth Prep, you probably walked away thinking it was going to be a long season for the Rams.

Several storylines heading into a busy Friday of section boys basketball

Thing are heating up in Section 2-5A in WPIAL boys basketball with three section games remaining.

Derry’s Ryan Bushey dribbles past Mt. Pleasant on Friday, Jan. 3, 2020.

Westmoreland boys basketball notebook: Derry boys return to playoffs

It’s been 61 years since Derry made back-to-back WPIAL playoff appearances in boys basketball.

Kiski Area’s Head Basketball Coach Will Saunders huddles with players during a scrimmage at Kiski Area High School on Nov. 23, 2018.

A-K Valley boys basketball notebook: Kiski Area’s Will Saunders earns 300th win

Three hundred coaching wins is a big number, and Kiski Area coach Will Saunders hit that milestone with the Cavaliers’ 58-49 win over Burrell last Friday.

Quarterback Matt DeMatteo (2), shown handing off to Luke Lingren against Kiski Area, is one of several returning veterans for Hampton, which will drop to Class 4A in the fall.

Realignment marks significant change in fortune for Hampton football

Less than six years ago, Hampton was a good football program. In 2014, the team went 9-2 and won its conference. The next year, it qualified for playoffs again and made a WPIAL quarterfinals appearance.

Highlands Johnny Crise drives through the lane during a matchup with Knoch on Jan. 28, 2020.

Led by Johnny Crise, Highlands is taking a turn after win over No. 1 Knoch

Big-time players make big-time plays in big -time games, and earlier this week when No. 3 Highlands needed a player to step up, senior Johnny Crise answered the call.