Sports
PIHL Notebook – 02/07/2017
February 7, 2017
The stretch run of the PIHL regular season is in full effect, as a number of marquee matchups highlight the schedule over the next few weeks. For many teams fighting for their playoff hopes, each game has become a must-win scenario. Moreover, for teams already in the postseason, building momentum down the stretch is of the upmost importance. Here's a glimpse at the big news around the league this week. Melting the Ice (the longest unbeaten streak in each classification)
WPIAL Alum Q&A – Dale Clancy
February 6, 2017
While Seton-LaSalle has a strong basketball tradition on the girls' side, the boys' team has won just one title since the 1980s. That triumph came in 2014, with point guard Dale Clancy leading the way for the Rebels. Clancy, who is now a star for the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown, is under the microscope for the WPIAL Q&A. Prior to claiming gold, the Rebels enjoyed a very successful campaign in 2012-13, as Clancy helped the team go 21-3, including a perfect mark of 12-0 in section play. Seton-LaSalle bested Mohawk in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs, as well, before falling to Quaker Valley in the quarterfinals.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Girls Basketball – 02/06/2017
Here are the latest MSA Sports Top Ten WPIAL Girls Basketball rankings for the 2016-2017 season. Check out the weekly girls rankings every Monday, along with girls hoops talk during The WPIAL Roundball Report every Wednesday night at 6:00pm and girls basketball broadcasts throughout the regular season with exclusive coverage of every girls WPIAL playoff game in February sponsored by Carlow University all here on the MSA Sports Network. WPIAL CLASS 6-A: 1. NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS (19-1) (Last Week #1) 2. PINE-RICHLAND RAMS (19-1) (Last Week #2) 3. PENN HILLS INDIANS (17-2) (Last Week #3)
WPIAL Coaches Corner – Chris Minerd
February 5, 2017
In this feature titled “Coach’s Corner”, I will be interviewing a different coach every week and asking them questions about their personal life and about coaching. Hopefully their answers will not only shed some light on how they coach their respective teams, but also allow readers to get to know the men behind the fields/courts. This week spotlights California girls basketball coach Chris Minerd. This is Coach Minerd’s 7th season as the Trojans head coach. He has led his team to the playoffs in 5 of the last 6 years, including a WPIAL Semifinal berth in 2014. Let’s take a look inside Coach Minerd’s corner:This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 02/05/2017
The regular season comes to an end in district high school basketball while the team wrestling postseason switches from the district to the state this week on the MSA Sports Network. We have section coverage of WPIAL, District 6 and District 9 boys and girls high school basketball, college hoops featuring Carlow University, postseason mat action with the PIAA Team Wrestling Playoffs and plenty of pucks with more audio and video coverage of PIHL high school hockey, plus we have The WPIAL Roundball Report, The PIHL Power Play Show and Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, February 6th:2017 WPIAL TEAM WRESTLING Results
It has been a decade of dominance for the Burrell High School wrestling team. Now it is a decade PLUS. Since 2007, the Bucs have now won a record eleven straight WPIAL Class AA Team Wrestling championships after knocking off the Freedom Bulldogs for a second consecutive season in the district finals on Saturday. Meanwhile, the top-seed Kiski Area Cavaliers remained undefeated as they won the 3-A championship for the third time in school history and the Cavs first title since 2003. Here are ALL the results from the 2017 WPIAL Team Wrestling Playoffs. All scores marked with (MSA) are matches you can hear archived here on the MSA Sports Network. 2017 WPIAL CLASS AAA TEAM WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Burrell Wins Record 11th Straight WPIAL AA Wrestling Crown
February 4, 2017
Every year begins the same way in AA WPIAL wrestling, with fans asking one question, who will end Burrell's reign? And for the 11th year in a row, the answer remains the same, no one. Burrell came in to Saturday with an intensity that was clearly unmatched, and they dominated from start to finish en route to their 13th overall WPIAL crown. It started with their semi-final win over Derry, where after losing the first match by fall, rattled off 11 straight wins to knock off the Trojans 44-18. They advanced to the finals, where they would meet Freedom for the second straight season. The Bulldogs were coming off a 38-30 win over South Fayette, avenging an earlier 40-28 loss from the South Side Duals.
Kiski Area Perfect in Winning WPIAL Wrestling 3-A Title
Kiski Area capped off an incredible season on the mat, as the Cavaliers remained undefeated in capturing the 2017 WPIAL Class AAA Championship at Penn Hills High School. The top-seeded Cavaliers (19-0) defeated Canon-McMillan 41-21 to claim the first team wrestling title since 2003. The Cavs and No. 2 seed Big Macs exchanged falls at the onset, as Kiski's Nick Delp and Canon-McMillan's Gerrit Nijenhuis provided pins in the 152-pound and 160-pound weight classes, respectively. Next, the Big Macs' took a brief lead, as 170 pounder Blaze Kansco notched a decision. The Cavs responded, though, as Kiski's Vinny Romano secured a decision to deadlock the score at 9-9.Scholastic Notebook – 02/03/2017
February 3, 2017
The spirit of 66 ended for one WPIAL girls team. But one boys team is close to getting into the same spirit. The subject is section winning streaks. The Quigley Catholic girls had what was the longest section winning streak in the WPIAL at 66, but it ended Thursday night after a 56-48 loss to Cornell. Turn to WPIAL boys basketball and look at Lincoln Park. The Leopards have a 64-game section winning streak. Lincoln Park has two section games remaining, and if the Leopards win both, they will finish the regular season with a 66-game streak. Lincoln Park plays Riverside and Ellwood City in its final two section games.MSA Sports Frozen Fab Five PIHL Rankings – 02/02/2017
February 2, 2017
Here are the latest MSA Sports Sports Frozen Fab Five rankings of PIHL high school hockey teams in each of the four classifications for the 2016-2017 high school hockey season. Don't miss the latest rankings every Wednesday during the regular season, plus PIHL Notebook every Tuesday on our website and the weekly Chatham University PIHL Power Play Show every Wednesday night at 8:00pm. We also have audio and video game broadcasts and center stage interviews as well here on the home of the best PIHL high school hockey coverage, the MSA Sports Network. PIHL CLASS 3-A: 1) PITTSBURGH CENTRAL CATHOLIC VIKINGS (14-3-0) (Last Week #1)2017 National Letter of Intent Day – MSA Sports Elite Eleven College Destinations
February 1, 2017
Wednesday was National Letter of Intent Day where high school seniors make their verbal commitments official by signing on the dotted line to the school of their choice. What were the final college destinations for the members of the 2016 MSA Sports The Elite 11 football all-star team? Here is the list. PLAYER OF THE YEAR: ZANE DUDEK, ARMSTRONG RB-DB, Sr., 5-10, 190 YALE DARIUS WISE, BEAVER QB-DB, Sr., 5-11, 170 COLORADO STATE2017 National Letter of Intent Day – Division I-A Football Players from WPIAL
Here are the seniors from the WPIAL or Pittsburgh City League who have signed to make their verbal commitments to Division I-A colleges. High school seniors could not sign a binding letter of intent until Wednesday, February 1st. PITT Grant Carrigan, Pine-Richland (TE) Paris Ford, Steel Valley (WR-DB) Gabe Houy, Upper St. Clair (OL) Tyler Sear, Neshannock (TE) PENN STATE C.J. Thorpe, Pittsburgh Central Catholic (OL) Lamont Wade, Clairton (DB) WEST VIRGINIA Kenny Robinson, Imani Christian (WR-DB)MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Boys Basketball – 01/31/2017
January 31, 2017
Here are the latest MSA Sports Top Ten WPIAL Boys Basketball rankings for the 2016-2017 season...including NEW #1 teams in Class 5-A and Class 4-A. Check out the weekly boys rankings every Tuesday, along with boys hoops talk during The WPIAL Roundball Report every Wednesday night at 6:00pm and boys basketball broadcasts throughout the regular season with exclusive coverage of every boys WPIAL playoff game in February all here on the MSA Sports Network. WPIAL CLASS 6-A: 1. PINE-RICHLAND RAMS (18-0) (Last Week #1) 2. FOX CHAPEL FOXES (16-1) (Last Week #3) 3. PENN HILLS INDIANS (15-2) (Last Week #2)PIHL Notebook – 01/31/2017
This past weekend was a showcase for the PIHL, as the league hosted four All-Star games at the Alpha Ice Complex in Harmarville on Sunday. With the exhibitions of skill in the rear-view mirror, though, the stretch run for the postseason has officially arrived. MSA Sports will have comprehensive coverage of the 2017 playoffs, as well. But first, here's a look at the latest happenings around the league. Melting the Ice (the longest unbeaten streak in each classification)2016-2017 PIHL High School Hockey Standings
Here are the latest 2016-2017 standings for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League...plus the latest PIHL and Penguins Cup Playoff clinchings. You can follow the PIHL high school hockey regular season with weekly audio and video broadcasts, plus the PIHL Notebook every Tuesday and the PIHL Power Play Show on Wednesday nights at 8:00pm ONLY here on the MSA Sports Network. The top eight teams in Class 3-A qualify for the Penguins Cup Playoffs. The top five teams in each Class 2-A conference qualify for the Penguins Cup Playoffs. The top seven teams in each Class 1-A conference qualify for the Penguins Cup Playoffs. The top eight teams in Division II qualify for the Penguins Cup Playoffs.
WPIAL Alum Q&A – Sydney Bordonaro
Sydney Bordonaro might be considered the best girls basketball player in Burrell history, as she helped establish the Bucs as a championship contender in each of her four varsity seasons. Now on the west coast, Bordonaro's success has translated to the college level at Pepperdine. She's the focus of this week's WPIAL Alum Q&A. As a high-school freshman in 2011-12, Bordonaro made a big impact, averaging in double figures in scoring, and contributing to Burrell's 18-5 campaign, which included an 11-3 mark in section play, and a playoff win in a preliminary round contest.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Girls Basketball – 01/30/2017
January 30, 2017
Here are the latest MSA Sports Top Ten WPIAL Girls Basketball rankings for the 2016-2017 season...including a NEW #1 team in Class 6-A. Check out the weekly girls rankings every Monday, along with girls hoops talk during The WPIAL Roundball Report every Wednesday night at 6:00pm and girls basketball broadcasts throughout the regular season with exclusive coverage of every girls WPIAL playoff game in February sponsored by Carlow University all here on the MSA Sports Network. WPIAL CLASS 6-A: 1. NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS (17-1) (Last Week #2) 2. PINE-RICHLAND RAMS (17-1) (Last Week #1)This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 01/30/2017
We go from the chill of January to the hot high school action of the February Frenzy as we tip off the 'Stretch Run' of the high school basketball regular season this week on the MSA Sports Network. We have section coverage of WPIAL, District 6 and District 9 boys and girls high school basketball, college hoops featuring Carlow University, postseason mat action with the WPIAL Team Wrestling Playoffs and plenty of pucks with more audio and video coverage of PIHL high school hockey, plus we have The WPIAL Roundball Report, The PIHL Power Play Show and Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, January 30th:
PIHL All-Star Game Recaps
January 29, 2017
The best of the best in district high school hockey were on display Sunday afternoon at the Alpha Arena in Harmarville. You can hear and listen to the archive broadcasts here on the MSA Sports Network by clicking HERE. Check out the game recaps from all four PIHL All-Star games. A special thanks to Rob Longo, Steve Nagler, Sean Meyers and Kevin Zielmanski for their help on these recaps. CLASS 3-A ALL-STAR GAME: Team Gold 3- Team Black 2 in Overtime Shootout
WPIAL Coaches Corner – Ralph Blundo
In this new feature titled “Coach’s Corner”, I will be interviewing a different coach every week and asking them questions about their personal life and about coaching. Hopefully their answers will not only shed some light on how they coach their respective teams, but also allow readers to get to know the men behind the fields/courts. This week highlights New Castle boys basketball coach Ralph Blundo. Coach Blundo is in his 7th season coaching the Hurricanes. He won a WPIAL title in 2012 in 3-A. Then his team moved up to 4-A and won back to back titles in 2013 and 2014, capped by a PIAA state crown in 2014. He currently has the ‘Canes ranked #1 in 4-A this season. Let’s take a look inside Coach Blundo’s corner:
