Sports
Norwin, Blackhawk, Seton & Vincentian 2015 WPIAL Girls Hoops Champs
March 1, 2015
Three defending champs were successful in claiming more gold while a first-time winner joined them over Championship Weekend at the University of Pittsburgh. Vincentian Academy continues to dominate Class A with a fourth straight district title while Blackhawk in Triple-A and Seton-LaSalle in Double-A claimed back-to-back titles. The Rebels crown was their fourth in five years. Meanwhile, there is a new King of the Mountain in Quad-A girls hoops as Norwin followed rival Penn-Trafford from last year in capturing a school first district championship. Here ALL of the results from the 2015 WPIAL Girls Basketball Playoffs. All of the games marked (MSA0 can be heard archived here on the MSA Sports Network.FINAL 2014-2015 PIHL High School Hockey Standings
Here are the FINAL 2014-2015 standings for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League. You can follow the PIHL high school hockey postseason with weekly audio and video broadcasts, plus the PIHL Notebook every Monday and the PIHL Power Play Show on Thursday night at 8:00pm over the next two weeks right here on the MSA Sports Network. * = Clinched a Penguins Cup Playoff Spot x = Eliminated from Penguins Cup Playoff Chase PIHL CLASS AAA (SET WITH 8 PLAYOFF TEAMS) TEAM
McConnell’s Magical Night Lifts Colts To AAAA Championship
February 28, 2015
This was one for little brother. Matty McConnell scored a game-high 34 points, grabbed ten rebounds and went over the 2,000 point mark in his career on a buzzer-beating half-court shot, leading No. 2 Chartiers Valley (23-3) to a 78-67 win over No. 1 North Allegheny (23-3) in the WPIAL AAAA Boys Basketball Championship on Saturday night at the Petersen Events Center. McConnell’s shot capped a tremendous third quarter comeback by the Colts in which they outscored the Tigers 24-6, helping them rally from, at one point, a 14-point deficit. “It was probably one of the greatest shots I’ve ever taken,” said Matty McConnell, who won a WPIAL Championship in his senior year, just like his brother, current Arizona Point Guard T.J. McConnell.
2015 WPIAL Class AAA Individual Wrestling Final Results
After winning back to back WPIAL and PIAA Team Championships, Franklin Regional flexed their muscles at Penn Hills on Saturday night. The Panthers would become the Southwest Region individual team champions thanks to four wrestlers winning gold and six total wrestlers advancing to next weeks PIAA Championships.2015 PIAA Southwest Wrestling Regional Results
The top Class AA wrestlers around Southwestern Pennsylvania spent Friday and Saturday in Canonsburg doing battle for the top five spots in the upcoming PIAA Class AA Individual Wrestling Championships. Here are the results from Canon-McMillan High School.
Norwin Captures First Ever WPIAL Girls AAAA Gold
Norwin had never appeared in a WPIAL Championship Game until Saturday night, but the Knights played like seasoned champions at the Peterson Events Center, winning the school’s first girls basketball title in convincing fashion over Penn Hills 54-34. The game was tied 11-11 after the first quarter, but Norwin started the second quarter with an 11-0 run which gave the Knights a 22-11 lead. Penn Hills added a quick 4-0 burst before halftime and it was a 7-point game at intermission.
Blackhawk Repeats as Girls AAA Champs With Win Over South Fayette
Blackhawk used a strong kick to break a tie in the final minute of the first half and never looked back in knocking off South Fayette --- Saturday afternoon at the Petersen Events Center at the University of Pittsburgh to repeat as Girls AAA champions. The title was the seventh overall for top-seed Blackhawk and marked the third time they have been able to repeat as WPIAL champions. The Cougars also won back-to-back District 7 crowns in 1996-97 and 1999-2000. The WPIAL’s leading scorer senior Chassidy Omogrosso got off to a hot start with 10 points in the opening quarter as the Cougars jumped out early to a 10-4 lead before the underdog and #10-seed Lions went on a 14-2 run to fight back and forge an 18-18 tie after the first quarter.
Aliquippa Perfect In Dethroning Seton-LaSalle As Boys AA Champ
Aliquippa remains perfect in capturing Class AA boys’ championship The Quips’ quest for perfection remains in tact, as Aliquippa captured the Class AA boys’ championship with a 68-57 victory over Seton-LaSalle at the Petersen Event Center. The victory marks the 11th WPIAL Championship for Aliquippa. Top-seeded Aliquippa, the only unbeaten team in the WPIAL, fell into an early deficit against the defending champions, as Rebels’ senior Ryan Norkus provided an offensive outburst in the first quarter. Norkus netted 16 points in the opening frame, as No. 3 Seton-LaSalle held a 20-14 lead. In the second stanza, both offenses went cold, as the Quips and Rebels mustered only six points each.Royals Flush Trojans for 4th Straight WPIAL Girls A Title
The Vincentian girls’ basketball dynasty continues. For the fourth straight year and the fifth time in six years the Royals wear the Class A crown after claiming yet another title. As has been the custom, this came in impressive fashion with a 74-35 victory over Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic at the Petersen Events Center. It was the Royals ninth championship in the school’s history. The outcome was rarely in doubt as top-seeded Vincentian stormed out to a 27-6 lead after the first quarter. The large cushion was keyed by a ferocious full-court press defense that forced Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic into numerous turnovers. Those turnovers led to a number of easy baskets for Vincentian.
WPIAL Class AAA Individual Wrestling – Day Two Recap
After a calm day on Thursday at Penn Hills for the AAA WPIAL individual Championships, the wrestling action heated up on Friday. A number of upsets occurred in the quarterfinals, with the biggest coming at 126 pounds, where number one seed Mike Heinl of Shaler dropped a 3-1 decision to Hempfield freshman Luke Kemerer. Meanwhile, a pair of number two seeds dropped decisions on Friday to fall into the consolations. At 106 pounds, Logan Macri of Canon McMillan was unable to pickup an escape on Job Chisko of Penn Trafford in the third period to fall 3-2.
Indiana Wins First WPIAL Basketball Title in Dramatic Fashion Over Beaver Falls
February 27, 2015
In another fantastic finish at the Petersen Events Center, the No. 5 Indiana Little Indians (24-2) claimed their first WPIAL basketball championship with a 62-61 comeback win over the No. 2 Beaver Falls Tigers (22-3) on Friday night in the Class AAA title tilt. Senior Riley Stapleton hit an open layup with 1.5 seconds remaining to give the Little Indians the winning margin. Stapleton said he knew he was going to get the ball, as Indiana had a chance to win it after Beaver Falls freshman Torian Leak was tied up with 20.1 seconds to play. The possession arrow favored Indiana, setting up the game-winning basket.
Monessen Hounds Jeannette In 7th WPIAL Championship Victory
The Monessen Greyhounds (20-6) defeated the Jeannette Jayhawks 73-57 to win their seventh WPIAL championship at the Petersen Events Center on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh Friday night. Joe Salvino, in his 31st year at the helm of the Greyhounds, won his fifth title. It was the depth of the Greyhounds that seemed to wear down Jeannette (16-8) throughout the length of the evening. The Jayhawks led at the end of the first period 14-13, but Monessen ratcheted up the defensive pressure in the second quarter and never looked back from there, outscoring Jeannette in the second quarter 21-10 to take a 10-point lead into the break, 34-24.
Seton-LaSalle Again Drops Rival Bishop Canevin For Girls AA Title
When Seton-LaSalle needed their two best players to come through, that is exactly what they did. It was just in separate halves. Cleveland State recruit Nicolete Newman scored all 16 of her points in the first half and long-time teammate and Pitt recruit Cassidy Walsh scored all nine of her points in the second half to lead the No. 1 Rebels (19-7) to a 51-35 win over No.Scholastic Notebook – 02/27/2015
The WPIAL basketball championships Friday and Saturday are most definitely a story of new and old faces. All eight title games will be played at Pitt’s Petersen Events Center. All through the boys and girls title games are familiar faces and some you have never seen in the title games for a number of years, and a few never before. On the boys side, the new are North Allegheny and Indiana. North Allegheny has won numerous WPIAL titles in just about every sport, but the Tigers have never won a WPIAL basketball championship. They have been to the title game only two other times – under coach Mark Jula. The Tigers lost to McKeesport in 1995 and to a great New Castle team in 1999.
WPIAL Class AAA Individual Wrestling – Day One Recap
February 26, 2015
The biggest news from the first day of the AAA WPIAL individual Championships happened before any wrestlers even touched the mat. That was when news broke that the top seed at 126 pounds, Gus Solomon of Franklin Regional, would scratch from the tournament. Solomon, who was the top ranked wrester in the state at 126 pounds, will be out the remainder of the postseason due to a shoulder injury. The other big scratch came at 106 pounds where Daniel Florentino of Peters Township, who was the number four seed, will not wrestle in the tournament.WPIAL Basketball Playoff Recaps for Thursday, February 26th
The first year experiment has come to an end. Instead of playing follow the winner to determine the PIAA qualifiers from District 7, this season marked the first of a three year experiment with play-in games or Consolation contests. Those teams that gained state playoff berths with their play on the court likely give the test a two-thumbs up. Here are recaps from the eight 5th Place games and the three 7th place games on Consolation Thursday. A special thanks go out to Bob Orkwis, Mark Schaas, Dennis Fischer, Brian Mroziak, Gero Von Dahn, Josh Rowntree, Bob Gregg, Lou Rood and Bob Barrickman for their help on these recaps. BOYS WPIAL CLASS AAAA Fifth Place Consolation Game:WPIAL Basketball Playoff Recaps for Wednesday, February 25th
The heavyweights flexed their respective muscles and earned a spot in the District 7 title games this weekend. North Allegheny boys, Chartiers Valley boys, Aliquippa boys, Seton-LaSalle boys, Blackhawk girls and Vincentian Academy girls were all impressive en-route to double digit victories. South Fayette girls and Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic girls were close with cigars as they claimed narrow wins that lift them to their respective title games. Here are recaps from all eight games on Semifinals Wednesday. A special thanks to Paul Paterra, Steve Nagler, Sean Meyers, Bob Barrickman, Mike Azadian, Randy Gore and Don Rebel for their help on these recaps. BIYS WPIAL CLASS AAAA Semifinals:WPIAL Basketball Playoff Recaps for Tuesday, February 24th
February 25, 2015
Semifinals Tuesday had to share a crowded stage with Round One Consolations. while many teams were fighting for a second chance and a PIAA berth, 16 teams in Boys AAA, Boys A, Girls AAAA and Girls AA were still following the dreams of district gold. Here are recaps from a busy Tuesday night around District 7. A special thanks to Jason Kern, Mark Uriah, Jason Tennant, T.J. DiStefano, Bob Barrickman, Steve Nagler, Dennis Fischer, Sam Hall, Terry Neary, Bob Gregg, Lee Mohn, Sean Meyers, Mike Sackley, Randy Gore, Mark Schaas, Lou Rood and Josh Rowntree for their help on these recaps. BOYS WPIAL CLASS AAA Semifinals:WPIAL Basketball Playoff Recaps for Monday, February 23rd
February 24, 2015
It took an additional 48 hours or so, but the Second Round finally came to an end on another frigid night in Western Pennsylvania. The Final Four is now set in Boys AAAA, Boys AA, Girls AAA and Girls A with plenty of expected teams and some surprises mixed in. Seeds three and four were bounced in Quad-A boys while the second-seed in Double-A boys was knocked out, as was the third-seed in Single-A girls. Here are recaps from the 16 Quarterfinals and 2 Consolation Round One contests played on Monday. A special thanks to Mike Azadian, Mark Uriah, Brandon Showers, Bob Gregg, Brian Mroziak, Paul Paterra, Bob Orkwis, Steve Nagler, Sam Hall, Terry Neary, Bob Barrickman, Randy Gore and Bobby Fox for their help on these recaps.PIHL Notebook – 02/23/2015
February 23, 2015
Welcome to another edition of “PIHL Notebook,” your weekly companion to “The PIHL Power Play” on the MSA Sports Network. First up, “Melting the Ice” provides your weekly thermometer of streaking teams around the league. Meanwhile, this week’s “Scoreboard Watch” includes a playoff clinching in Class A and a setback for a bubble team in Class AAA. Last but not least, we round things out with a four-pack preview of upcoming MSA broadcasts, our final regular season set, all of which feature playoff-bound teams. So, let’s light the lamp on this edition of “PIHL Notebook.” MELTING THE ICE (Records listed indicate current unbeaten streak): Class AAA: North Allegheny (7-0-2); Seneca Valley (5-0-0); Peters Township (3-0-1)
