Sports
Scholastic Notebook – 12/20/2013
December 20, 2013
Every two years, the PIAA realigns classifications in all sports. The PIAA’s realignment for the next two years brings about some noteworthy changes in WPIAL sports. The PIAA bases its classifications on school enrollments. In October, schools had to report the number of boys and girls they had in grades 9 through 11. Earlier this week, the PIAA released the enrollment figures for all schools in the state. Some of the major changes in WPIAL football for the next two years will be: * Gateway drops from Class AAAA to AAA. Since the school opened in the 1950s, Gateway had always played in the WPIAL’s largest classification.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Wrestling – 12/19/2013
December 19, 2013
Here are the latest Top 10 rankings in WPIAL Team Wrestling. Every Thursday through January, MSA Sports ranks the top ten teams in both the WPIAL Class AAA and Class AA team wrestling. Don't miss Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle Show every Monday at 7:00pm AND weekly matches broadcast on Wednesday's and select weekends only here on the MSA Sports Network. Section records in parenthesis. WPIAL CLASS AAA: 1. Franklin Regional Panthers (1-0) (Last Week #1) 2. Canon-McMillan Big Macs (2-0) (Last Week #2) 3. Latrobe Wildcats (2-0) (Last Week #3)MSA Sports Top Ten – PIHL Hockey – 12/18/2013
December 18, 2013
Here are the latest MSA Sports Sports Frozen Fab Five rankings of PIHL hockey teams in each of the four classifications. Don't miss the PIHL Notebook every Monday on our website and the weekly PIHL Power Play Show every Wednesday night at 8:00pm here on the home of the best high school hockey coverage, the MSA Sports Network at www.MSAsports.net PIHL CLASS AAA:MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Boys Basketball – 12/17/2013
December 17, 2013
Here are the latest MSA Sports Top Ten WPIAL Boys Basketball rankings for the 2013-2014 season. Each Tuesday during the regular season, MSA Sports will release a new Top Ten boys hoops rankings plus daily updated standings with various daily broadcasts and the WPIAL Roundball Report on Wednesday nights at 6:00pm ALL here at MSAsports.net WPIAL CLASS AAAA: 1. New Castle Red Hurricane (4-0) (Last Week #1) 2. Hampton Talbots (4-0) (Last Week #2) 3. Fox Chapel Foxes (4-0) (Last Week #3) 4. North Allegheny Tigers (4-0) (Last Week #6)MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Girls Basketball – 12/06/2013
December 16, 2013
Here are the latest MSA Sports Top Ten WPIAL Girls Basketball rankings for the 2013-2014 season...including a NEW #1 in Class AAAA. Each Monday during the regular season, MSA Sports will release a new Top Ten girls hoops rankings plus daily updated standings with various daily broadcasts and the WPIAL Roundball Report on Wednesday nights at 6:00pm ALL here at MSAsports.net WPIAL CLASS AAAA: 1. Mount Lebanon Blue Devils (3-0) (Last Week #3) 2. North Allegheny Tigers (3-1) (Last Week #1) 3. Fox Chapel Foxes (3-1) (Last Week #4)PIHL Notebook – 12/16/2013
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 overtime action in Class AAA and the Open Class. Last but not least, we round things out with a preview of three upcoming broadcasts, including one in Class A which the “PIHL Power Play” crew will have for you on Thursday. So, let’s light the lamp on this edition of “PIHL Notebook.” MELTING THE ICE (Records listed indicate current unbeaten streak):This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 12/16/2013
Like the big guy, we are checking our lists to see who has been naughty and who has been logging on to msasports.net to fall under the nice column all this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have plenty of WPIAL, District 6 and District 9 high school basketball and scholastic wrestling action along with PIHL high school hockey and men's and women's college hoops, plus Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle, the PIHL Power Play Show and the final edition of This Week in the WPIAL as we salute the four WPIAL champions from Coach's Bottleshop and Grille ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, December 16th:Central Catholic Has Bid For Perfection Come Up Short in PIAA AAAA Championship
The St. Joseph’s Prep Hawks (12-3) made it two for two for the Philadelphia Catholic League, using a dominating second half to push the Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings (15-1) from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 35-10 victory Sunday night at Hersheypark Stadium. The Vikings led 10-7 at the half, but lost starting quarterback and Florida State recruit JJ Cosentino to a left ankle injury in the third quarter. Senior quarterback Chris Martin led the Hawks back from the halftime deficit, throwing for 192 yards and three touchdowns against a Central Catholic defense that had only surrendered 85 points and pitched seven shutouts coming into the championship tilt.Lions Roar to First State Football Title
December 15, 2013
It was a record setting day for the South Fayette Lions, tying a PIAA title game record with 35 first half points, en route to a 41-0 victory over Imhotep Charter to win the Class AA title for the first time in school history. The victory also caps an undefeated season for the Lions, going 16-0. Junior quarterback Brett Brumbaugh became the single season passing leader in WPIAL history, besting his brother Christian’s record of 3,726 yards set in 2010. Brumbaugh set the record in style with a 64-yard touchdown pass to Justin Watson on the second play of the second quarter.Blackhawk Cougars Hockey Game Recap for 12/12/13
December 14, 2013
At the Beaver County Ice Arena the Blackhawk Cougars improved to 6-3 with an 8-1 victory over the Trinity Hillers. It was all Cougars in the first period. Kyle Schaefer opened up the scoring at the 6:11 mark with a slap shot to make it 1-0. Robbie Swinderman, and Grant Rombold, would each score and Austin Javens would score twice as Blackhawk would lead 5-0 after 1 period. The Cougars were 1 for 2 on the power play and had 21 shots on goal. Into the second period Hiller goalie Nathan Connelly was replaced in net by Zacchary Kagle and he would only allow one goal in period 2. Rombold would score his second of the game at 5:27 on a wrist shot to make it 6-0. The Cougars would have 25 shots on goal in period two.
Archbishop Wood Wins PIAA Class AAA Football Title
Seventh year head coach Steve Devlin knew adjustments needed to be made and made they were in the Class AAA championship game at Hersheypark Stadium on Friday night as the Archbishop Wood Vikings used a pounding, time consuming ground game to defeat the Bishop McDevitt Crusaders to claim their second PIAA football crown with a 22-10 victory. Jarrett McClenton set a PIAA Class AAA title records with 40 carries and 238 yards as the Vikings used a drive that last just over twelve minutes to extend the lead to 14-3 with 4:05 remaining in regulation time. Archbishop Wood possessed the football for almost 33 minutes of a 48 minute regulation game. The defense did their part, holding the Crusaders to just 19 yards and one first down in the second half.Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Wins First PIAA Football Crown in Overtime Thriller
December 13, 2013
It was a fairytale ending for the Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans, claiming a 15-14 victory in overtime after rolling the dice. There was no doubt in Head Coach Bob Revenstahl’s mind, he was going for two and the win. It was, afterall, a decision that paid off in an opening season victory over Apollo-Ridge and it paid off with an undefeated season and a PIAA Class A Football Championship on Friday afternoon at Hersheypark Stadium.2013 MSA SPORTS ELITE ELEVEN
The Elite 11 all-star team this year is full of record breakers. The Elite 11 is made up of the top 11 players in the WPIAL, regardless of position. It is picked by the MSA Sports staff. This year’s Elite 11 includes: the all-time leading passer in WPIAL history; another quarterback who is close to records; a running back who is the leading rusher in Aliquippa history; a quarterback who made history this season with his arm and legs; a receiver who set a school record for receiving yards. Here is a look at the 2013 Elite 11: 2013 PLAYER OF THE YEAR CHASE WINOVICH, THOMAS JEFFERSON QB/RB-LB, 6-4, 220, SENIOR Looking for the top player in the WPIAL? The “Chase” is on.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Wrestling – 12/13/2013
Here are the latest Top 10 rankings in WPIAL Team Wrestling. Every Thursday through January, MSA Sports ranks the top ten teams in both the WPIAL Class AAA and Class AA team wrestling. Don't miss Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle Show every Monday at 7:00pm AND weekly matches broadcast on Wednesday's and select weekends only here on the MSA Sports Network. Section records in parenthesis. WPIAL CLASS AAA: 1. Franklin Regional Panthers (0-0) (Last Week #1) 2. Canon-McMillan Big Macs (1-0) (Last Week #2) 3. Latrobe Wildcats (1-0) (Last Week #3)Big Game Hunting – The Football Fourpack for Week 16
December 11, 2013
The final Big Game Hunting of the 2013 season is here, and we are delighted that we still have three teams to talk about in week sixteen. For the 11th time in the history of the state playoffs District 7 will be represented by three teams. The WPIAL will be looking to add to their lead in the chase for state championships, the WPIAL enters this weekend with 33 state championships, districts 3 and 4 are tied for second place with 11 championships each. MSA Sports will have you covered from Hershey for all three district teams vying for titles.MSA Sports Top Ten – PIHL Hockey – 12/11/2013
Here are the latest MSA Sports Sports Frozen Fab Five rankings of PIHL hockey teams in each of the four classifications...including a NEW #1 team in the Open Class. Don't miss the PIHL Notebook every Monday on our website and the weekly PIHL Power Play Show every Wednesday night at 8:00pm here on the home of the best high school hockey coverage, the MSA Sports Network at www.MSAsports.net PIHL CLASS AAA: 1) PETERS TOWNSHIP INDIANS (7-1-0) (Last Week #1) 2) NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS (4-2-1) (Last Week #2) 3) SENECA VALLEY RAIDERS (5-3-0) (Last Week #4)Scholastic Notebook – 12/09/2013
December 9, 2013
In 24 hours, basketball player Anthony Richards went from making nothing – to the New Castle record books. It was one of the oddest starts to a season you’ll see from a player, a Jekyll and Hyde thing for Richards, a 5-foot-7 senior guard at New Castle who has been a starter on two WPIAL championship teams. The season started Friday and Richards went scoreless in a victory against West Middlesex. It was hard to believe from one of the best shooters in the WPIAL. He also was 0 for 2 from the free-throw line. But the next night was a totally different story. Richards was “unconscious” from the field, making a school-record nine 3-pointers as New Castle crushed Perry, 88-34. Richards scored all of his 27 points on 3-pointers.PIHL Notebook – 12/09/2013
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 some great action in Class A, highlighted by a blowout upset featuring two former section rivals. Last but not least, we round things out with a preview of three upcoming broadcasts, two of which feature some powerhouses in Class AA. So, let’s light the lamp on this edition of “PIHL Notebook.” Oh, and by the way, Happy Birthday, Mom!This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 12/08/2013
December 8, 2013
Well the weather outside is frightful, but the broadcast schedule for the final week of the high school football season is quite delightful this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have all three remaining WPIAL football champions in action this weekend as the Road to Hershey concludes with the PIAA Football Championship Games at Hersheypark Stadium. We also open up section play in boys and girls high school basketball along with the start of section action on the mats in high school wrestling and men's and women's college basketball as well, plus Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle and the PIHL Power Play Show ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, December 9th:Road to Hershey Semifinals Recaps
The three remaining WPIAL football champions on the Road to Hershey have all met their final destination of playing for a state title next weekend at Hersheypark Stadium, two of them based on impressive one-sided victories while the other struggled, but prevailed as Pittsburgh Central Catholic, South Fayette and Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic all improved to a perfect 15-0 with PIAA Semifinals on Saturday. PIAA CLASS AAAA: Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings 45 - Lower Dauphin Falcons 0 In a PIAA Semifinal defensive performance for the ages, WPIAL AAAA Champion Pittsburgh Central Catholic (15-0) pounded District 3 Champion Lower Dauphin 45-0 at Mansion Park Stadium in Altoona.
