Trib HSSN boys basketball team of the week for Feb. 13, 2025

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, February 13, 2025 | 3:43 PM

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Trib HSSN boys basketball team of the week – Woodland Hills Wolverines

Coach – Steve Scorpion (first season at Woodland Hills, eighth season overall)

Records – 11-11 overall, 6-8 in Section 1-6A

#Earned – In its first year in Class 6A, Woodland Hills barely had a pulse at the midway point of section play this season with a 1-6 record and tied for last place in the eight-team Section 1. However, the Wolverines competed in all but one of those six section losses early on, giving them confidence in a competitive section for success in the second half. With their backs to the wall, the final week of the regular season began with a Feb. 2 nonsection victory over 2024 3A runner-up Burrell, 57-51 in overtime. The final home game of the season took place Feb. 4 as Woody High jumped out to an early lead, only to have Seneca Valley rally to go up after three quarters. With the game tied and two seconds remaining, sophomore Donshae Mosely sunk two free throws and junior Scoop Smith followed with a steal to secure the win and keep the Wolverines’ playoff hopes alive, 53-51. Still in must-win mode but in control of its own destiny, Woodland Hills traveled to battle playoff-bound North Hills on Friday, the same Indians team that routed them earlier in the season by 26 points. The script was flipped as the Wolverines led by eight at halftime and by 13 points after three before outscoring the Indians in the final quarter, 23-11, to roll to a postseason clinching triumph, 59-34.

Scoring stars – Woodland Hills relied on three players on offense in the three wins over Burrell, Seneca Valley and North Hills last week. Playing without star guard Scoop Smith, who was away on a football visit, fellow junior Calvin Barksdale led the Wolverines with 15 points in their overtime victory over Burrell in the Win Palmer Memorial Classic at Sewickley Academy. On Tuesday at home, Mosely led the way with 17 points, including the two game- winning free throws late in regulation. Smith had the game-sealing steal and added 11 points. Mosely and Smith led the way again for Woody High in the victory at North Hills as each pumped in 14 points while Barksdale added 10. For the season, Smith is averaging over 18 points per game.

Last year – The 2024 season marked the final one for at least two years for the Wolverines playing in Class 5A. Woodland Hills finished 5-5 in Section 2-5A, good enough for fourth place and a postseason berth. The regular season included three two-game winning streaks and a five-game losing skid. Following losses in three of its four final regular season contests, Woodland Hills began the postseason with a victory over Trinity in a preliminary round contest, 64-42. Amere Brown and Lamar Williams each had 14 points for the Wolverines. That earned them the No. 16 seed and a first round trip to No. 1 Moon. It did not go well for the visitors as the Tigers picked up their first triumph on their way to a WPIAL championship by crushing the Wolverines, 73-39. Williams was the only Wolverines player in double-digit scoring with 12 points as the season ended with a record of 9-14.

Remember when – The Woodland Hills School District is now 44 years old, and the Wolverines have yet to reach a WPIAL boys basketball championship game. However, the lineage of the former schools that make up the district now is a golden one. Three former schools that are part of the district won two district crowns:

• Braddock won two, beating New Kensington in the 1932 3A finals, 29-21, and knocked off Coraopolis in the 1966 2A title game, 54-51.

• Edgewood won two, cruising past Avonworth in the 1962 finals, 52-39, and edging German in the 1973 Class A championship game, 51-49.

• North Braddock Scott has two titles, beating Duquesne in the 1931 Class 3A finals, 36-11, and getting by Ford City in the 1943 3A championship contest, 34-29.

• Rankin captured one championship, beating Beaver Falls in the 1935 finals, 44-30.

• Turtle Creek won one WPIAL boys hoops gold by crushing Freeport in the 1967 Class 2A title game, 77-56.

2025 Trib HSSN Boys Basketball Teams of the Week

Week 5 – Jeannette Jayhawks

Week 4 – Baldwin Highlanders

Week 3 – Elizabeth Forward Warriors

Week 2 – New Castle Red Hurricanes

Week 1 – Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles

Tags: Woodland Hills