WCCA summer hoops shootout returns next week

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, June 28, 2018 | 6:30 PM

After a mostly seamless trial run last summer, the Westmoreland County Coaches Association will bring back its boys basketball shootout.

A dozen area schools will be represented July 6 at Hempfield.

Each team gets three games in a round-robin format, but no champion will be recognized.

“It's a really nice event to promote our sport and bring the players and coaches from our county together to enjoy a nice day of competition,” Hempfield coach Bill Swan said.

The WCCA put on a successful cycle of events — wrestling, football, swimming and track and field included — and wanted to add basketball to the rotation.

Latrobe finished 3-0 last year, including a 62-59 overtime win over Valley in the event's final game. The Wildcats, who feature standouts Reed Fenton and Bryce Butler, return this year.

New coaches will be the theme at this year's event. Five participating teams will have new coaches next season: Belle Vernon (Joe Salvino), Mt. Pleasant (Allan Bilinsky), Derry (Tom Esposito), Greensburg Central Catholic (TBD) and Kiski Area (Will Saunders).

Friday's schedule is as follows:

9 a.m. — Derry vs. Southmoreland; Mt. Pleasant vs. Greensburg C.C.; Kiski Area vs. Burrell

10 a.m. — Connellsville vs. Belle Vernon; Hempfield vs. Valley; Latrobe vs. Jeannette

11 a.m. — Greensburg C.C. vs. Derry; Belle Vernon vs. Southmoreland; Mt. Pleasant vs. Burrell

Noon — Hempfield vs. Jeannette; Connellsville vs. Valley; Latrobe vs. Kiski Area

1 p.m. — Greensburg C.C. vs. Belle Vernon; Burrell vs. Derry; Mt. Pleasant vs. Southmoreland

2 p.m. — Latrobe vs. Valley; Hempfield vs. Kiski Area; Connellsville vs. Jeannette

Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Burrell, Connellsville, Derry Area, Greensburg C.C., Hempfield Area, Jeannette, Kiski School, Mt. Pleasant, Southmoreland, Valley