Westmoreland County basketball notebook: Norwin familiar with semifinal opponent

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Monday, February 24, 2025 | 4:45 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Norwin is approaching its next opponent with caution.

The Knights (14-7), a win away from a second straight trip to the WPIAL Class 6A girls basketball final, will take on Canon-McMillan (14-8) in the semifinals at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Mt. Lebanon.

While Norwin cruised in the first Section 2 matchup with the Big Macs, it had to eke out a win in the second. The first score was 56-40, the second 32-30.

“The last time we played them, we didn’t show our best potential,” Norwin senior guard Bella Furno said.

Adjusting to the pace of games was a strength for last year’s Norwin team, which won the program’s third WPIAL title. Longtime Knights coach Brian Brozeski knows his team has to dictate the tempo early to take the third meeting and return to the “Pete.”

“Canon-Mac is a young team with a great coach (John Fontana),” Brozeski said. “They keep getting better, and they’re growing as a team.

“It’s dangerous when you have a young, hungry team.”

Canon-McMillan does not have a senior on the roster. Norwin has four, all starters.

Section 2 muscle

Many consider Section 2 to be superior to Section 1 in 6A girls, and the proof is in the playoffs.

All four semifinalists are from Section 2: Norwin (14-7), Upper St. Clair (17-6), Canon-McMillan (14-8) and Mt. Lebanon (14-9).

Rematch for GCC

Greensburg Central Catholic was glad to see Shady Side Academy on the opposite side of the WPIAL 3A bracket, but come Thursday evening, the Centurions will have to face the Bulldogs for a third time.

No. 2 seed GCC (20-5) will take on No. 1 Shady Side Academy (24-0) in the championship at 7 p.m. at Pitt’s Petersen Events Center.

It will be a matchup of champions: Shady Side will go for a repeat, and GCC won the 2A title last year.

Shady Side Academy swept the Centurions in two Section 2 matchups, 62-33 and 59-48.

Juniors Erica Gribble and Jayla Peterson were starters for GCC in last year’s final against Serra Catholic.

Moore plays through injury

Belle Vernon’s Zion Moore rolled his ankle in the first quarter of a quarterfinal win over Elizabeth Forward but played through discomfort Saturday in a thrilling 57-56 win over Avonworth.

While he warmed up gingerly, Moore played most of the game — he had four fouls late — and scored 14 points, upping his career total to 2,060.

“He went through treatments and physical therapy so he could play,” Leopards coach Joe Salvino said. “We weren’t sure what to expect, but he played great.”

Playing for fifth

The Penn-Trafford girls (24-1) will host Baldwin at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the WPIAL 5A consolation bracket. The winner earns fifth place for the PIAA tournament.

The loser is sixth.

Rocco sighting

Local fans will see a familiar face in Thursday’s 4A boys championship when Belle Vernon plays North Catholic.

North Catholic is coached by Jim Rocco, the former Penn-Trafford coach who took over the Trojans program in 2021.

Rocco, known for his time leading Penn Hills, where he won a WPIAL and PIAA title, is a teacher at Penn-Trafford.

He guided the Warriors from 2015-20.

Moonlight Graham

A Belle Vernon basketball legend was in the house when the Leopards took the court Saturday at Peters Township.

Leopards’ all-time leading scorer Vince Graham was there for the second game of the playoff tripleheader, Serra Catholic vs. Nazareth Prep.

Graham’s son, Brayden Graham, is a sophomore at Serra.

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

Tags: Belle Vernon, Greensburg C.C., Norwin, Penn-Trafford