Westmoreland County basketball playoff preview capsule for Feb. 24, 2025

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Sunday, February 23, 2025 | 2:34 PM

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WPIAL basketball playoffs

Boys

Class 2A

Semifinals

3-Jeannette (21-2) vs. 2-Sewickley Academy (20-4)

7:30 p.m. Monday at Fox Chapel

Winner plays: Winner of 8-Union (18-6)/4-Neshannock (21-2) at 5 p.m. on Friday in championship at Petersen Events Center

Players to watch: Adam Ikamba, Sewickley Academy; Markus McGowan, Jeannette

Layup lines: Sewickley Academy is in the semifinals for the first time since 2019. The Panthers held off a late rally from Chartiers-Houston to win 48-39 in the quarterfinals. They are one of the tallest teams in the WPIAL with Ikamba and Mamadou Kane both at 6-foot-8 and Rob Southall at 6-3. The Panthers average 59 points and allow 37.5. Two of their losses are to Class A Nazareth Prep, including one by a score of 26-25. They also lost to Farrell, 58-54, and The Kiski School, 65-47. Jeannette beat Sewickley Academy in the first round last year 52-47 at home. The Panthers’ last finals appearance was in 2018 when they won back-to-back WPIAL titles. Guard Lucas Grimsley is the leading scorer (12 ppg). Sewickley Academy is coached by former Dallas Mavericks guard Mike Iuzzolino, whose son, Mike, plays for Saint Vincent. … Jeannette overcame a 16-point deficit late in the third quarter to rally past No. 6 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 55-50, to reach the semis for the first time since 2021. Jayce Powell scored 14 of his game-high-tying 18 in the second half, McGowan had 14 and Kymon’e Brown 13. The Jayhawks used a 16-0 run to get back into the game. They play a fast-paced style and average 68.4 points. They are 12-1 on the road this season. Jeannette last made the WPIAL finals in 2015 when it was in Class A. Jayhawks assistant Julian Batts was the top scorer on that team. Sewickley Academy beat Jeannette in the 2019 semis (47-44), ’17 semis (80-51), and ’16 semis, 69-68 (Class A).

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

Tags: Jeannette, Sewickley Academy