Westmoreland County basketball playoff preview capsules for Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2025

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Tuesday, February 18, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Boys

Class 4A

Quarterfinals

8-Elizabeth Forward (18-5) at 1-Belle Vernon (18-4)

7 p.m. Wednesday

Winner plays: Winner of 4-Avonworth (17-5)/5-Knoch (17-6) in semifinals Saturday (time, site TBD)

Players to watch: Cy Herchelroath, Elizabeth Forward; Zion Moore, Belle Vernon

Layup lines: Elizabeth Forward collected its first playoff win since 2014, 61-56 over No. 9 Highlands, as Herchelroath scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Tyler Basic is a dangerous shooter who scored 41 in a game this season against Greensburg Salem. He hit 11 3-pointers in the 87-55 win. Speaking of Greensburg Salem, Elizabeth Forward coach Nolan Larry is a Golden Lions alumnus. Elizabeth Forward lost to North Catholic in the first round last season. … Belle Vernon, one of the top scoring teams in the WPIAL (69.3 ppg), takes a 12-game winning streak into the postseason. Its last loss was to Deer Lakes on Dec. 27 when three starters were missing from the lineup. Moore (26 ppg) has more than 2,000 career points, and Trevor Kovatch is a steady presence in the backcourt. Dominic Ghalani and Tommy Davis are a strong post tandem. Belle Vernon has one WPIAL basketball title (1978).

Class A

Quarterfinals

6-Monessen (13-8) at 3-Nazareth Prep (17-4)

7 p.m. Wednesday at Sewickley Academy

Winner plays: Winner of 7-Summit Academy (9-7)/2-Serra Catholic (19-3)

Players to watch: Rodney Johnson, Monessen; Will Evans, Nazareth Prep

Layup lines: Monessen is in the WPIAL playoffs for a league-record 44th straight time. The Greyhounds average 60.6 points. TyVaughn Kershaw leads a quick backcourt, and Johnson is a strong defender and rebounder. Monessen has lost three games in a row, including 71-70 in double overtime to Geibel Catholic. … Nazareth Prep has won seven straight games, including an odd 26-25 win over 2A Sewickley Academy. The next game, Nazareth Prep scored 87 against Cornell. The 6-foot-8 Evans is a force around the rim and often is a sure bet for a double-double.

Girls

Class 5A

Quarterfinals

6-Thomas Jefferson (19-4) at 3-Penn-Trafford (23-0)

6 p.m. Wednesday at Norwin

Winner plays: Winner of 2-Peters Township (20-3)/7-Indiana (18-5) Saturday in semifinals (time, site TBD)

Players to watch: Kaylee DeAngelo, Thomas Jefferson; Lauren Marton, Penn-Trafford

Layup lines: DeAngelo scored a game-high 20 points, including five 3-pointers, and Maggie Spell added 19 as Thomas Jefferson cruised past No. 11 seed Latrobe, 68-47. The Jaguars used a 27-point third quarter to pull away from the Wildcats. DeAngelo transferred from Oakland Catholic, and Spell left Shady Side Academy to join Thomas Jefferson, which lost last season in the preliminary round. … Penn-Trafford continued its undefeated season with a 63-46 victory over Plum in the first round. Isabella Klobucar scored a season-high 14 points, including four 3-pointers, to lead the Warriors, while Martin and Torrie DeStefano scored 12 each. The Warriors have not reached the semifinals since 2014 when they won their only WPIAL title (4A). Both teams have clinched spots in the PIAA playoffs.

Class 3A

Quarterfinals

7-Quaker Valley (15-8) vs. 2-Greensburg Central Catholic (18-5)

6 p.m. Wednesday at Mt. Lebanon

Winner plays: Winner of 3-OLSH (20-3)/6-Avonworth (16-7) Satruday in semifinals (time, site TBD)

Players to watch: Mimi Thiero, Quaker Valley; Jayla Peterson, Greensburg Central Catholic

Layup lines: Quaker Valley, led by the 6-4 Thiero, pushed past No. 10 McGuffey, 39-35, to advance to the quarterfinals. Thiero scored 25 points for the Quakers, who lost in the 4A first round last year. Thiero has more than 40 Division I college offers, including from North Carolina, Pitt, Penn State, Michigan, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and others. Quaker Valley made the semifinals in 2023. … Much like it did in most of its playoff games last year, Greensburg Central Catholic coasted in the first round with a 66-31 win over Brownsville. Richmond commit Erica Gribble led all scorers with 27 points, and Peterson added 16. GCC led 22-5 after the first quarter. The Centurions won the WPIAL 2A championship last season.

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

Tags: Belle Vernon, Monessen, Nazareth Prep