Westmoreland County boys basketball notebook: Derry chasing 1st section title since 1957

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, February 5, 2026 | 5:24 PM

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Derry has been a before in a room of afters for too long. The Trojans think they are ready to take the next step as a postseason contender.

Wins over Elizabeth Forward and Belle Vernon — games that presented problems for Derry in the past — have them in the Class 4A conversation.

Validation, though, could come in the form of something the team hasn’t done in nearly 70 years: a section title.

Yes, it’s been a long time.

Derry has not won a section in boys basketball since 1957. But the No. 4-ranked Trojans (14-6, 9-2) are tied atop Section 3-4A with the team they will visit Friday night, Elizabeth Forward (12-7, 8-2).

The winner wins the section. If it’s Derry, it will be historic.

“History hasn’t been made yet,” Derry coach Tom Esposito said. “Since Christmas, we’ve been approaching the second half of the season day-to-day with the mindset to get better every day in practice and play as hard as we can on both ends of the court.”

Esposito doesn’t like to look too far ahead, but with Friday’s game the only one on the schedule, it’s all about EF.

“We have been focused to be playing our best basketball in the second round of section,” Esposito said. “Play one day and one game at a time.”

Playoff teams

Six local teams have clinched WPIAL playoff spots, with more likely on the way.

Qualifiers include Penn-Trafford (10-10) and Franklin Regional (12-8) in Class 5A; Derry (14-6), Belle Vernon (13-9) and Burrell (10-12) in 4A; Southmoreland (13-7) and Ligonier Valley (11-9) in 3A; and Jeannette (16-1) and Greensburg Central Catholic (6-14) in 2A.

Monessen (10-8) is looking to secure its 45^th straight postseason berth, in Class A. The Greyhounds have not missed the playoffs since 1981. The streak is a WPIAL record.

Other bubble teams that could clinch Friday are: Norwin (11-10) in 6A, Latrobe (8-12) and Kiski Area (10-9) in 5A, and Greensburg Salem (9-11) in 4A.

Norwin can clinch with a win over Hempfield or an Imani Christian loss to Central Catholic.

Double Scotties

Southmoreland accomplished something it hadn’t done since 1988: The Scotties captured a second straight section championship.

Southmoreland (13-7, 9-0) pulled away to take Section 4-3A. It has a three-game lead over Charleroi and Ligonier Valley with one section game remaining.

High-tech training

Look behind the backboards at Penn-Trafford and you’ll see small, black boxes.

The inconspicuous devices are changing the way the Warriors shoot the basketball — with a result-driven approach.

Penn-Trafford is the first WPIAL gym to install the data-analyzing Noah Basketball system, which is used by 28 NBA teams, more than 200 NCAA programs and over 1,000 high schools nationwide.

“I heard about it on a podcast and wanted us to get it,” Warriors coach Doug Kelly said. “It’s really neat the way it tracks everything. The kids love it. They want to shoot. They hear a voice when they make or miss shots.

“You always want to look at something that helps your guys get better at shooting.”

The device tracks shots and provides instant shot data on a phone app.

It includes arc and depth, from varying spots on the floor, and delivers immediate shot charts. Data can be filtered to break down and reset for another session.

The box can be used during games to log makes and misses in real time.

1,000 club

Jeannette honored its 1,000-point scorers Tuesday when it hosted rival Greensburg Central Catholic.

Not only did the Jayhawks celebrate with a 70-43 victory, but they raised a new banner with all 23 players who have scored 1,000 or more, including two players on this year’s team, Kymon’e Brown and Markus McGowan, the latter of whom scored 30 points in the win.

Several of the scorers returned to be recognized, including Jermaine Morgan, Alvin Maloy, Jordan Thomas, Davonte Shannon, Donnie Binda, Lisa Abreu, Diamond Crawford and others.

Starters sit

Load management in the WPIAL? Sort of.

Latrobe made a unique decision when it played in the Shootout at Saint Vincent last weekend, resting its starters and playing backups and junior varsity players against Bishop Guilfoyle.

The move was peculiar and debatable, and spectators initially questioned it.

Wildcats coach Brad Wetzel did not attend the game due to personal reasons, but knew the game plan might come with static.

Latrobe (7-12, 5-7) did not want to risk injury to its top players with two critical Section 1-5A games left. The Wildcats are trying to secure a playoff spot.

They fell to Bishop Guilfoyle, 74-28.

“We’re trying to do what’s best for the kids, realizing it may be controversial,” Wetzel said. “I couldn’t forgive myself if I cost my team a chance to make the playoffs.”

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

Tags: Belle Vernon, Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Hempfield, Jeannette, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Penn-Trafford