Westmoreland County high school basketball notebook: Losses never fazed Norwin

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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At 15-7, the Norwin girls don’t have a snazzy record.

But that has never been the Knights’ objective.

“Sure, it would be cool to beat everyone and be undefeated,” senior guard Kendall Berger said. “But you don’t learn from winning constantly. You grow from losing some and it builds character.”

Norwin’s seniors have experienced some losses, yes, but they also have a chance to win back-to-back WPIAL Class 6A titles.

Top-seeded Norwin will take on No. 2 Upper St. Clair (18-6) at 5 p.m. Saturday in the championship game at Petersen Events Center.

“Those seniors have seen it all,” Norwin coach Brian Brozeski said. “Look at the games they’ve been in. They sacrificed for us, but it was for a good reason.”

Brozeski has more than 250 wins and three WPIAL titles in 14 years guiding Norwin.

Each year, Brozeski has a hand in scheduling top competition, even if teams are from outside of the WPIAL or from smaller classifications.

If Norwin blows a team out, it is a surprise because of the level of competition.

“It prepares us better,” Norwin junior Ava Christopher said. “Games against teams like Perkiomen Valley and Spring-Ford have prepared us more (for the playoffs).”

Norwin played Penn-Trafford to open the season, then faced Abington Heights, State College, Kennedy Catholic and Perkiomen Valley, all in a row, before starting section play. Those teams have a combined record of 93-24.

The Knights also played North Catholic, Shaler and Bishop Guilfoyle in nonsection action.

PIAA playoffs

Westmoreland County qualifiers for the PIAA playoffs are:

Boys – Latrobe and Penn-Trafford in 5A; Belle Vernon in 4A; and Jeannette and Greensburg Central Catholic in 2A.

Girls – Norwin in 6A; Penn-Trafford in 5A; and GCC in 3A.

P-T wins in OT

The Penn-Trafford girls (25-1) clinched fifth place in WPIAL 5A with a 70-69 win over Baldwin Tuesday night.

After Baldwin had what appeared to be the game-winning buzzer-beater waved off at the end of regulation, the Warriors edged out the Highlanders 8-7 in overtime.

Hannah Weishaar led P-T with a career-high 22 points, including five 3-pointers, while Kamryn Pieper had 18 points and 10 rebounds, Bella Klobucar scored 11, and Lauren Marton had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Early dismissal

Jeannette is giving its student body and faculty time to get to Oakland Friday to watch the Jayhawks play in the WPIAL 2A boys championship game.

Jeannette plays Union at 5 p.m. at Petersen Events Center.

The district announced a two-hour early dismissal for students — the high school at 12:40 p.m. and McKee Elementary at 1:15 and 1:30 p.m.

“This is more than just a game,” Jeannette Superintendent said in a letter to the families. “It’s a celebration of our school, our community, and the dedication and hard work of our students.”

County champs

The Belle Vernon and Jeannette boys Norwin and GCC girls will try to win WPIAL titles this week.

Belle Vernon (1978) and Jeannette (2008) each have one title, while Norwin has three (2024, ‘15, ‘16) and GCC has six (2024, ‘07, ‘06, ‘03, 1997, ‘91).

The last county boys team to win a WPIAL championship was Monessen in 2017. The Greyhounds lead the area with eight titles (2017, ‘15, ‘11, ‘02, ‘01, 1995, 1920 and ‘19).

Other local boys champions include Jeannette (2008), Valley (1993), Norwin (1988, ‘86, ‘63), Latrobe (1985), Irwin (1954, ‘53, ‘50, ‘48), Arnold (1942), and New Kensington (1934, ‘30).

Other girls champions are Penn-Trafford (2014), Jeannette (2010), Monessen (2006, ‘04, ‘95), and Franklin Regional (1979, ‘77).

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