Westmoreland County high school basketball playoff preview capsules for Feb. 23, 2026

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 4:09 PM

WPIAL basketball playoffs

Boys

Class 2A

Semifinals

5-Clairton (18-3) vs. 1-Jeannette (21-1)

7:30 p.m. Monday at Norwin

Winner plays: Winner of 3-Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (20-4)/2-Sewickley Academy (23-1) in championship at 5 p.m. Friday at Pitt’s Petersen Events Center

Players to watch: Brandon Murphy, Clairton; Jayce Powell, Jeannette

Layup lines: Clairton advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2012-13 with a 51-36 victory over No. 4 Neshannock. Murphy scored 20 points and Jeff Thompson added 13 for the athletic Bears. Many of the same names who had an impact on their teams during football season dot the scorebook in this matchup, the teams’ third this season. Jeannette won both Section 1 meetings, 57-42 and 54-50. Taris Wooding is a career 1,000-point scorer. Clairton’s other loss was to Neshannock, 57-43, in nonsection play. The Bears dominated Shenango in the first round, 60-27. The Bears were a No. 11 seed when they lost to OLSH last year in the first round. Clairton has six WPIAL titles, the last coming in 2006. … Returning champion Jeanette has won 19 straight games, the last of which was a 52-36 win over No. 9 Eden Christian in a game that was tied 13-13 after one quarter. Powell scored 17 points, 11 in the second half, and Markus McGowan had 15, including three 3-pointers. Jeannette beat Sewickley Academy, 45-25, in last year’s semifinals. The Jayhawks have all five starters back from last year’s title run. They are chasing their third WPIAL title. The first one came in 2008.

Class 4A

Consolation bracket

8-Belle Vernon (14-10) at 5-Hopewell (15-9)

7 p.m. Monday

Winner plays: Winner of 7-Elizabeth Forward (14-10)/6-Central Valley (16-8) at 7 p.m. Wednesday (site TBD)

Players to watch: Elijah Majors, Belle Vernon; Brody Rock, Hopewell

Layup lines: Belle Vernon will not be able to defend its WPIAL championship, but the Leopards can try to make a run in the state tournament. They have to win two games in the consolation bracket to qualify. Belle Vernon lost to Quaker Valley in the quarterfinals, 72-41. Major had a team-high 12 points. … Hopewell was tripped up by Deer Lakes in the quarterfinals, 71-59. The Vikings feature several scoring threats, including James Armstrong, a Division I football prospect, Rock and Justin Shegog.

Class 3A

Consolation bracket

5-Southmoreland (15-9) at 1-Mohawk (21-2)

7 p.m. Monday

Winner plays: Winner of 11-Ligonier Valley (13-11) at 7-Seton LaSalle (18-6) at 7 p.m. Wednesday in fifth-place game (site TBD); Loser plays the loser of 11-Ligonier Valley (13-11) at 7-Seton LaSalle (18-6) at 7 p.m. Wednesday (site TBD) in seventh-place game

Players to watch: Brock Pritts, Southmoreland; Bobby Fadden, Mohawk

Layup lines: Southmoreland fell to Shady Side Academy in the quarterfinals, 47-34. Brady Sherbondy led the Scotties with 10 points. Southmoreland has not been to the PIAA playoffs since 1987. … Mohawk, the No. 1 seed, was upset by South Allegheny in the quarterfinals, 64-63, on a buzzer-beater by Drew Cook. The Warriors got 33 points from Fadden, a standout who plays five sports. Joey Nail added 14. Mohawk also lost to South Allegheny in last year’s semifinals.

11-Ligonier Valley (13-11) at 7-Seton LaSalle (18-6)

7 p.m. Monday

Winner plays: Winner of 5-Southmoreland (15-9) at 1-Mohawk (21-2) at 7 p.m. Wednesday in fifth-place game (site TBD); Loser plays the loser of 5-Southmoreland (15-9) at 1-Mohawk (21-2) at 7 p.m. Wednesday (site TBD) in seventh-place game

Players to watch: Michael Vargulish-Graver, Ligonier Valley; John Wega, Seton LaSalle

Layup lines: Ligonier Valley moved into the consolation bracket following a 56-39 loss to South Park. Michael Wisniewski had 16 points to lead the Rams, who have not made the state tournament since joining the WPIAL. … Seton LaSalle lost to Aliquippa, 50-33, in the quarterfinals. The Rebels lost in the first round last year to Bishop Canevin. Seton LaSalle’s last PIAA playoff trip was in 2023.

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

Tags: Belle Vernon, Clairton, Hopewell, Jeannette, Ligonier Valley, Mohawk, Seton La Salle, Southmoreland