Westmoreland County high school notebook: Tipoff tournaments offer marquee matchups

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, November 22, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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The WPIAL sports calendar flips to winter Friday as basketball season opens across the region.

While there are fewer tip-off tournaments than usual, and the local schedule will be light for opening night, one event stands out.

The six-team Latrobe boys tipoff tournament looks like the place to be. The two-day event will feature one of the better opening matchups with defending WPIAL Class 2A champion Jeannette taking on Class 5A Indiana at 5 p.m. Friday.

Jeannette has all five starters back, including Kymon’e Brown and Markus McGowan, and Indiana features 6-foot-8 Aaron Webb, who has college offers from Pepperdine and James Madison.

The other teams in the tournament are Latrobe, Windber, Quaker Valley and Richland.

The other matchups Friday at Latrobe are Quaker Valley vs. Windber at 3 p.m. and Richland vs. Latrobe at 7.

On Saturday, it’s Windber vs. Jeannette at 11 a.m., Indiana vs. Latrobe at 1 p.m. and Richland vs. Quaker Valley at 3.

Another local returning champion, the Greensburg Central Catholic girls, who won in Class 3A last year after taking 2A two years ago, will open at the Wright Automotive Tip-Off at North Allegheny. The Centurions, led by standout Erica Gribble, are set to take on all comers, regardless of classification. They play Class 5A power South Fayette on Friday and Class 6A Mt. Lebanon on Saturday.

The MVI Shootout Classic has eight boys teams and will be Friday and Saturday at West Mifflin. Ringgold and returning WPIAL Class 4A champion Belle Vernon will play at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

The 4:30 p.m. matchup Friday is Bishop Canevin vs. Elizabeth Forward. Bishop Canevin is coached by Monessen alum Tim Tyree.

On Saturday, Belle Vernon will play Bishop Canevin, matching up Monessen grads in Tyree and new Belle Vernon coach Ricky Tyburski.

Two other area girls teams will tip at the Play 4 Mae Tournament at Woodland Hills.

Penn-Trafford, led by new coach Chuck Fontana, plays Berlin BrothersValley at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, then faces Allderdice at 3:15 p.m. Sunday.

The Norwin boys open against visiting North Allegheny at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Ring chasing

Three local WPIAL basketball champions have their rings or will get them soon.

The Greensburg Central Catholic girls received rings over the summer.

The team took a bonding day and went to Ohiopyle State Park in Fayette County.

On Aug. 30, they walked the grounds, enjoyed the sunshine and waterfalls and commemorated their second straight title.

Jeannette’s boys, who won in Class 2A for their first title since 2008, will get rings Dec. 2 when the Jayhawks host Steel Valley in their home opener.

The Belle Vernon boys, who won the Class 4A title for their first championship since 1978, will pass out rings later in the season. Tyburski said the team was ironing out details.

Moe award

The sixth Moe Rosensteel Most Outstanding Player of the Year Award will be announced next week.

Westmoreland County continued to have strong representation for the award that honors the top girls soccer player in the WPIAL.

Mt. Pleasant’s Morgan Gesinski is one of the top three finalists. She also was a finalist last year.

Robin Reilly of Latrobe was a finalist in 2023 and ’24.

The other finalists this year are Natalie DiSora of Upper St. Clair and Emily McKee of Fox Chapel.

Recruiting

• Greensburg Central Catholic basketball player Abby Dlugos will continue her playing career at Westminster. The senior forward is primed for a big final prep season after returning from a knee injury.

• Jack Kopas of Hempfield picked up his second Division II football offer from the PSAC. Gannon reached out to the receiver and defensive back.

• Penn-Trafford’s Bryce Ruby and Nick Mendoza of Jeannette were offered Division III football roster spots, Ruby at Saint Vincent, Mendoza at Waynesburg.

• Hempfield basketball player Danny Husenits has opportunities to play Division III basketball at Waynesburg, Pitt-Greensburg, Pitt-Bradford and Hiram.

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., Hempfield, Jeannette, Latrobe, Mt. Pleasant, Penn-Trafford