Westmoreland H.S. lookahead: Week of Dec. 17-22

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, December 16, 2018 | 7:00 PM

Highlights of the week ahead in Westmoreland high school sports:

MONDAY

Boys basketball: Franklin Regional will get a rematch with Mars when the fourth-ranked Panthers host the No. 1 Planets in Murrysville in Section 3-5A. The teams played each other in the WPIAL championship last year with Mars winning, 54-44.

Latrobe at Allderdice is another intriguing matchup. Latrobe is the new No. 1 in Class 6A.

Girls basketball: Latrobe is trying to prove it is a contender in Class 5A, and the Wildcats will face a stern road test when they travel to Oakland Catholic in Section 3.

Franklin Regional hosts Plum before the boys game against Mars, in Section 2-5A.

Other section games to watch include Albert Gallatin at Penn-Trafford (3-5A), Greensburg Salem at Burrell (1-4A), McKeesport at Southmoreland (3-4A), and Mt. Pleasant at Yough (3-4A).

Greensburg Central Catholic plays a nonsection game at Riverview.

Hockey: In a Class AA doubleheader at the Bairel Complex, Franklin Regional takes on Quaker Valley at 7 p.m., followed by Penn-Trafford against Mars at 8:30.

In Class A, Norwin visits South Park at 8:30 at Ice Castle in Castle Shannon.

TUESDAY

Boys basketball: Greensburg Salem is adjusting to being the only Westmoreland team in its section. The Golden Lions welcome McKeesport in their Section 1-5A opener.

Other local section matchups to watch: Franklin Regional at Armstrong (3-5A), and Imani Christian at Greensburg Central Catholic (3-A).

Some nonsection matchups of note include Hempfield at Bethel Park, Connellsville at Derry, and North Catholic at Norwin.

Girls basketball : No. 4 Norwin looks for a 2-0 start in its new section (1-6A) when it travels to North Hills.

WEDNESDAY

Wrestling: It’s early in the season, but there always seems to be a marquee match in Section 1-AAA. This week, it’s Penn-Trafford at Kiski Area in the A subdivision. The schedule also has Norwin at Central Catholic.

Section 3-AA (B) has Derry at Elizabeth Forward, and Mt. Pleasant at Southmoreland.

In Section 1-AAA (B), Latrobe visits Hempfield, and Belle Vernon wrestles at Connellsville in Section 2-AAA (A).

Girls basketball : Class 5A No. 4 Gateway travels to Hempfield for a nonsection battle.

THURSDAY

Girls basketball: Norwin hosts Seneca Valley in Section 1-6A play, Knoch plays at Greensburg Salem in Section 1-4A, and Jeannette hosts Riverview in Section 2-AA.

Boys basketball : Yough hosts Class 4A newcomer Highlands in a Section 1 game in Herminie.

FRIDAY

Boys basketball: A much-anticipated Section 3-6A clash features Fox Chapel at Latrobe. The teams have put on a show in recent years, and this one is expected to follow suit. The section has another good one in Norwin at Hempfield.

More local section matchups include Greensburg Salem at Woodland Hills (1-5A), Derry at Freeport (1-4A), and Knoch at Mt. Pleasant (1-4A).

Girls basketball: A game that could have a playoff feel is Latrobe at Penn Hills in Section 3-5A.

Greensburg Central Catholic plays at Propel in Section 3-A, and Belle Vernon visits Mt. Pleasant (3-4A).

Hockey : The local highlight has Latrobe playing Hempfield in a Class AA rivalry game at 5:50 p.m. at Kirk Nevin Arena.

SATURDAY

Boys basketball: Jeannette and Greensburg Central Catholic no longer play in the same section, but they’ll renew their rivalry in a 3:30 p.m. game in Carbon.

Another rivalry matchup is Hempfield at Greensburg Salem, which has a 3 p.m. tip.

Girls basketball: Former section rivals meet when Jeannette visits Greensburg Central Catholic at 2 p.m.

—Bill Beckner Jr.

Bill Beckner is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.