Westmoreland high school look-ahead: Week of Jan. 7, 2019

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, January 6, 2019 | 6:09 PM

Monday

Girls basketball: Franklin Regional pulled a stunner Thursday night with a 52-51 upset of No. 2 Mars in Section 2-5A. Now, the Panthers will look to keep momentum on their side as they host Armstrong.

A busy night of action also has No. 4 Norwin at Butler in Section 1-6A, Penn-Trafford at Woodland Hills (3-5A), Greensburg Salem at No. 1 North Catholic (1-4A), Elizabeth Forward at Southmoreland (3-4A), McKeesport at No. 5 Belle Vernon (3-4A) and No. 2 Greensburg Central Catholic at Leechburg (3-A).

Hockey: Two local PIHL Class AA Southeast matchups to watch are Baldwin at Latrobe (7:15 p.m. at Nevin Arena) and Hempfield vs. Plum (9 at Pittsburgh Ice Arena).

Franklin Regional plays Upper St. Clair at 7 at Ice Castle, and Chartiers Valley plays Greensburg Salem at 9:15 at Center Ice in a Class A South Division matchup.

Tuesday

Boys basketball: Section 3-6A has a trio of strong matchups, with Connellsville at No. 1 Latrobe, Fox Chapel at Norwin and Penn-Trafford at Hempfield. The top four out of six make the WPIAL playoffs in this section, so each game could carry meaning.

A pair of local Class 5A matchups: Greensburg Salem at Gateway (Section 1) and Indiana at Franklin Regional (Section 3).

Derry at Yough in Section 1-4A could end up being one of the top games of the night, and Washington at Southmoreland (4-3A) and No. 4 Jeannette at Chartiers-Houston (2-2A) are other top games.

Girls basketball: Jeannette at Mt. Pleasant has the potential to be close in nonsection action.

Hockey: A Class AA South battle of note has Armstrong at Penn-Trafford (7:10 at Center Ice).

Wednesday

Wrestling: Local dual matches have been exciting this season, and the schedule has the makings of another competive night. No. 9 Norwin at Penn-Trafford, Latrobe at No. 7 Greensburg Salem and Central Catholic at No. 6 Franklin Regional are the top matches in Section 1-AAA.

In Section 2-AAA, Belle Vernon travels to Thomas Jefferson and Southmoreland is at Yough, and No. 10 Elizabeth Forward visits Mt. Pleasant in Section 3-AA.

Boys basketball : Thomas Jefferson at Belle Vernon could be an interesting nonsection game.

Girls basketball : Rivals forever but section mates no longer, Penn-Trafford and Norwin will meet in a nonsection game in North Huntingdon.

Thursday

Girls basketball: Southmoreland is playing well and looking more like a factor in Section 3-4A. The Scotties will get a shot at first-place Belle Vernon in Alverton.

Other notable games include Hempfield at Baldwin (2-6A), Franklin Regional at Hampton (2-5A) and Derry at Deer Lakes (3-3A).

Friday

Boys basketball: On a jam-packed night of local action, Norwin will look to slow down host Latrobe in a key Sevtion 3-6A clash. The section also features Fox Chapel at Penn-Trafford and Hempfield at Connellsville.

Additional local games to watch: Laurel Highlands at Greensburg Salem (1-5A), Franklin Regional at Shaler (3-5A), Highlands at Mt. Pleasant (1-4A), Yough at Freeport (1-4A), Knoch at Derry (1-4A), Belle Vernon at Ringgold (3-4A), California at Jeannette (2-2A) and Greensburg Central Catholic at Propel (3-A).

Girls basketball : Penn-Trafford hosts Laurel Highlands in Section 3-5A as part of of girls-boys doubleheader.

Saturday

Boys basketball : Franklin Regional had this day circled on its calendar for months. The Panthers will travel to play vaunted Kennedy Catholic in Hermitage for a 4:30 p.m. tip. North Catholic at Monessen is another top game.

Girls basketball: Hempfield plays at Peters Township in a Section 2-6A game.

— Bill Beckner Jr.

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