Westmoreland high school lookahead: Week of Dec. 18, 2017
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Sunday, December 17, 2017 | 5:45 PM
Highlights of the week ahead in Westmoreland high school sports:
MONDAY
Girls basketball
Franklin Regional (4-1, 1-0) and Armstrong (4-0, 0-0) have proven to be two of the top defensive teams in Section 4-5A so far, and they will meet at Armstrong.
• Belle Vernon (3-1, 1-0) at Southmoreland (3-1, 0-1) features Section 2-4A contenders, and Mt. Pleasant (2-2, 1-0) looks to upset Keystone Oaks (3-1, 1-0) on the road.
• Greensburg Central Catholic (1-2, 1-0) at Serra (2-2, 1-0) and California (2-2, 0-1) at Jeannette (1-2, 1-0) are notable Section 3-2A games.
Hockey
Latrobe (7-3) heads north to take on Pine-Richland (4-3) with a 9 p.m. faceoff at the Baierl Complex.
TUESDAY
Boys basketball
It might be a nonsection game, but Laurel Highlands (2-2) at Greensburg Salem (4-0) has the potential for fireworks. Both teams are averaging more than 74 points.
• Hempfield (1-3, 0-1) hosts Plum (3-2, 0-1), and Norwin (4-1, 0-0) travels to Penn Hills (5-0, 1-0) in Section 3-6A action.
• In Section 1-4A, Derry (2-1, 1-0) travels to Mt. Pleasant (0-4, 0-0).
Girls basketball
Norwin (0-3) and Penn Hills (1-2) are off to slow starts, but they always are among the favorites in Section 2-6A. They will meet at Penn Hills in an early-season showdown.
• Hempfield at Gateway is a nonsection game to watch.
Wrestling
The match to watch in Section 1-AAA has Greensburg Salem at Penn-Trafford, and Burrell takes on Hempfield at Jeannette.
WEDNESDAY
Football
NCAA Division I football recruits can sign letters of intent as the new early signing period begins. The regular period starts Feb. 7. Belle Vernon's Blake Zubovic (Pitt) and Penn-Trafford's Logan Hawkins (Akron) are scheduled to sign early.
Boys basketball
High-scoring Latrobe heads to Harrison City to take on Penn-Trafford in Section 3-6A.
• Nonsection games of interest have Mt. Pleasant at Jeannette and Burrell at Derry. Standout Anthony Johnson is expected to make his season debut for Jeannette.
Wrestling
Section dual matches continue with Franklin Regional visiting Hempfield and Latrobe at Norwin in Section 1-AAA. Belle Vernon travels to Thomas Jefferson in Section 2-AAA, and Derry goes to Southmoreland in Section 2-AA.
Girls basketball
Section 2-6A playoff contenders Latrobe and Penn-Trafford clash in Harrison City.
THURSDAY
Girls basketball
Host Greensburg Salem will try to take down visiting Trinity, the reigning Section 3-5A champion.
• Hempfield visits Franklin Regional in nonsection play.
FRIDAY
Boys basketball
A trio of intriguing games in Secrion 3-6A features Latrobe at Norwin, Penn-Trafford at Plum and Woodland Hills at Hempfield.
• Highlands at Franklin Regional is the game of the night in Section 3-5A, and Serra at GCC and Springdale at Jeannette are Section 1-2A matchups.
Girls basketball
Latrobe at Norwin could be the night's top game in Section 2-6A.
Wrestling
In a local rivalry match, Latrobe visits Derry.
SATURDAY
Boys basketball
Four games will be played at the Jamfest at Penn Hills, including GCC vs. Highlands at 3 p.m. and Jeannette vs. East Allegheny at 8.
Girls basketball
One of two girls games at the Jamfest at Penn Hills features GCC against East Allegheny at 1:30 p.m.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
More High School Basketball
• Hall of fame basketball coach Joe Lafko steps down at Hampton• Dave Pucka, one of Plum’s own, hired to coach boys basketball team
• Corey Dotchin steps down as Highlands boys basketball coach
• PIAA taking bids to host basketball championships
• Basketball coach Rob Niederberger, who lifted Shaler from last place to WPIAL contender, resigns
