What to watch for in high school sports for Dec. 11, 2023: Rivals South Fayette, Chartiers Valley to square off
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Sunday, December 10, 2023 | 10:10 PM
The South Fayette girls basketball team celebrates after defeating Oakland Catholic in the WPIAL Class 4A championship game March 4.
Call it the Battle of Thoms Run Road.
Two schools separated by less than 5 miles on Thoms Run Road continue their girls basketball rivalry Monday when South Fayette visits Chartiers Valley.
The Lions and Colts have won six of the seven WPIAL Class 5A girls basketball championships, with the Colts winning it all in 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021. The Lions have captured district gold the last two seasons.
Two years ago, South Fayette ended Chartiers Valley’s three-year title run by stunning the favored Colts, 57-48.
This is now a nonsection battle between the two powers after the Colts moved up to 6A last year.
South Fayette is 2-1 this season with three close game decided by a total of seven points. The Lions beat Wheeling Park by two points and Upper St. Clair in overtime by three points before falling to Bethel Park on Friday by two points.
Chartiers Valley is 3-0 with a nine-point victory over Elizabeth Forward followed by double-digit wins over West Allegheny and Armstrong.
Us vs. Them
There might be rivers crossed and woods passed through, but it is highly doubtful that some local girls basketball teams that will be hitting the road to neighboring districts for nonsection action on Monday will be taking horse-driven sleighs.
One WPIAL team is heading north, one is going east and another is hosting a team from Erie.
The Mt. Lebanon girls basketball team will jump on Interstate 79 and head north to Erie to battle Cathedral Prep. The Blue Devils are 2-1 this season, and the host Ramblers are 1-0.
Ligonier Valley does not have to travel as far as it heads east to face District 6 Johnstown. The Rams are 2-2 10 days into the season’ and the Trojans are 0-1.
Finally, Seton LaSalle doesn’t have to worry about a long bus trip, but their opponent does. Mercyhurst Prep makes the trek from Erie to the South Hills.
The Rebels are 2-1 this year, and the Lakers are 1-1.
Tags: Chartiers Valley, Ligonier Valley, Mt. lebanon, Seton La Salle, South Fayette
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