What to watch for in WPIAL sports for Jan. 27, 2024: Battle for 1st set in Section 2-A girls hoops

By: Don Rebel
Saturday, January 27, 2024 | 10:16 AM

While there are a couple of events involving plenty of district boys and girls basketball teams, the most important high school basketball game is a Saturday afternoon special between the two top teams in WPIAL girls basketball Section 2-A.

Front-running Monessen is 5-0 atop the section as it prepares to host second-place West Greene, which is a game back with a 4-1 section mark.

The Greyhounds are 11-3 this season and have won five straight games, all double-digit victories.

The Pioneers are under .500 overall with a 7-9 record, but they have been hot lately, winning two straight and four of their last five games.

A Monessen win gives the ‘Hounds a two-game lead with only four section games remaining.

A West Greene road win forces a tie for first place.

This is the first meeting of the season between the traditional Class A powers. They will meet again at West Greene in five days on Feb. 1.

Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.

PBC Hall of Fame Classic a perfect 10

The Pittsburgh Basketball Club is holding its annual Hall of Fame Classic on Saturday. It is a 10-game event at two different locations.

At Ambridge, there are two girls games and three boys basketball nonsection contests.

On the girls’ side, Penn Hills takes on Shady Side Academy in the opener at 11 a.m., followed by Our Lady of the Sacred Heart against Moon at 12:30 p.m.

The three boys matchups consist of Northgate against Bishop Canevin at 2 p.m., Seton LaSalle taking on Central Valley at 3:30 p.m. and Sto-Rox going up against Hopewell at 5 p.m.

Five boys game will be played in the PBC Hall of Fame Classic at North Hills.

It starts with Thomas Jefferson against Central Catholic at noon, Belle Vernon at host North Hills at 1:30 p.m., Shady Side Academy challenges Washington at 3 p.m., a battle of 2023 champions takes place at 4:30 p.m. as 5A winner Penn Hills faces 2A champion Aliquippa, and the event concludes with Baldwin against Uniontown at 6 p.m.

Big day at the U

Another one-day event featuring some top district teams is the Shootout at Seton Hill University.

The day consists of six games — two girls’ contests and four boys’ matchups.

In the two girls games, Trinity battles Hempfield at noon, and later at 6 p.m., McKeesport goes up against Greensburg Central Catholic.

On the boys’ side, Derry faces Mt. Pleasant at 1:30 p.m., Beaver Falls takes on Jeannette at 3 p.m., Yough plays Monessen at 4:30 p.m. and the event concludes with Gateway against Greensburg Central Catholic at 7:30 p.m.