What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Dec. 10, 2024: Longtime coach looks for milestone win

By: Don Rebel
Monday, December 9, 2024 | 10:01 PM

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The first two of many WPIAL boys basketball section games will take place Tuesday and both can be viewed here on Trib HSSN.

Many district boys hoops teams will tip off section play Friday, but four teams get the early jump with one of the two contests possibly holding historic significance.

In Section 2-6A, defending district champion Upper St. Clair will host Norwin at 7 p.m.

The Panthers are not only hoping to improve to 4-0 this young season, but they are also trying to secure a milestone victory for their longtime coach.

Now in his 30th season, USC coach Danny Holzer is one win shy of career victory No. 500.

Win No. 499 came Saturday in the championship game of the Upper St. Clair Tipoff Tournament as the Panthers crushed former section rival Bethel Park, 82-23.

Norwin is also coming off a strong tipoff tournament showing when the Knights defeated Steel Valley and West Mifflin in the Jeannette tourney.

The Knights are 2-1 heading into the road section opener after falling in their season opener at Penn-Trafford.

Speaking of the Warriors, they open up play in Section 1-5A Tuesday when they host Uniontown at 7:30 p.m.

Following the opening win over Norwin, P-T split two games in the Hempfield Tournament this past weekend, losing to the host Spartans and beating Connellsville.

Uniontown is also 2-1 heading into their section opener.

The Red Raiders defeated Thomas Jefferson and Elizabeth Forward by a combined 43 points, but lost a close one at home to Belle Vernon on Friday, 56-55.

Galloping to quick start

Last season was one to forget for the Chartiers Valley boys basketball team.

They began the season with high expectations, underwent a rare midseason coaching change and finished tied for fourth place in Section 4-5A.

CV qualified for the playoffs, but it was a short and not so sweet stay as it lost to Shaler in the opening round of the district postseason.

Now under new coach Corey Dotchin, the Colts have galloped out of the gates to a 4-0 start with one final tuneup before section play begins Friday.

Senior guard Jayden Davis has led the team with an average of over 24 points per game.

Chartiers Valley will host Pine-Richland on Tuesday.

The Rams are also undefeated, but have only played one game thus far because of the school’s extended football season.

Last week, Pine-Richland opened up the season with a victory over Obama Academy by 19 points.

Final four rematch

Two old section foes collide in a nonsection clash Tuesday when Baldwin hosts Mt. Lebanon in the only scheduled battle between these South Hills rivals this year.

Last season, the Blue Devils and Highlanders squared off three times.

Mt. Lebanon won both games in the regular season, 73-50, and 51-46, to win the Section 2-6A crown by one game over Upper St. Clair and two games over Baldwin.

However, purple power took over in the postseason as the Highlanders eliminated the Blue Devils in the 6A semifinals, 54-52.

With realignment this offseason, Baldwin moved down to Section 3 in Class 5A.

This season, the Blue Devils are 2-0 after beating Allderdice and host North Hills in the North Hills Tipoff Tournament.

The Highlanders are also off to a 2-0 start following wins over Shaler and Altoona in the Baldwin/Peters Township Tournament.