What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Dec. 11, 2025: Oakland Catholic, North Catholic to renew rivalry

By: Don Rebel
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | 9:30 PM

They met three times last season. Now the top two ranked teams in WPIAL Class 4A girls basketball are set for their first clash Thursday.

Section play opens up for most district girls teams, including an early season showdown in Section 1-4A as top-ranked Oakland Catholic hosts No. 2 North Catholic at 7:30 p.m.

This is only the second game of the season for the defending champion Eagles, who lost their season opener nearly two weeks ago to District 5 power Berlin-Brothersvalley, 57-47.

Meanwhile, the Trojans are off to a 2-0 start with double-digit wins over Seneca Valley and Gateway.

Oakland Catholic and North Catholic finished as co-champs in the section last season with records of 13-1.

The two split their regular season head-to-head meetings with each winning at home.

North Catholic prevailed in December, 42-34, before Oakland Catholic won the rematch in January, 39-37.

The rubber game came in the WPIAL Class 4A semifinals where the Eagles soared past the Trojans, 57-29, on their way to a seventh district championship.

They nearly met for a fourth time in the PIAA postseason, but Lansdale Catholic from District 12 first defeated Oakland Catholic in the state quarterfinals, 63-29, before eliminating North Catholic in the semifinals, 54-16.

Another early season Class 4A section showdown takes place Thursday between the top two teams from Section 2-4A a year ago when Blackhawk (3-0) hosts Beaver (1-2) at 7:30 p.m.

Neighbors who share

The North Catholic at Oakland Catholic girls basketball game isn’t the only early season section opening showdown between teams that tied for the section championship last season.

The two teams that shared the Section 3-3A crown last season collide as Seton LaSalle walks across McNeilly Road to face Keystone Oaks at 7:15 p.m.

The Rebels enter section play with a 2-1 mark following wins over Fort Cherry and West Mifflin in overtime, sandwiching a lost to Aquinas Academy.

The Golden Eagles are also 2-1 after defeating Sewickley Academy and Eden Christian Academy at the South Side Tournament before falling to Freeport.

The schools that literally sit across the street from each other shared the Section 3-3A title last year with 11-1 section records.

Each team won close games on their home court last season with the Rebels winning at home in December, 60-57, then the Golden Eagles winning in mid-January, 46-42.

They would have played each other for a third time in the WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinals when KO was the No. 4 seed and Seton was No. 5, but the Rebels were upset by No. 12 Ellwood City in the first round, 49-41.

The Wolverines then stunned the Golden Eagles in the quarterfinals, 40-37.

5A boys section starters

While most WPIAL boys basketball teams begin section play Friday, there are four section openers in Class 5A set for Thursday, including a battle between 2025 playoff teams.

In Section 1-5A, the two teams that finished tied for second place a year ago behind champion Uniontown meet when Gateway visits Latrobe at 7:30 p.m.

The Gators and Wildcats finished with 10-4 record last season, tied for second and four games behind the Red Raiders and two games in front of fourth place Penn-Trafford.

This season, Gateway is 0-1 after falling to York Suburban two weeks ago, while Latrobe is already 2-2 with wins over Richland and Indiana and two straight losses to Hempfield and Mars.

The other three section openers in 5A boys hoops Thursday include:

• In Section 3-5A, Bethel Park (0-4) travels to Trinity (1-3) and South Fayette (1-3) hosts Ringgold (2-1).

• In Section 4-5A, defending champion Chartiers Valley (3-1) is home to West Allegheny (3-1).