What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Dec. 17, 2025: North Allegheny, Seneca Valley girls get section play started

By: Don Rebel
Tuesday, December 16, 2025 | 11:46 PM

Three years ago, the North Allegheny girls basketball program defeated Upper St. Clair to win the 2023 WPIAL Class 6A championship.

It was the Tigers’ fifth 6A title in seven years since the classification was formed.

NA lost in the 2024 district finals to Norwn and then finished under .500 the following year and fell again to the Knights, this time in the quarterfinals.

The struggles continue for North Allegheny early this season as the black and gold prepare to open up Section 1-6A action at home Wednesday against Seneca Valley.

The Tigers are 0-3 in nonsection play having lost to Class 5A powers Trinity, 2025 PIAA champion South Fayette and 2025 WPIAL winner Peters Township.

Meanwhile, the Raiders open up defense of their Section 1-6A title with a 2-4 overall record.

Seneca Valley owns wins over John Carroll (Md.) and Neshannock, while suffering losses to York Suburban, Upper St. Clair, North Catholic and to Valor Christian (Colo.) during a short weekend trip to the Washington D.C. area.

The Raiders finished undefeated in the section last season, five games in front of the fourth-place Tigers, who they swept during the regular season.

You can listen to the Seneca Valley at North Allegheny game at 7:30 p.m. on Trib HSSN.

There is one other WPIAL section basketball game Wednesday as Oakland Catholic visits Highlands in a Section 1-4A girls hoops matchup.

The reigning 4A district champion Eagles have only played two games this season. OC lost to Berlin-Brothersvalley before beating 4A power North Catholic by 22 points in their section opener last week.

The Golden Rams lost their section opener to Burrell in their most recent game by 48 points.

Highlands is off to an 0-7 start to the season.

Still looking for No. 1

Nearly three weeks into the WPIAL boys basketball season, and there are still a number of teams searching for their first wins.

Two of them, both of which saw their schools’ football teams play on Championship Saturday at Acrisure Stadium, look for win No. 1 in nonsection action Wednesday.

Avonworth, a Class 4A semifinalist a year ago, sits at 0-4 as it visits Mohawk (3-1) at 7:30 p.m.

The Antelopes have been playing shorthanded as they wait for their full team to be together following a long football season that didn’t conclude until Dec. 6.

Steel Valley was a 3A semifinalist three years ago but has fallen on hard times.

The Ironmen finished in last place last season with a final record of 3-17.

This year, Steel Valley is 0-6 as it heads south to visit Charleroi (3-3) at 7:30 p.m.

Nine district boys hoops teams remain winless coming into Wednesday besides Avonworth and Steel Valley.

They include Bethel Park, Ambridge, West Mifflin, Yough, Brownsville, California, Greensburg Central Catholic, Mapletown and Nazareth Prep.

On top on the mats

Two early season battles for first place in Class 3A highlight a busy Wednesday of mat action in WPIAL boys wrestling.

In Section 3-A, two teams that are tied for first place with 1-0 section marks meet when Baldwin (1-2) hosts Peters Township (2-3) at 7 p.m.

The Indians have won the last three matches against the Highlanders, including a convincing victory last December, 55-17.

In Section 7-3A, first place is at stake when Belle Vernon visits Thomas Jefferson at 7:30 p.m.

The Leopards are 1-0 in the section and 3-3 o0verall, while the Jaguars are also 1-0 in section and 8-2 for the season.

When these rivals met last December, TJ defeated BVA, 47-25.

These teams just met a week ago in the Trinity Duels with the Jaguars beating the Leopards, 46-25.