What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Dec. 20, 2025: Basketball teams hit road for tournament action

By: Triblive
Saturday, December 20, 2025 | 12:25 AM

As last-minute shoppers cram the mall on the final weekend before Christmas, some district basketball teams had a better idea.

Let’s migrate south to much better weather and some holiday hoops.

As the North Allegheny and Upper St. Clair boys basketball teams conclude their southern stay with games on Saturday, several other WPIAL teams tip off their travel tournaments.

Three district boys teams and a WPIAL girls squad are in Tampa, Fla., to participate in the Tampa Bay Invitational.

Burrell takes on NSU University School (Fla.) while Our Lady of the Sacred Heart goes up against North Tampa Christian (Fla.) and Lincoln Park battles Steinbrenner (Fla.).

On the girls side, Greensburg Central Catholic will face Charlotte (Fla.).

It’s not south but east that the Woodland Hills girls basketball team headed as it plays Philadelphia Central at the Cream of the Crop Tournament at Imhotep Charter.

Local showcase hoops

There is no plane travel, but plenty of district teams will hop on the bus to play in several one-day events set for Saturday.

In girls basketball, here is the lineup for the Pittsburgh Basketball Club Hall of Fame Classic at the two gyms in Ambridge:

Sto-Rox at Ambridge at 10 a.m.

Montour vs. Hopewell at 10 a.m.

Seton LaSalle vs. Beaver Falls at 11:30 a.m.

Penn Hills vs. Aliquippa at 11:30 a.m.

Keystone Oaks vs. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at 1 p.m.

Allderdice vs. Bethel Park at 1 p.m.

South Park vs. Blackhawk at 2:30 p.m.

Shady Side Academy vs. Oakland Catholic at 2:30 p.m.

There are two local one-day events for district boys basketball teams.

Here is the lineup for the Harry Jenkins Classic as LaRoche University:

Mars vs. North Hills at noon

Kiski Area vs. Knoch at 1:30 p.m.

Quaker Valley vs. Shaler at 3 p.m.

South Fayette vs. Avonworth at 4:30 p.m.

Here is the line-up for the two site Westmoreland County Coaches Association Showcase.

Derry vs. Mt. Pleasant at Jeannette at noon

Ligonier Valley at Greensburg Salem at 1:30 p.m.

Belle Vernon vs. Greensburg Central Catholic at Jeannette at 1:30 p.m.

Southmoreland vs. Hempfield at Greensburg Salem at 3 p.m.

Norwin at Jeannette at 3 p.m.

Saturday mat action

There are four high school wrestling tournaments set for Saturday involving multiple WPIAL teams.

The King of the Mountain Tournament at Central Mountain features Bethel Park, Burrell, Canon-McMillan, Latrobe, Shaler and West Allegheny.

The Major Tom Carr Invitational at Erie includes Chartiers-Houston, Knoch and Summit Academy.

The NursePro Plus Tournament at University High in West Virginia has Franklin Regional, Frazier, Penn-Trafford, Ringgold, Southmoreland and Trinity participating.

The Panther Holiday Classic at Mount Aloysius College includes Armstrong, Avonworth, Bentworth, Derry, Indiana, McGuffey, Penn Hills, Quaker Valley, Seneca Valley and South Park.