What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Dec. 23, 2025: Teams fighting for 1st place heading into holiday break

By: Don Rebel
Monday, December 22, 2025 | 9:30 PM

‘Twas the night before the holiday break, and all through the WPIAL boys basketball space, battles were taking place hither and yon, all with hopes of rising to first place.

It is the final night of section play in calendar year 2025, and the fight for first heading into the new year is no more evident than in Section 2-5A.

There are two games on the schedule, and they pit the top four teams in the section against each other with only one game separation in the loss column between them.

Shaler is the team alone on top in the section as the Titans hit the road to travel to Penn Hills at 7:30 p.m.

The Titans are 5-3 and have won four straight games, including their first two section contests against Armstrong and Plum. They are coming off a win over Class 4A power Quaker Valley on Saturday.

The host Indians are 2-4 this season but have won two straight. They lost their section opener to Indiana, then defeated Hampton and Armstrong last week to sit at 2-1 in section play.

The other game has Indiana hosting Hampton with the unique tip time of 4:30 p.m.

Ten years after their magical 2015 golden title run, the Little Indians are 5-3 overall but have won five of their last six games. They have a section victory over Penn Hills and a loss to Kiski Area to sit at 1-1.

The Talbots are 4-3 this season and are in win-one, lose-one mode. They own section triumphs over Plum and Kiski Area and suffered a section loss at the hands of Penn Hills to sit at 2-1 in the section.

1st frays in the middle classes

Three boys basketball games that stand out Tuesday include fights for at least a share of first place in three sections in Class 4A and 3A.

• In Section 2-4A, Avonworth, Quaker Valley and Central Valley are tied for first place following one section contest. Last year’s section co-champ Avonworth visits Quaker Valley at 7:30 p.m.

The Antelopes are 2-5 this season but did knock off Hopewell in the section opener last week.

The Quakers beat Ambridge in their section opener Friday before losing their first game of the season to Shaler on Saturday to fall to 5-1 for the season. QV coach Mike Mastroianni goes for career victory No. 601.

• In Section 3-4A, the top two teams collide when Elizabeth Forward is home to Belle Vernon at 7:30 p.m. on Trib HSSN.

The Warriors are 2-0 in the section with victories over East Allegheny and Greensburg Salem to improve their overall record to 4-3.

The reigning Class 4A district champion Leopards are 6-3 this season with four straight wins, including section Ws over West Mifflin, Yough and Derry.

• In Section 4-3A, when Ligonier Valley travels to Southmoreland, first place at the break will be on the line.

Both teams are tied with Waynesburg for first place at 1-0.

The Rams are 4-3 this season, including a victory over Mt. Pleasant in their section opener Friday.

The Scotties are 3-4 overall, including an eight-point win at Charleroi on Friday to open up their section schedule.