What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Dec. 5, 2025: Upper St. Clair tournament features clash of reigning champs

By: Don Rebel
Friday, December 5, 2025 | 12:47 AM

While the high school basketball season began last weekend, a lot more tipoff tournaments are set for this first weekend in December.

One of the district boys basketball tournaments features a first-round battle of reigning champions.

Two-time defending WPIAL Class 6A champion Upper St. Clair (1-0) hosts 2025 Class 3A winner Belle Vernon (1-1) at 7 p.m. in the second game of the opening round of the Upper St. Clair tipoff tournament.

Both cats have undergone changes since winning district gold in February.

The Leopards lost four starters to graduation from last year and also lost their legendary coach as Joe Salvino retired after the season ended.

Senior guard Curtis Wade has led Belle Vernon in its first two games this season with 40 points.

The Panthers also are dealing with change following the graduation of four starters who were pivotal in winning back-to-back WPIAL crowns.

USC may no longer have Tyler Robbins to dominate the blocks, but they do have “little” brother, Ryan Robbins back. The 6-foot-7 junior scored 18 points in the Panthers’ season-opening victory Wednesday over Bishop Canevin.

The one thing that hasn’t changed is Upper St. Clair coach Danny Holzer, who is starting his 31st season as Panthers bench general.

The first game of the USC tournament pits Kiski Area (0-0) against Bethel Park (0-1) at 5:30 p.m.

This is the season opener for the Cavaliers, who won the Section 2-5A title and finished 15-7 in the fourth season under coach Corey Smith.

The Black Hawks missed the playoffs a year ago in the first season for coach Rico Abbondanza.

BP lost its season opener Tuesday to Elizabeth Forward, 72-68.

You can watch both games Friday — Kiski Area vs. Bethel Park and Belle Vernon vs. Upper St. Clair — as well as the consolation game Saturday at 1 p.m. and the championship contest at 2:30 p.m. here on Trib HSSN.

Other boys hoops tourneys

There are 17 other boys basketball tournaments tipping off Friday around the WPIAL.

• Aquinas Academy Tournament: Cheswick Christian vs. South Park at 7 p.m. and Propel Montour at Aquinas Academy at 8:30 p.m.

• Baldwin/Peters Township Tournament: Northgate at Baldwin at 7:30 p.m. and Avonworth at Peters Township at 7:30 p.m.

• Brentwood Tournament: Geibel Catholic vs. Carrick at 6 p.m. and Freedom at Brentwood at 8 p.m.

• Brownsville Tournament: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart vs. Albert Gallatin at 5 p.m. and Westinghouse at Brownsville at 9 p.m.

• Carlynton Tournament: Charleroi vs. East Allegheny at 4:30 p.m. and Cornell at Carlynton at 7:30 p.m.

• Central Catholic Tournament at Oakland Catholic: Moon vs. Penn Hills at 6 p.m. and Mohawk at Central Catholic at 8 p.m.

• Chartiers Valley Tournament: Johnstown vs. Fox Chapel at 6 p.m. and Plum at Chartiers Valley at 7:30 p.m.

• Fort Cherry Tournament: Winchester Thurston vs. Monessen at 5:30 p.m. and Union at Fort Cherry at 8:30 p.m.

• Freeport Tournament: West Mifflin vs. Shady Side Academy at 5:30 p.m. and Eden Christian Academy at Freeport at 8:30 p.m.

• Hempfield Tournament: Connellsville vs. Greensburg Salem at 4:45 p.m., Indiana vs. Greensburg Central Catholic at 6:15 p.m. and Penn-Trafford at Hempfield at 7:45 p.m.

• Ligonier Valley Tournament: Laurel Highlands vs. Yough at 5:30 p.m. and Marion Center at Ligonier Valley at 7:30 p.m.

• Mike Rettger Tournament at Franklin Regional: Pine-Richland at Norwin at 6 p.m. and South Fayette at Franklin Regional at 7:30 p.m.

• Neighborhood Academy Tournament: Beaver County Christian vs. Propel Braddock Hills at 5 p.m. and Trinity Christian at Neighborhood Academy at 7 p.m.

• North Catholic Tournament: Scranton Prep vs. Erie Cathedral Prep at 5:30 p.m. and St. Mary’s (MD) at North Catholic at 7 p.m.

• North Hills Tournament: Allderdice vs. Mt. Lebanon at 6:30 p.m. and Hampton at North Hills at 8 p.m.

• Rize Sports Tournament in Leetsdale: Central Valley vs. Riverview at 5:30 p.m. and Nazareth Prep vs. Sewickley Academy at 7 p.m.

• St. Joseph Tournament: Southmoreland vs. Highlands at 4:30 p.m. and Steel Valley at St. Joseph at 7:30 p.m.

PIAA football finals: Day 2

While there are no WPIAL teams in action, there are two more PIAA football championship games at Cumberland Valley.

Two of the most successful programs in the state collide in the Class 2A championship when District 10 champion Farrell (12-2) battles District 4 juggernaut Southern Columbia (14-1) at 1 p.m.

This is the third time these teams have met in the state championship game.

The Steelers beat the Tigers in back-to-back PIAA Class A titles games in 1995 and 1996.

Farrell also repeated as state champions in 2018 with a win over Lackawanna Trail and in 2019 over Bishop Guilfoyle Academy.

The Tigers have the most PIAA football crowns with 14 and have played in 22 of the 38 state championships.

Some of the local victims of Southern Columbia include Western Beaver, Rochester twice, Duquesne, Aliquippa, Avonworth, Serra Catholic and Westinghouse twice.

The Class 5A state title game is a rematch of a gem a year ago when defending champion Bishop McDevitt (12-1) battles Roman Catholic (11-3).

The District 3 champion Crusaders are trying to win their fourth PIAA title after beating Burrell in 1995, Aliquippa in 2022 and Roman Catholic last season.

The District 12 winning Cahillites are searching for their first state championship.

Last year in the 5A finals, Bishop McDevitt bested Roman Catholic in overtime, 34-31.