What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Dec. 9, 2023: Boys basketball showcases to tip off

By: Don Rebel
Saturday, December 9, 2023 | 12:05 AM

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Saturday is a big day for boys high school basketball fans in the Westmoreland County area with the Westmoreland County Coaches Association Showcase.

The event is so big, games will be taking place at two sites.

The schedule for games at Hempfield:

• Yough (3-0) vs. Monessen (1-0) at noon

• Greensburg Salem (1-2) vs. Greensburg Central Catholic (3-1) at 1:30 p.m.

• Hempfield (1-2) hosts Kiski Area (3-1) at 3 p.m.

• Southmoreland (2-0) vs. Ligonier Valley (2-1) at 4:30 p.m.

Here is the slate of games at Jeannette:

• Norwin (1-2) vs. Latrobe (1-1) at noon

• Derry (2-1) vs. Mt. Pleasant (0-1) at 1:30 p.m.

• Jeannette (3-1) hosts Burrell (2-0) at 3 p.m.

• Valley (0-3) vs. Belle Vernon (1-1) at 4:30 p.m.

Clash at the Castle

It will be a busy weekend of hoops at New Castle on Saturday and Sunday.

The home of the Red Hurricane will host The Clash at New Castle tournament with boys and girls basketball games Saturday and Sunday.

The boys schedule is as follows:

Saturday

• Central Valley (0-2) vs. Union (0-2) at 4:30 p.m.

• Grove City (1-0) vs. Knoch (2-1) at 6 p.m.

• New Castle (2-1) hosts Beaver Falls (0-0) at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday

• Franklin (1-1) vs. Mohawk (0-1) at 4:30 p.m.

• Erie (2-1) vs. Mt. Lebanon (1-0) at 6 p.m.

• Ellwood City (1-2) vs. Shenango (1-2) at 7:30 p.m.

The girls schedule:

Saturday

• Laurel (1-3) at New Castle (0-4) at 1:30 p.m.

• Union (1-2) vs. Neshannock (3-1) at 3 p.m.

Sunday

• Farrell (0-1) vs. Mohawk (2-1) at 3 p.m.

Final countdown concludes

Saturday is the final day of the 2023 PIAA high school football season with two more state championship games at Cumberland Valley.

The action continues Saturday with the Class 3A and Class 6A state title games.

In the Class 3A finals, Belle Vernon (12-1) looks to repeat as PIAA champions when it faces District 11 champion Northwestern Lehigh (15-0).

This is the first PIAA title game appearance for the Tigers, who are led by sophomore quarterback Shane Leh, who has 1,697 yards passing this season with 23 touchdown passes. The WPIAL champion Leopards are guided by senior quarterback Braden Laux, who has thrown for 1,585 yards and 18 touchdowns this season.

In the Class 6A finals, state power St. Joe’s Prep (12-1) goes up against North Allegheny (13-1).

The District 12 champion Hawks hope to win their eighth PIAA championship in the last decade while the Tigers, winners of the WPIAL, look to improve to 4-0 in state championship games.

The Class 3A game kicks off at 1 p.m. while the 6A title game begins at 7 p.m. at Chapman Field.