What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Jan. 23, 2025: Top teams collide in Class 3A girls basketball

By: Don Rebel
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 | 10:30 PM

The Our Lady of the Sacred Heart girls basketball program continues to enjoy a big season with 14 wins in 16 games.

The Chargers have built up a three-game lead in Section 1-3A and are closing in clinching the section crown.

However, the chase for second place looks like it will go down to the wire as three teams are deadlocked.

Riverside (11-6), Quaker Valley (8-7) and Beaver Falls (7-5) are even with 6-3 section records with five conference games remaining.

The top four teams square off Thursday when a three-way tie will be sliced to two.

At Beaver Falls, the Tigers host the Panthers.

Beaver Falls defeated Riverside in the first meeting last month, 48-41.

Meanwhile, section leading OLSH travels to Quaker Valley.

The Chargers beat the Quakers in mid-December, 52-44.

Dollar dog night

First place in Section 3-2A girls basketball is up for grabs when the Bucs visit the Dogs.

Chartiers-Houston sits in first place with a 4-0 section record and a mark of 11-3 overall.

After winning 10 of their first 11 games, the Buccaneers are 2-2 in their last four games.

Beth-Center is a game back in the loss column at 4-1 in the section and 10-6 overall.

The Bulldogs have won two straight and five of their last six.

In the first meeting of the season last month, the Bucs crushed the Dogs, 48-15.

Howdy neighbor

The chase for the WPIAL Class A boys basketball crown is looking to be a race between Neighborhood Academy and the field.

The Bulldogs are No. 1 in the WPIAL and in the PIAA rankings and are first place in Section 2-A with a 5-0 record.

They have won 16 of their 17 games, including six in a row since their only loss of the season to Class 4A power Beaver, 71-70.

On Thursday, Neighborhood Academy visits Monessen.

The Greyhounds are in third place with a 3-2 section record and are 9-4 overall with wins in their last four games.

The Bulldogs’ closest section victory thus far was when they hosted the Greyhounds last month.

Neighborhood Academy beat Monessen on Dec. 20 by 26 points.