What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Jan. 8, 2026: Girls basketball powers collide in Greensburg

By: Don Rebel
Wednesday, January 7, 2026 | 9:30 PM

Two years ago, they both wore WPIAL girls basketball crowns.

Last season, they went head-to-head in a fight for the district Class 3A championship.

Now these two golden programs are set for the first of what could be three or possibly four showdowns this season when two-time reigning champion Greensburg Central Catholic hosts Shady Side Academy to highlight the Thursday girls hoops schedule.

The Centurions and Bulldogs claimed district titles in 2024 with GCC winning the Class 2A championship and SSA taking it all in 3A.

Then, after Greensburg Central Catholic moved up in class prior to last season, these powers found themselves in the same Section 2-3A.

Shady Side Academy was triumphant in both regular season meetings a year ago, winning at home by 29 points and on the road by 11 points.

The third clash was for district gold at the Petersen Events Center in the WPIAL 3A finals. Trailing by 10 at the half, GCC rallied to outscore SSA 39-23 in the second half to win a second straight title, 56-51.

Erica Gribble scored a game-high 31 points to lead the Centurions while Karis Thomas had 24 points for the Bulldogs.

The teams enter this first-half showdown with identical 5-0 section records, two games ahead of both Deer Lakes and Avonworth.

Shady Side Academy is 10-2 overall this season with its losses coming to Class 4A power Oakland Catholic and 6A section leader Pine-Richland.

Greensburg Central Catholic is 8-3 with its losses coming against Class 5A power South Fayette, 4A North Catholic and Lake Highland Prep of Florida.

Identical leaders

Besides the Shady Side Academy at Greensburg Central Catholic battle for first place, there is one other matchup of undefeated section teams on a busy night of district girls roundball.

Sole possession of first place is up for grabs in Section 1-2A when Rochester travels to Neshannock.

Both the Rams and Lancers come in with identical section records of 3-0, and the same overall mark of 8-3.

The Rams have been very good with an average margin of victory in their three section wins of 19.3 points.

The Lancers have been dominant, with an average margin of in their three section routs of 54.3 points.

After losing its first two games, Rochester has won eight of its last nine and two straight since losing to Keystone Oaks.

Neshannock has won four consecutive games since losing two days after Christmas to District 6 power Bishop Guilfoyle.

Both programs have been highly decorated over the last seven seasons with the Rams winning three straight Class A crowns from 2019-21, while the Lancers won three championships in 3A and 2A over a four-year span from 2019-22.

Champs on the ropes

The 2025 boys basketball season was a magical ride for South Allegheny.

The Gladiators captured the school’s first WPIAL championship and reached the PIAA Class 3A title game before falling to District 12 power West Catholic.

With high hopes, this season began with seven wins for the Gladiators in their first nine games.

However, the team has hit a rare rut, losing four straight games for the first time since 2018.

On Thursday, South Allegheny has a tall task in an effort to get back on the winning track when it hosts Section 3-3A front-runner South Park.

The Gladiators are coming off their first section loss in nearly two years Tuesday when a big comeback at Seton LaSalle fell short, leaving SA tied with the Rebels for second place in the section at 2-1.

The Eagles are flying high in first place at 3-0 in the section and 10-2 overall.

South Park has won two in a row since a holiday tournament loss to Southmoreland.

Thursday on Trib HSSN

There are nine broadcasts you can watch or listen to at TribHSSN.TribLivew.com on the eighth day of January.

WPIAL Girls Basketball – Video Stream: Upper St. Clair at Hempfield at 7:30 p.m. on the Westmoreland Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com

WPIAL Girls Basketball – Video Stream: Plum at Gateway at 6 p.m. on the Gateway Gators Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com

WPIAL Girls Basketball – Video Stream: Shady Side Academy at Greensburg Central Catholic at 6 p.m. on the Westmoreland Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com

WPIAL Girls Basketball – Video Stream: Shenango at Laurel at 6 p.m. on Lawrence County SportsNet at TribHSSN.TribLive.com

WPIAL Girls Basketball – Video Stream: Monessen at Geibel Catholic at 7 p.m. on WMBS-AM 590, WMBS-FM 101.1 at TribHSSN.TribLive.com

WPIAL Boys Basketball – Video Stream: Penn-Trafford at Gateway at 7:30 p.m. on the Gateway Gators Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com

WPIAL Boys Basketball – Video Stream: South Park at South Allegheny at 7 p.m. on the MVI Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com

WPIAL Boys and Girls Swimming & Diving – Audio Stream: Moon at North Allegheny at 5 p.m. on the North Allegheny Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com

PIHL Hockey – Audio Stream: Pine-Richland at North Allegheny at 9 p.m. on the North Allegheny Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com