What to watch for in WPIAL sports on March 14, 2025: Chartiers Valley continues on the Road to Hershey

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, March 13, 2025 | 11:58 PM

The Road to Hershey has reached the quarterfinals with the Friday spotlight shining on boys Class 5A, 4A and A, along with girls Class 6A, 3A and 2A.

The Chartiers Valley boys basketball team is on an unexpected golden ride this postseason.

The Colts finished in second place in Section 4-5A in the regular season but have more than made up for no section crown with a perfect 6-0 playoff record.

In each of those wins, they have been led by senior Jayden Davis.

He has capped off a scholastic career in which he eclipsed 2,000 points scored with a WPIAL championship and is now three wins from adding a PIAA title.

Thus far on the Road to Hershey, Davis has scored 33 points in wins over Cocalico and Montour.

Now Chartiers Valley (25-3) will take on District 6 champion Johnstown (26-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Norwin.

The Trojans have ousted WPIAL teams in back-to-back state playoff games, beating Moon in the first round by seven points and defeating Latrobe in the second round by 26 points.

The three other boys 5A quarterfinals Friday are:

• Hershey (22-3) vs. West York (22-6) at Northern York at 7 p.m.

• Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast (18-7) vs. Upper Moreland (21-6) at Norristown at 6 p.m.

• Penncrest (23-3) vs. Neumann-Goretti (16-11) at Norristown at 7:30 p.m.

Rumble at the Rock

After coming close and settling for silver in the district playoffs, the North Catholic boys basketball team is playing with a chip on its shoulder in the PIAA postseason.

The Trojans have two double-digit wins on their state playoff resume as they prepare for a big challenge from the north.

WPIAL runner-up North Catholic (21-6) will battle District 10 champion Cathedral Prep (19-8) at 7 p.m. at Slippery Rock University.

The Trojans beat another District 10 team in the first round in Hickory by 16 points as Jason Fredericks scored 25 points.

In the second round, North Catholic pounded Beaver by 31 points with Fredericks dropping 24 points and fellow junior Jude Rottmann leading the way with 25 points.

Cathedral Prep has also been impressive in the state playoff thus far.

The Ramblers ousted Knoch in the opening round by 13 points and crushed Grove City in Round 2 by 22 points.

The three other boys 4A quarterfinals Friday are:

• Sharon (20-8) vs. Berks Catholic (22-4) at Huntingdon at 6 p.m.

• Devon Prep (20-4) vs. Bishop Shanahan (18-8) at Coatesville at 8 p.m.

• Shamokin (25-4) vs. Valley View (22-5) at Martz Hall in Pottsville at 7:30 p.m.

Scoring machine

WPIAL Class A boys basketball champion Neighborhood Academy reaching the PIAA elite eight is no surprise, but Aquinas Academy in the state quarters?

The tiny school from Gibsonia is putting up giant numbers against district winners thus far in the state playoffs.

Aquinas Academy upset District 10 champion Erie First Christian in the first round, 83-80, thanks to 36 points form Jacob Guillen.

In the second round, the Crusaders offense continued to rock and roll as they pummeled District 5 champ Turkeyfoot Valley, 85-56, with Sam Duer leading the way with 36 points.

Now Aquinas Academy (20-7) will take on District 9 champion Otto-Eldred (27-1) as the Crusaders head north to Erie again and play at the Hagerty Family Events Center at 6 p.m.

The Terrors’ only loss this season was to Cameron County and they have wins over two WPIAL teams in Nazareth Prep and Serra Catholic in the PIAA playoffs.

Meanwhile, WPIAL winner Neighborhood Academy (26-1) goes up against LaAcademia Charter (14-12) at Altoona at 6:30 p.m.

The Bulldogs beat Shanksville-Shade by 63 points in Round 1 and disposed of Elk County Catholic by 19 points in Round 2.

The Leones are from Lancaster and have wins over Conemaugh Valley and Cameron County in the state playoffs.

The two other boys A quarterfinals Friday are:

• The Christian Academy (15-10) vs. Lancaster Country Day (17-9) at Coatesville at 5 p.m.

• Sankofa Freedom Academy (17-11) vs. Chester Charter Scholars Academy (22-4) at West Philadelphia at 7:30 p.m.

Ford tough

WPIAL 6A girls basketball champion Upper St. Clair has enjoyed some home cooking the first two rounds of the PIAA playoffs.

The Panthers rolled past Manheim Township in a home game in the first round, 65-37.

Then they had to hop on a bus and travel a whole 6 miles to Peters Township to defeat section rival Canon-McMillan in the second round, 46-32.

In both games, Kent State commit Rylee Kalocay led the Panthers with 21 and 20 points.

Now Upper St. Clair (21-6) prepares to head on a bus and travel 149 miles to McConnellsburg High School, the site of its quarterfinal against Haverford (23-5) at 6 p.m.

The Fords were the No. 5 team out of District 1 but have advanced with a two-point win over Easton and a 20-point victory over Downingtown East.

The other three girls 6A quarterfinals Friday are:

• Garnet Valley (26-2) vs. Cardinal O’Hara (18-9) at Ridley at 6 p.m.

• Perkiomen Valley (25-3) vs. Hazleton (28-0) at Bethlehem Liberty at 6 p.m.

• Central Dauphin (18-8) vs. Archbishop Carroll (19-9) at Bethlehem Liberty at 7:30 p.m.

Eastward bound

Even though WPIAL 3A girls basketball champion Greensburg Central Catholic has been eliminated, two WPIAL 3A teams remain in the chase for state gold.

The team that bounced GCC, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, and District 7 runner-up Shady Side Academy will both take the court for the quarterfinals Friday.

But they won’t be facing each other … yet.

They will both head east for third-round state playoff action.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (24-4) will battle District 6 champion Central Cambria (19-8) at 6 p.m. at Norwin while Shady Side Academy (26-1) goes up against District 3 winner Camp Hill Trinity (21-5) at 5 p.m. at Altoona.

Senior Claudia Ierullo has led the Chargers in both state wins, scoring 39 points combined against Seneca and Greensburg Central Catholic.

Junior Karis Thomas has been the top gun for the Bulldogs, scoring 37 points combined in SSA triumphs over Cranberry and Northwestern.

The other two girls 3A quarterfinals Friday are:

• Imhotep Charter (22-6) vs. Pequea Valley (24-3) at Coatesville at 6:30 p.m.

• Loyalsock Township (27-2) vs. Dunmore (24-2) at Martz Hall in Pottsville at 6 p.m.

Oh by the way

Aliquippa, Neshannock, South Side and Winchester Thurston all lost in the second round, leaving the WPIAL with no teams remaining in the PIAA Class 2A bracket.

So as a public courtesy:

• Penns Manor (24-5) vs. Redbank Valley (22-6) at Armstrong at 7:30 p.m.

• Kennedy Catholic (20-5) Bishop McCort (24-4) at Armstrong at 6 p.m.

• Williams Valley (24-3) vs. Mountain View (23-4) at Lake Lehman at 6 p.m.

• Marian Catholic (23-4) vs. Berlin-Brothersvalley (24-2) at Gettysburg at 7 p.m.

PIAA pool action, Day 3

Friday is the first day of the 2025 PIAA Class 3A boys and girls swimming championships at Bucknell University.

The 3A swimming and diving championship will continue Saturday.

Spring has sprung

In years past, the first day of spring sports has had to deal with snow outs or chilled temperatures.

Not so in 2025.

Sunshine and 73 degrees marks the forecast for the first day of action in the 2025 baseball and softball seasons.