What to watch for in WPIAL sports on March 28, 2025: Sewickley Academy, Upper St. Clair get their crack at PIAA gold

By: Don Rebel
Friday, March 28, 2025 | 12:44 AM

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Welcome to Day 2 of the 2025 PIAA basketball championships.

On Friday, two more WPIAL teams have a shot at winning state basketball gold in Hershey and both teams have captured PIAA crowns in the past.

First in the boys 2A finals, Sewickley Academy (24-5) will go up against District 3 runner-up Linville Hill Christian Academy (23-5) in the second game of the day at 2 p.m.

The Panthers will attempt to become the 12th WPIAL boys basketball team to win a PIAA championship having not even reached the district title game.

Sewickley Academy lost to eventual champion Jeannette in the WPIAL semifinals, but after a win over Union in the 2A consolation game, the Panthers have ousted Windber by 28 points, Lakeview by 21, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart by seven and Greensburg Central Catholic by four points.

Following a loss to York Catholic in the D-3 finals, the Warriors crushed Marian Catholic by 33 points, upset District 12 power Constitution by 14, beat Old Forge by 12 and eliminated Northwest Area by 25 points.

Sewickley Academy is vying for its fourth PIAA boys basketball championship.

Under late head coach Win Palmer, the Panthers captured state gold in 1997, 2010 and 2017.

In the third state title game Friday, Upper St. Clair (23-6) faces District 1 champion Perkiomen Valley (27-3) in the girls 6A finals at 6 p.m.

This is actually the second meeting of the season between these Philadelphia and Pittsburgh suburban powers.

On Dec. 14, the visiting Vikings knocked off the Panthers, 63-57.

In that game, Navy commit Quinn Boettinger led Perkiomen Valley with 32 points while Wake Forest commit Grace Galbavy added 16 points.

Kent State commit Rylee Kalocay led USC with 29 points.

The Vikings’ average margin of victory in their four state playoff wins over Central York, Lebanon, Hazleton and Archbishop Carroll has been nearly 23 points while the Panthers’ average margin in their wins over Manheim Township, Canon-McMillan, Haverford and Garnet Valley has been about 15 points.

Upper St. Clair is trying to win a second PIAA championship. The Panthers defeated another team from District 1 in the 1999 Class 4A state finals, beating Cheltenham, 62-56.

This is the first PIAA championship game appearance for Perkiomen Valley.

Here are the other two state championship games Friday:

• District 6 and defending PIAA champion Bishop Guilfoyle (29-2) goes up against District 3 winner Linville Hill Christian Academy (25-2) in the girls Class A finals at noon.

• District 3 winner Hershey (24-3) battles District 12 champion Neumann-Goretti (18-11) in the boys 5A title game at 8 p.m.

Offense vs. pitching

Class 6A softball wraps up its first week of section play Friday with a battle of unbeaten teams, one squad that has relied on big offense early and the other school that has one of the best pitchers in the state.

Seneca Valley visits Pine-Richland at 4 p.m.

The Raiders are once again led by dominant pitcher Lexie Hames, who has been a key at the plate and in the circle to a 3-0 start (1-0 in the section) by outscoring their opponents, 32-2.

The Rams are also off to a 3-0 start and have won both of their section games with plenty of offense. They are averaging 12.5 runs per game.

Here are the other three 6A section contests on Friday: North Allegheny hosts Butler and Woodland Hills visits Norwin with both games starting at 4 p.m. Mt. Lebanon will be home to Canon-McMillan at 4:15 p.m.

Under construction

Former longtime Peters Township baseball coach and district athletic director Joe Maize recently found out his old stomping grounds will now bear his name.

The varsity baseball field at Peterswood Park will be named Joe Maize Field to pay tribute to a man who helped make the Indians a district and state power on the diamond, including two WPIAL championships and two PIAA title game appearance in the mid-2000s.

The field is currently under renovation with turf being installed with the hope of it being ready for action sometime before the end of this 2025 season.

As of now, the Indians are playing their home games at Ross Memorial Field in Washington, home of the W&J college baseball team.

On Friday, Peters Township opens a late-week Section 2-5A series at W&J against Moon.

The Indians are off to a perfect start heading into their section opener at 4-0 with wins over Ringgold, Canon-McMillan, North Hills and Baldwin.

The Tigers split their first section series earlier this week against South Fayette, losing the opener, 7-2, before rebounding to pick up their first win of the season, 8-4.

Moon enters the game with a 1-4 overall record.

The teams will play again at noon Saturday at Moon.