What to watch for in WPIAL sports on March 29, 2025: 2 teams take their shot at state gold on final day of basketball season

By: Don Rebel
Friday, March 28, 2025 | 9:01 PM

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Welcome to final day of the state finals in Hershey and the 2025 high school basketball season.

Two more WPIAL teams will hit the Giant Center court playing for state basketball gold Saturday.

For one of those district teams, it’s their first appearance in the PIAA basketball title game in what has been a year of firsts, while for the other team, it’s a return to Chocolate Town for the second time in three years against the same opponent.

First in the boys 3A finals, South Allegheny (27-3) will go up against District 12 champion West Catholic (13-14) in the second game of the final day at 2 p.m.

The Gladiators are playing in their first PIAA championship contest after winning their first WPIAL boys basketball crown last month.

Led by the backcourt duo of senior Cam Epps and junior Drew Cook, South Allegheny has ousted Cranberry in the opening round (75-37), Bishop Guilfoyle in the second round (55-47), Camp Hill Trinity in the quarterfinals (76-62) and Aliquippa for the second time this postseason in the state semifinals (36-31).

The Burrs, playing a Philadelphia Catholic League schedule in District 12 against mostly bigger schools, entered the PIAA playoffs with an underwhelming overall record of 9-14.

However, West Catholic has been overwhelming on the Road to Hershey, beating Antietam by 44 points, Warrior Run by 13, Taylor Riverside by 14 and Holy Cross in the state semifinals by one, 58-57.

West Catholic is making its second PIAA championship game appearance and both have come in the last three years.

Two years ago, the Burrs knocked off Deer Lakes in the 2023 Class 3A state finals, 83-55.

The final WPIAL team to play for a state title this weekend is a team that hopes to continue its revenge tour in Hershey.

WPIAL 5A girls runner-up South Fayette (28-2) will battle District 12 champion Archbishop Wood (22-7) at 6 p.m.

In the state semifinals, the Lions avenged one of their two losses this season when they defeated Peters Township, 50-36.

The Indians beat SF in the WPIAL finals.

Now, South Fayette hopes to knock off the team that beat them in their only other PIAA championship game experience two years ago.

In the 2023 state championship game, the Vikings defeated the Lions, 61-54.

South Fayette has double-digit PIAA wins over Lower Dauphin by 35 points, West York by 29, Hollidaysburg by 18 and Peters Township by 14 points.

Four-time defending state champion Archbishop Wood has been dominant on the Road to Hershey, knocking off Lower Moreland by 45 points, Villa Maria Academy by 26 points, Bethlehem Catholic by 30 and Crestwood by 40 points.

The Vikings are trying to win a record fifth straight PIAA girls basketball championship, which would be their 10th state crown in the last 15 seasons.

Here are the other two basketball state championship games Saturday:

• District 3 runner-up Lansdale Catholic (23-5) goes up against District 12 runner-up Neumann-Goretti (25-4) in the girls Class 4A finals at noon.

• A battle between District 12 teams as Roman Catholic (25-5) faces Father Judge (23-7) in the boys 6A title game at 8 p.m.

Wrapping up the southern trips

With section play starting for softball teams from Class A to 5A next week, four district schools are concluding their southern softball trips this weekend.

Two WPIAL softball powers collide at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C., when Avonworth takes on West Greene at 11:15 a.m.

The Antelopes play Columbiana, Ohio, at 9 a.m. Saturday and St. Francis of Illinois at 11:15 a.m. Sunday.

Chartiers-Houston goes up against St. Mary’s Ryken at 9 a.m.

West Allegheny ends its trip to the Ripken Experience in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., with two games Saturday.

The Indians take on Christian Academy of Knoxville, Tenn., at 11 a.m. and play Xaverian, N.Y., at 1 p.m.

The West Greene baseball team is also at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach.

The Pioneers battle United Local of Ohio at 1:30 p.m.