WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball preview: New Castle vs. Quaker Valley

By: Chris Harlan
Saturday, March 2, 2019 | 4:02 AM

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Class 4A boys

New Castle (20-4) vs. Quaker Valley (20-3)

1 p.m. Saturday, Petersen Events Center

Starting lineups

No. 1 New Castle (20-4)

Coach: Ralph Blundo

No. Player, Pos., Ht., Yr.

3 Michael Wells, G, 5-9, Fr.

5 Payne Prowell, G, 5-11, Sr.

10 Donte Burnett, G, 6-0, Sr.

11 Sheldon Cox, G, 6-2, So.

23 Drew Cox, G, 6-1, Sr.

No. 3 Quaker Valley (20-3)

Coach: Mike Mastroianni

No. Player, Pos., Ht., Yr.

1 KC Johns, G, 5-11, Jr.

12 Danny Conlan, F, 6-5, Sr.

22 Ryan Stowers, G, 6-5, Sr.

23 Adou Thiero, G, 5-11, Fr.

24 Christian Johnston, F, 6-5, Sr.

Title-game history: This is the third consecutive year that New Castle and Quaker Valley met in the WPIAL Class 4A final. New Castle won 72-58 in 2017 and 57-52 in 2018. The Red Hurricanes own 12 WPIAL titles overall (1927, ’36, ’82, ’93, ’97-99, 2012-14, ’17 and ’18). The Quakers won their only title in 1997.

Stat leaders: NC: Demetris McKnight 12.8, Sheldon Cox 11.9, QV: Ryan Stowers 22.6, Danny Conlan 16.5

Notable: Quaker Valley defeated New Castle twice in section play this season: 67-48 on Jan. 4 and 70-67 in overtime on Jan. 29. New Castle played its two playoff games without leading scorer and rebounder Demetris McKnight (7.7 rebounds) for an undisclosed issue. Sheldon Cox scored a game-high 27 points in New Castle’s 68-62 victory over Highlands in the semifinals. Stowers scored 51 points combined in Quaker Valley’s two playoff wins. The Quakers defeated Ambridge, 69-60, in the semifinals. Stowers is a 41-percent shooter from 3-point range (30 for 74).

Predicted winner: Quaker Valley

Watch the TribLive HSSN broadcast of the WPIAL Class 4A boys championship.

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: New Castle, Quaker Valley