WPIAL Class 6A boys final preview: A third consecutive title would earn Pine-Richland place in WPIAL history

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, March 3, 2018 | 6:39 PM

Three years, three trips to the WPIAL finals for Pine-Richland, but each has had a different story.

“The first year we wanted to do it because we'd never done it before,” Rams senior Phil Jurkovec said. “Second year, we knew everybody was gunning for us; we were ranked No. 1 to start the year.”

And this time?

Pine-Richland could make history.

With a win Saturday night in the WPIAL Class 6A final, Pine-Richland would become just the second boys basketball team in WPIAL history to win three consecutive titles in the largest classification. New Castle won three in a row in 1997-99 when Class 4A was the WPIAL's largest.

No. 6 Pine-Richland (20-5) faces No. 5 Penn Hills (22-3) at 9 p.m. at Petersen Events Center.

There are three keys, if Penn Hills doesn't want to witness history:

“Get them to play our pace and take care of the ball,” Penn Hills coach Dan DeRose said, “and try not to get caught up in the moment.”

That third task could be the toughest.

Penn Hills is making its first finals appearance since 2003.

Pine-Richland defeated North Hills, 73-50, in the 2016 Class 4A championship, and defeated Butler, 72-61, in the 6A final last season.

Jurkovec starred in both and junior center Andrew Kristofic started last season, but the starting lineup around them has changed.

This year's leading scorer, junior Dan Petcash, is the younger brother of last year's leading scorer, Andrew Petcash, now a freshman at Boston University. Dan Petcash averages 17.9 points and Jurkovec averages 15.8.

“Every year has been different,” Jurkovec said. “Each year we've had to play differently. But the one constant is we've had to play hard, and coach (Jeff) Ackermann instills that in us. You've got to grind out games.”

Penn Hills can match Pine-Richland's effort, but experience is the area that's a clear mismatch.

“You've got guys on that team that this will be their second or third WPIAL championship,” said DeRose, who discussed that with his team before practice this week. “That experience, comfort and understanding of what goes on certainly gives them an edge. We've got to make sure we're not satisfied just getting there, but try to win the whole thing.”

Pine-Richland and Penn Hills started the season with title expectations, but neither team was the favorite when the WPIAL revealed a wide-open playoff bracket.

And neither team was pleased with its seed.

Penn Hills defeated No. 12 Upper St. Clair, 52-51; No. 4 Central Catholic, 59-49; and No. 1 Mt. Lebanon, 69-66 in overtime.

Pine-Richland defeated No. 11 Bethel Park, 66-62; No. 3 Fox Chapel, 48-39; and No. 2 Woodland Hills, 65-61.

“We haven't been great at all times this year,” Jurkovec said, “but I think we're peaking at the right moment.”

Said DeRose: “Both teams were probably out to prove we were better than what people thought.”

Class 6A boys

Pine-Richland vs. Penn Hills

9 p.m. Saturday, Petersen Events Center

Penn Hills (22-3, No. 5)

Coach: Dan DeRose

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

1 Daivon Stephens, G/F, 6-5, Sr.

2 Cory Fulton, G, 6-0, Sr.

4 Cam Wiley, G, 6-2, Sr.

5 Keyshawn Adams, F, 6-6, Sr.

23 Myles Yarbough, G, 6-0, Sr.

Pine-Richland (20-5, No. 6)

Coach: Jeff Ackermann

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

1 Greg Shulkosky, G, 6-0, Jr.

2 Colin Luellen, G, 6-3, Jr.

3 Dan Petcash, G, 6-4, Jr.

22 Phil Jurkovec, G/F, 6-5, Sr.

23 Andrew Kristofic, C, 6-6, Jr.

Title-game history: Pine-Richland won WPIAL titles the past two seasons and was runner-up in 2000. Penn Hills is 4-1 all-time in the WPIAL finals with its most recent title in 2003.

Stat leaders: PH: Daivon Stephens 18.2; PR: Dan Petcash 17.9.

Predicted winner: Pine-Richland

Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at charlan@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CHarlan_Trib.

Tags: Penn Hills