High School category, Page 685
OLSH blitzes Greensburg CC, earns 6th straight trip to WPIAL finals
Greensburg Central Catholic ended Monessen’s 16-game winning streak in the semifinals. Transpose that number and that is what GCC was up against in the semis against Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. Teams have been trying for weeks … months … years … to make the Chargers look human, but...
Blackhawk handles Elizabeth Forward, rolls into Class 4A finals undefeated
Top-seeded Blackhawk proved to be too much for fifth-seeded Elizabeth Forward on Tuesday night. The Cougars scored 29 first-quarter points and sophomore guard Alena Fusetti netted a game-high 28 points to lead three double-digit scorers in a 76-53 victory over the Warriors in the WPIAL Class 4A semifinals at West...
Knoch girls hold off Southmoreland, reach WPIAL title game for 1st time
The Knoch girls basketball team reached the WPIAL semifinals last year for the first time in program history, but it fell one win short of its goal of reaching the championship game and an opportunity to play for the gold. But the Knights weren’t going to be denied in their...
South Fayette earns gritty win over McKeesport, trip to Class 5A finals
It was a battle of wills and gritty plays in the final eight minutes of the WPIAL Class 5A girls basketball semifinal between McKeesport and South Fayette on Tuesday night. Despite holding a 22-17 scoring edge in the fourth quarter, the No. 6 seed ran out of time and ran...
Freeport’s Schrecongost, Fox Chapel’s Shao lead strong A-K Valley contingent into WPIAL swimming championships
Lexi Schrecongost’s swimming future is at Toledo. The Freeport senior’s swimming present is preparing for some unfinished business Thursday and Friday as the WPIAL Class 2A and 3A championships return home to Pitt’s Trees Pool. “This meet will definitely hit close to home as it will be my last (WPIAL)...
Late-season victories keep Hempfield hockey in playoff hunt
In the fall, hockey players at Hempfield and Latrobe high schools can be found playing on the same club teams. Come time for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League season to begin, they’re obviously on opposite sides. “During the week, when they’re playing against each other at the high school level,...
St. Joseph boys hope to learn, develop after falling short of postseason
St. Joseph boys basketball coach Hart Coleman said he is going to attend WPIAL playoff games and recommends his players do the same. He wants them to witness the type of consistency and play that will lead to his team to taking the next step in getting back to the...
Deer Lakes is hottest team in its class
Outside of Quaker Valley and Montour, the top two seeds in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball playoffs, the hottest team in the classification coming into the postseason was Section 1 third-place finisher Deer Lakes. The Lancers disposed of Section 1-4A champ North Catholic and Section 3-3A co-champ Shady Side...
Kiski Area swim coach Lisa Pepka resigns days before WPIAL meet
Kiski Area boys and girls swimming coach Lisa Pepka resigned from the position Monday, just three days before the WPIAL championships. Pepka declined to comment on her decision, but she confirmed she is no longer the head coach. Kiski Area athletic director John Peterman on Tuesday confirmed Pepka’s resignation, but...
Steve Sciullo takes over Hampton football program
Steve Sciullo had a Hall of Fame playing career. He’s hoping to experience a successful coaching career, as well. The 41-year-old Sciullo was hired recently to coach the Hampton football program, taking over for Jacque DeMatteo who resigned this winter after 14 seasons on the sideline. The Talbots enjoyed one...
14 WPIAL players chosen for 2022 Big 33 Football Classic
Fourteen players from the WPIAL were selected Tuesday for the Big 33 Football Classic, including four from Mt. Lebanon’s state championship team and two from Penn-Trafford. Mt. Lebanon quarterback Joey Daniels, running back Alex Tecza, wide receiver Eli Heidenreich and defensive tackle William Harvey were picked for the May 30...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Feb. 28, 2022
High schools Basketball Boys WPIAL playoffs Class 6A Semifinals Tuesday’s schedule North Hills (23-0) vs. Mt. Lebanon (16-8) at North Allegheny, 8 p.m.; Fox Chapel (22-1) vs. Central Catholic (18-5) at Peters Township, 8 p.m. Class 5A Semifinals Monday’s results Laurel Highlands 61, Highlands 44 New Castle 72, Gateway 62...
Defending champion New Castle reaches WPIAL finals for 8th time in 11 years
The road to the WPIAL championship winds through gyms all across Western Pennsylvania, but New Castle rarely gets lost along the way. They know the route better than most. “This is the road we take every year,” senior Mike Wells said Monday night, after the Red Hurricanes clinched their eighth...
High school roundup for Feb. 28, 2022: OLSH rallies past Seton LaSalle in Class 2A semis
Kyleigh Nagy scored 24 points as top-seeded OLSH rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat No. 5 Seton LaSalle, 50-45, in a WPIAL Class 2A girls basketball semifinal Monday night. Emily Schuck put up 10 and Mia Grisafi finished with nine for the Chargers (21-4), who used a 22-12...
Unbeaten Laurel Highlands pulls away from Highlands, into WPIAL Class 5A final
Highlands overcame a couple of dry spells last Thursday in its quarterfinal victory against Penn Hills. But it was a different story Monday night as top-ranked Laurel Highlands had a hot shooting touch and a minimum of turnovers as the Mustangs defeated Highlands, 61-44, in the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals...
Shady Side Academy knocks off Aliquippa to earn spot in Class 3A championship game
A parade of basketball players in dress clothes emerged from the Shady Side Academy locker room and passed by coach David Vadnais, some tapping him on the shoulder, others offering a shout-out. Sophomore Peter Kramer took his turn and proceeded towards the exit. Just then, Vadnais looked back and called...
Defending champion Neshannock stops Serra Catholic to return to Class 2A final
For the second consecutive season, Serra Catholic had its WPIAL championship hopes dashed at the hands of Neshannock. The third-seeded Eagles hung with the defending district champions for three quarters before the second-seeded Lancers pulled away in the fourth en route to a 41-23 triumph in the WPIAL Class 2A...
Aquinas Academy fends off upset-minded St. Joseph, rolls into Class A title game
The St. Joseph girls basketball team held a great deal of momentum entering Monday’s WPIAL Class A semifinal against Section 3 rival Aquinas Academy at North Hills High School. The No. 9 Spartans took down No. 1 Rochester on Thursday, and they hoped to do the same against the No....
Penn Hills School District hires alum Charles Morris as head football coach
Community, family and character were arguments for both sides of the Penn Hills head football coach debate at a special school board meeting on Monday, where the board approved the hiring of Charles Morris to the position. Brian Tarrant was also a candidate for the job. “I’m excited to get...
Avonworth pulls off another upset, beating South Allegheny in Class 3A semifinals
Cinderella is heading to the ball once again. And again, it’s South Allegheny that came out on the losing side. Just days after eliminating No. 1 Ellwood City, No. 8 Avonworth overcame a seven-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter to stun the No. 5 Gladiators, 46-43, at the UPMC...
Southmoreland girls continue to rely on trademark defense to advance in WPIAL playoffs
Teams that have played against Southmoreland the last several seasons rarely have hit their scoring averages. If they did, it was probably because they were equally as talented or better, they shot the lights out or they caught the Scotties on an off night. “We’re disciplined on defense,” said junior...
AK Valley WPIAL basketball playoff preview capsules: Games for Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Boys Class 6A Semifinals 2-Fox Chapel (22-1) vs. 3-Central Catholic (18-5) 8 p.m. Tuesday, AHN Arena, Peters Township High School Winner plays: Winner of 1-North Hills (23-0)/4-Mt. Lebanon (16-8) Saturday at 7 p.m. in championship game at Petersen Events Center Layup lines: Fox Chapel turned away Pine-Richland, 77-67, in the...
Westmoreland WPIAL basketball playoff preview capsules: Games for Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Semifinals Boys Class A 4-Greensburg Central Catholic (18-3) vs. 1-Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (21-0) 8 p.m. Tuesday at Gateway Coaches: Christian Hyland, Greensburg Central Catholic; Mike Rodriguez, OLSH Winner plays: Winner of 3-Carlynton (20-2)/2-Fort Cherry (22-2) in championship 1 p.m. March 5 at Petersen Events Center Layup lines:...
Defensively sound Latrobe battling for postseason berth
Consider Josh Werner’s plight. Latrobe’s hockey coach drives 40-plus miles each way to pilot the Wildcats’ home games at Greensburg’s Nevin Arena. For seven seasons, Werner has endured long nights, but he’s not complaining. “I love coaching this team. That makes things easier,” said Werner, a former club team hockey...
Valley boys look forward to productive offseason
John Stone’s first year as Valley’s boys basketball coach didn’t produce a leap in the standings. But Stone feels the program soon could be headed in the right direction. The Vikings finished 1-11 in Section 3-3A, 1-21 overall. The one victory was a 59-57 win over playoff-bound Steel Valley that...
