High School category, Page 745
Injuries present early season speed bump for veteran Pine-Richland girls basketball team
As Pine-Richland girls basketball enters a new season, it has a bit of a good-news, bad-news situation. The good news is the Rams have four returning starters, two other returners with experience and a couple of newcomers who will provide help. The bad news is several of those players are...
North Allegheny girls basketball team reloads after epic season
Lizzy Groetsch and Paige Morningstar led North Allegheny’s girls basketball team to a season for the ages in 2020-21. It easily could be labeled the best girls basketball season in school history. The Tigers captured their first PIAA championship, won a fourth WPIAL title in five years, stormed through Section...
Boost in numbers gives Hampton wrestling optimism despite graduation losses
The Hampton wrestling team is aiming to focus on quantity rather than quality. The Talbots, under first-year coach Nick Endres, have seen growing numbers at every level and are counting on the boost in participation to offset the losses of two PIAA qualifiers. Gone are Justin Hart, the 2021 WPIAL...
Hampton can count on depth in quest to repeat at WPIAL Class 2A boys swim champs
The reigning WPIAL Class 2A champion Hampton boys swimming team hopes deeper is better when it comes to the pool. The Talbots will look to defend their title with less top-end talent and more roster-wide balance. “I think we have a lot of depth,” junior Ben Sheets said. “Last year...
With accomplished coach on board, Shady Side Academy girls basketball begins new era
When Shady Side Academy was looking to fill its girls basketball coaching vacancy, the school reached out for a big name. Jonna Burke, who has had a successful career at Butler and Bethel Park, was hired by Shady Side in late September. The former Bethel Park and Pitt player wanted...
Deep, unselfish Shady Side Academy boys basketball team set to build on strong season
Despite the pandemic-related starts and stops to last year’s scholastic basketball season, the Shady Side Academy boys had a surprisingly successful campaign. And the formula for winning was simple: No one cared about individual statistics. “It was a bit of a surprise,” coach David Vadnais said of his team’s accomplishments....
PIHL standings: Week of Dec. 13, 2021
Here are the latest PIHL high school hockey standings through Sunday, Dec. 12. *- indicates clinched a playoff spot x- indicates eliminated from playoff chase Team, Wins-Losses-Overtime/Shootout Loss = Total Points Class AAA North Allegheny, 9-1-0 = 18 Peters Township, 7-4-1 = 15 Pine-Richland, 6-2-0 = 12 Baldwin, 5-2-2 =...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Norwin pair headed for kicking academy
Xander Smith and Joey Castle were a one-two special teams punch for Norwin this season. Smith centered long snaps to Castle, who boomed punts into orbit. Castle also made good on extra points and field goals and aimed for touchbacks as the Knights’ kicker. The junior pair continues to follow...
Aliquippa has ‘no legitimate complaint’ about competitive-balance rule, says PIAA executive director
HERSHEY — The state’s competitive-balance rule is working as originally intended, despite Aliquippa football’s strong objections to playing bigger schools, says the PIAA’s top administrator. “In my opinion, they have no legitimate complaint,” PIAA executive director Bob Lombardi said “as seen by winning a state championship this year, and last...
High school girls basketball roundup for Dec. 11, 2021: Mankins sisters lift Greensburg Salem to tournament title
Greensburg Salem used pressure defense and the scoring of the Mankins sisters to defeat Greensburg Central Catholic 48-30 to win the Greensburg Salem Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday. Abby Mankins led all scorers with 21 points and Kait Mankins had 10 for the Golden Lions (2-0). Bailey Kuhns and Mya Morgan...
High school boys roundup for Dec. 11, 2021: McDonough powers North Allegheny to OT win
Matt McDonough drove the length of the court and scored in the lane with five seconds left in overtime to put North Allegheny ahead by two, then came up with a steal with two seconds remaining to lift the Tigers past Penn-Trafford, 56-54, in the Hempfield Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday....
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Dec. 11, 2021
High schools WPIAL Basketball Saturday’s results Boys Aquinas Academy Tournament Aquinas Academy 73, Harvest Baptist 49 Avonworth Tournament Avonworth 75, Ambridge 39 Shaler 87, Winchester Thurston 60 Baldwin/Peters Township Tournament Baldwin 68, Albert Gallatin 30 Laurel Highlands 83, Peters Township 58 Brentwood Tournament Consolation Beaver 61, Northgate 39 Championship Brentwood...
Hempfield ekes out victory over scrappy Franklin Regional
The wheels were set in motion for a double-digit victory. But the wheels nearly came off for Hempfield in the fourth quarter Saturday night against Franklin Regional. The host Spartans tried to give away the finale of the 17th annual Hempfield Tip-Off Basketball Tournament, watching a 14-point lead dry up...
Mt. Lebanon dethrones St. Joseph’s Prep to win 1st state championship
HERSHEY – There’s a new champion in PIAA Class 6A football, which surely surprises much of the state. “It’s a surprise to everybody but us,” said Mt. Lebanon senior Alex Tecza, who scored three times Saturday night, including two touchdowns in a 90-second fourth-quarter span as the Blue Devils celebrated...
Highlands boys defeat Deer Lakes in tip-off tourney
After winning its season opener by 64 points Friday night, the Highlands boys basketball team finally was able to pull away in the fourth quarter Saturday night for a 61-40 victory over Deer Lakes. The Golden Rams opened the final period with an 18-3 run to secure the victory. Tip-off...
Upper St. Clair beats buzzer to win WPIAL finals rematch with Pine-Richland
Upper St. Clair edged Pine-Richland nine months ago to win the 2021 WPIAL 6A boys basketball championship. The sequel took place Saturday in another championship game, this time of the Upper St. Clair Tip-off Tournament. While the cast for the host Panthers had completely changed from last season, the end...
Penn-Trafford went into PIAA Class 5A championship with confidence
HERSHEY — It’s unsure how much sleep the Penn-Trafford football team got Friday night after its stunning 17-14 overtime win against Imhotep Charter. But there is a good chance it was very little. “I’m staying up all night. I don’t care,” senior running back Cade Yacamelli said. “I’m going to...
George Guido: New coaches get past 1st game jitters
The moments before the start of the basketball season can be mentally taxing on a coach. Are we ready? Could we have done more in practice? Do we know enough to counter our opponents? For a new coach, new to a school or returning to the bench, it’s even more...
Landon Alexander, punishing defense lead Central Valley to state title
HERSHEY – Central Valley captured its second consecutive PIAA Class 3A title by defeating Wyomissing, 7-0, in a defensive struggle Saturday at Hersheypark Stadium. Landon Alexander scored on a 28-yard run on third-and-12 with 9:54 left to snap the scoreless tie. Alexander rushed for 231 yards on 35 carries and...
PIAA Class 6A football championship breakdown: Mt. Lebanon vs. St. Joseph’s Prep
PIAA Class 6A football championship Mt. Lebanon vs. St. Joseph’s Prep 6 p.m., Saturday, Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey On the air: TV: PCN; Radio: KDKA-AM (1020), KDKA-FM (100.1), WJPA-FM (95.3); Streaming audio: tribhssn.triblive.com PIAA titles: Mt. Lebanon 0; St. Joseph’s Prep 6 (2013, ’14, ’16, ’18, ’19, ’20) Mt. Lebanon (14-0)...
Marston, Susko pace Plum girls basketball past Freeport in season opener
Sophomore guard Megan Marston scored 17 of her game-high 21 points in the second half, and junior forward Dannika Susko added 12 points and nine rebounds as the Plum girls basketball team topped Freeport 43-33 in the second game of the Freeport Tip-Off Tournament on Friday at Freeport Middle School....
PIAA Class 3A football championship breakdown: Central Valley vs. Wyomissing
PIAA Class 3A football championship Central Valley vs. Wyomissing Noon, Saturday, Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey On the air: TV: PCN; Radio: WKPL-FM (92.1), WBVP-AM (1230), WBVP-FM (99.3) and WMBA-AM (1460); Streaming audio: tribhssn.triblive.com PIAA titles: Central Valley 1 (2020), Wyomissing 1 (2012) Central Valley (14-0) Player to watch: Sean FitzSimmons FitzSimmons...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Dec. 10, 2021
High schools WPIAL Basketball Boys Aquinas Academy Tournament Friday’s results Aquinas Academy 63, Cornerstone Prep 39 Harvest Baptist 66, Cornerstone Prep 53 Cheswick Christian Academy at Aquinas Academy, ppd. Avonworth Tournament Friday’s results Avonworth 65, Winchester Thurston 53 Shaler 74, Ambridge 67 Saturday’s schedule Shaler vs. Winchester Thurston, 2 p.m....
High school boys basketball roundup for Dec. 10, 2021: OLSH runs winning streak to 41
Jake DiMichele scored a game-high 33 points as Our Lady of the Sacred Heart ran its winning streak to 41 games with a 65-54 season-opening win over Franklin Regional at the Hempfield tournament Friday night. Class 5A Franklin Regional (0-1) never led but tied the Chargers, 48-48, with just over...
High school girls basketball roundup for Dec. 10, 2021: Blackhawk sets school record for 3-pointers
Casey Nixon hit five 3-pointers and scored 17 points to lead Blackhawk to a 70-39 victory over Ellwood City (0-1) in the Montour tip-off tournament Friday night. Alena Fusetti added 13 points and Quinn Borroni had 10 for the Cougars (1-0), who tied a school record with 16 3-pointers in...
