What to watch for in WPIAL sports on MArch 12, 2025: 7 WPIAL teams still alive in PIAA Class 2A boys bracket – TribLIVE.com

By: Don Rebel
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | 11:43 PM
Greensburg Central Catholic’s Brady O’Rourke rejects a shot by Jeannette’s Jayce Powell on Feb. 4.
Welcome to the second night of the second round of the PIAA basketball playoffs with action taking place in the boys Class 6A, 3A and 2A playoffs along with the girls Class 5A, 4A and A brackets.
Of all the 12 PIAA basketball brackets, boys Class 2A saw the most WPIAL success in the opening round.
Eight district teams qualified for the state 2A playoffs and seven advanced with first-round victories.
With so many District 7 teams winning in Round 1, a couple of intra-district matchups are on tap for Round 2 with both games at North Allegheny on Wednesday.
One of the WPIAL battles has Greensburg Central Catholic (24-2) taking on Neshannock (22-4) at 7:30 p.m.
The Centurions have bounced back after being upset in the district quarterfinals by Union with two consolation game victories and an opening-round win over District 5 McConnellsburg.
Senior Liam Gallagher scored 20 points and senior Brady O’Rourke scored 14 as GCC opened the state playoffs with an 11-point victory, 54-43.
Following a tight opening quarter, the Lancers broke loose from District 10 runner-up Rocky Grove, 64-39.
Seniors Matt Sopko and Tony Perrotta each scored 16 and junior David Kwiat added 14 points for Neshannock.
In the first game at NA, WPIAL runner-up Union (20-7) squares up with Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (20-7) at 6 p.m.
Senior Lucas Stanley scored 35 points to lead the Scotties over Bishop McCort in the PIAA first round, 62-49.
Union showed no sign of its loss to Jeannette in the District 7 finals by jumping out to a big lead over the visiting Crimson Crushers.
The Chargers also lost to Jeannette in the WPIAL quarterfinals, but after splitting two consolation games, they eliminated District 9 champion Redbank Valley in the state opener, 62-51.
Senior forward Vann Kavals scored 22 points and junior forward Patrick Altmar scored 21 as OLSH prevailed over the Bulldogs.
The Chargers swept the Scotties in two Section 4-2A regular season meetings by 24 and 11 points.
Here are the other three second-round 2A state playoff games involving WPIAL teams.
• WPIAL champion Jeannette (24-3) will take on District 6 runner-up Northern Cambria (15-12) at Johnstown at 7 p.m. Junior Kymon’e Brown scored 20 points for the Jayhawks in the first round.
• District 10 champion Lakeview (21-5) is challenged by Sewickley Academy (21-5) at Ellwood City at 8 p.m. In the opening round, Lucas Grimsley led the Panthers with 22 points in a win over Windber.
• District 9 runner-up Clarion (20-7) faces Northgate (16-11) at Freeport at 7 p.m. The Flames advanced with a slim two point win at District 6 champion Portage.
Lone cat on the prowl
As New Castle, Central Catholic and Mt. Lebanon all saw their seasons come to an end with PIAA Class 6A boys basketball first-round losses, WPIAL champion Upper St. Clair was dominating in another playoff blowout.
After winning all three WPIAL playoff games by 20 points or more, the trend continued Saturday in the PIAA first round.
USC jumped out to a 21-4 lead after one quarter and guaranteed a mercy rule running clock for the entire second half when it led 45-10 at intermission.
The Panthers defense allowed four, six, seven and 13 points in each quarter to cruise, 67-30.
Senior forward Tyler Robbins led with 15 points while junior guard Jake Foster added 11 points for USC.
On Wednesday, Upper St. Clair (24-2) will play the No. 3 team from District 3, Governor Mifflin (20-8), at Altoona at 6:30 p.m.
In the first round, the Mustangs defeated Mt. Lebanon, 66-54. Andrew Galantomo led the way for GM with 22 points.
Old world showdown
It’s the stuff of tales from yesteryear when the Gladiators take on the Marauders.
This one isn’t a battle on land or sea from ancient history, it’s a PIAA Class 3A boys basketball showdown between WPIAL champion South Allegheny (24-3) and District 6 runner-up Bishop Guilfoyle (23-4) at Armstrong at 7:30 p.m.
After winning their first WPIAL title over Aliquippa, the Gladiators squashed Cranberry in the state opening round, 75-37.
The dynamic duo was in full swing as junior Drew Cook scored 22 points and backcourt mate senior Cam Epps tallied 21 points for SA.
The Marauders crushed Bishop Canevin in the first round, 57-38, behind 17 points from Hamilton Gates.
Here are the other three second round 3A state playoff games involving WPIAL teams.
• District 3 champion Camp Hill Trinity (20-3) will face Shady Side Academy (13-13) at Pitt-Johnston University at 7 p.m.The Bulldogs stunned District 5 champion North Star in Round 1 behind 13 points from senior Landon Mauser and junior Paul Benec.
• WPIAL runner-up Aliquippa (21-5) draws District 10 winner Mercer (14-11) at Ellwood City at 6 p.m. The Quips crushed Westmont-Hilltop in the first round of the state playoffs, 73-40. Junior Josh Pratt scored 23 for Aliquippa.
• District 6 champion Forest Hills (24-2) battles Mohawk (20-6) at Gateway at 7 p.m. Warriors senior Bobby Fadden became the school’s all-time scoring leader in a first-round triumph over Chestnut Ridge, 72-59, as he scored 25 points.
Fourth time’s a charm?
They met twice in the girls basketball regular season and once in the district postseason and each time, Peters Township (24-3) has defeated Thomas Jefferson (22-5).
Could the fourth time be a charm for the Jaguars against the Indians?
WPIAL champion Peters Township has won the previous meetings against Thomas Jefferson, but the outcomes keep getting closer.
In December at TJ, the Indians won by 13 points. In the rematch at PT in early February, the Indians won by nine points.
The two met for a third time at Mt. Lebanon in the district semifinals and PT defeated TJ by only three points.
Now the fourth clash is set for Canon-McMillan on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Senior Natalie Wetzel scored 16 points as Peters Township crushed Conrad Weiser in the state playoff opener, 58-25.
Thomas Jefferson pulled away from Susquehannock in the first round, 55-37, thanks to 17 points from sophomore Kaylee DeAngelo and 16 from junior Maggie Spell.
One other WPIAL team remains alive in girls 5A basketball.
District 7 runner-up South Fayette (25-2) will battle West York (21-7) at Altoona at 5 p.m.
The Lions bounced back after falling to Peters in the WPIAL title game with a rout of Lower Dauphin, 56-21.
Junior Ryan Oldaker led South Fayette with 24 points.
District final four in 4A move on
The recently completed WPIAL Class 4A girls basketball playoffs came down to Oakland Catholic, Blackhawk, North Catholic and Elizabeth Forward in the final four.
In the PIAA first round Saturday, those four teams came out on top and have advanced to the state second round.
However, one District 7 team is guaranteed to end its season Wednesday when WPIAL champion Oakland Catholic (24-3) goes up against Elizabeth Forward (20-7) at Norwin at 7:30 p.m.
The Eagles continue to soar after they flew past Slippery Rock in the PIAA first round, 80-29.
Senior London Creach was one of four OC players to score in double digits has she had a game-high 20 points.
The Warriors ended a two-game skid following losses to Blackhawk in the WPIAL semifinals and North Catholic in the consolation game with a victory in the state opening round over District 10 runner-up Fairview, 44-35.
Senior Chloe Zombek led EF with 15 points.
Here are the other two girls 4A second-round games involving WPIAL teams:
• WPIAL runner-up Blackhawk (24-3) will play District 9 champion Clearfield (19-5) at Clarion University at 7:30 p.m. The defending PIAA 4A champion Cougars got 23 points from junior Aubree Hupp.
• District 10 winner Harbor Creek (22-4) is challenged by North Catholic (23-4) at Oil City at 7 p.m. The Trojans rolled to a 30-point win over Penn Cambria in the PIAA first round as sophomore guard Brady Wehner scored 13 for NC.
‘A’ lonely night
Six WPIAL Class A girls basketball teams qualified for the PIAA playoffs and shockingly, one survived Round 1.
The last District 7 team standing carries the district flag Wednesday when Aquinas Academy (17-8) faces District 6 champion Bishop Guilfoyle (26-2) at Armstrong at 6 p.m.
The Crusaders upended Distict 5 runner-up Fannett-Metal in the first round, 65-22.
Tess Duer led Aquinas with 22 points.
A hockey final four
The 2025 PIHL Penguins Cup semifinals continue Wednesday at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Complex on Neville Island as the Class A final four takes center stage.
The three top seeds and the No. 5 team were victorious in the quarterfinals.
No. 1 Chartiers Valley (20-1-0-0) will take on No. 5 Mars (18-3-1-0) at 6:45 p.m., followed by No. 2 Moon (18-2-0-1) doing battle with No. 3 Avonworth (16-3-0-2) at 8:45 p.m.
Both semifinals can be seen here on Trib HSSN.
In the quarterfinals, the Colts beat North Catholic 6-3, the Fightin’ Planets edged Shaler, 5-4, the Tigers needed overtime to defeat North Hills, 3-2, and the Antelopes squeaked by Quaker Valley, 6-5.

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