PIAA Quarterfinals Preview: 5A Boys and 6A Girls
Photo Credit: @phbasketball (Twitter)
BOYS BASKETBALL
PIAA 5A QUARTERFINALS
7-2 Peters Township (24-4) vs. 3-1 Exeter (25-6) – at Bald Eagle HS – 6 pm – WJPA
Peters Township
Peters Township has defeated Milton Hershey (60-53) and Lampeter Strasburg (58-56) in the PIAA playoffs. It has been a very balanced effort for the Indians throughout the PIAA playoffs. Brendan McCullough had 21 points in Peters Township’s first round win. Mickey Vaccarello had 14 points in that game while Nate Miller had 10 points. Jack Dunbar stepped up with 14 points in Peters Township’s second round win. Jake Ziegler had 11 points in that game.
Exeter
Exeter has beaten Fox Chapel (62-57) and Mechanicsburg (66-49) in the PIAA playoffs. Reece Garvin is averaging 16.5 points per game in the PIAA playoffs, including a career-high 21 points in Exeter’s second round win. Anthony Caccese is averaging 13.5 points per game in the PIAA playoffs, including a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds in the second round victory. Alex Kelsey will return after scoring 13 points in Exeter’s first round victory but was ejected and had to sit out the second round game.
This game will be broadcasted live on WJPA. You can find the broadcast link on the broadcast schedule under Multimedia.
10-1 Cathedral Prep (23-3) vs. 7-1 Penn Hills (23-3) – at Sharon HS – 7 pm
Cathedral Prep
Cathedral Prep beat South Fayette (47-45) and Mars (66-54) in the PIAA playoffs. Jake Sambuchino is averaging 17 points per game in the PIAA playoffs. Amaree Pickens had a big second round for Cathedral Prep scoring 25 points. Semontae Lofton was big for the Ramblers in the first round win scoring 16 points.
Penn Hills
Penn Hills has defeated DuBois (63-20) and Hershey (50-42) in the PIAA playoffs. Noah Barren is averaging 12.5 points per game in the PIAA playoffs. Daemar Kelly had 15 points in the Indians’ second round victory. Rob Thomas and Lamire Redman had 12 points for Penn Hills in their first round win.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
PIAA 6A QUARTERFINALS
3-1 Cedar Cliff (28-0) vs. 7-2 Upper St. Clair (23-3) – at Altoona HS – 6 pm
Cedar Cliff
Cedar Cliff defeated Garnet Valley (45-28) and Upper Dublin (39-26) in the PIAA playoffs. They were the top seed in the District 3 playoffs and rolled to a District 3 Championship. Alexis Buie is averaging 10.5 points per game in the PIAA playoffs. Olivia Jones had 10 points in Cedar Cliff’s second round win.
Upper St. Clair
Upper St. Clair has beaten McDowell (56-34) and Pennsbury (42-31). Rylee Kalocay is on fire in the PIAA playoffs averaging 27.5 points per game. Kate Robbins had 10 points in Upper St. Clair’s first round victory.
7-3 Norwin (23-4) vs. 7-1 North Allegheny (22-5) – at Fox Chapel – 7:30 pm – North Allegheny Sports Network & Westmoreland Sports Network
Norwin
Norwin beat Central Dauphin (34-19) and Lebanon (57-43) in the PIAA playoffs. The defense has been great and that should not be a surprise to anyone as they were the top defense in WPIAL 6A. Ava Christopher had 10 points in Norwin’s first round win. Lauren Palangio and Kendall Berger stepped up in the second round as Palangio had 24 points and Berger added 17 points.
North Allegheny
North Allegheny has defeated Manheim Township (76-53) and Mt. Lebanon (57-34) in the PIAA playoffs. Jasmine Timmerson is averaging 18.5 points per game in the PIAA playoffs. Kellie McConnell has stepped up big time in the PIAA playoffs averaging 18 points per game. Lydia Betz had 15 points in North Allegheny’s first round win while Caroline Henderson had 11 points in the first round victory.
Previous Matchups:
This is the fourth matchup between Norwin and North Allegheny this season.
Norwin won the first matchup on January 3, 53-32, at home. Berger had 14 points for Norwin while Polangio added 11 points. Timmerson had 20 points for North Allegheny.
North Allegheny took the second matchup on January 26 on their home floor by a score of 52-45. Betz had 20 points for North Allegheny while Timmerson had 17 points. Berger had 16 points for Norwin.
These teams would meet again in the WPIAL Semifinals at Fox Chapel where North Allegheny would squeak out a 38-36 win. Timmerson had 12 points for North Allegheny. Berger had 16 points for Norwin while Polangio added 10 points.
This game will be broadcasted live on the North Allegheny Sports Network and Westmoreland Sports Network. Both broadcast links will be on the broadcast schedule under Multimedia.