Boys Basketball Playoff Recap

Posted on: by Big 56 Conference

BOYS BASKETBALL

6A SEMIFINALS

New Castle 58, Mt. Lebanon 41

A big second quarter was exactly what New Castle (24-2) needed as they cruised to a 58-41 win over Mt. Lebanon (16-8) 58-41 Tuesday night at North Allegheny High School

The game was tied 7-7 after a quarter, when Isaiah Boice and Ralphie Blundo got hot from behind the arc hitting five 3-pointers in the first six minutes of the second quarter. That helped New Castle expand their lead to 12 points. New Castle was 8 of 9 from the field in the second quarter. New Castle outscored Mt. Lebanon 22-5 in the second quarter and had a 17-point lead at the half.

Mt. Lebanon was never able to recover as the offense never really got going until the fourth quarter and by that time it was too late. New Castle ballooned the lead all the way to 21 heading into the fourth. Mt. Lebanon would put up 22 points in the final frame but would ultimately fall to New Castle 58-42.

Boice and Jonathan Anderson both finished with 16 points for New Castle. Blundo had 12. Brody Barder led Mt. Lebanon with 16 points.

New Castle is headed to the WPIAL Championship game for the ninth time in the last 12 years. They will take on Central Catholic on Saturday at 7 pm. Mt. Lebanon will face off against Upper St. Clair in the WPIAL Third-Place Game at 8 pm on Thursday.

Central Catholic 65, Upper St. Clair 41

Central Catholic (14-10) set the tone early, jumping out to a 17-6 lead after a quarter of play and never looked back as they rolled Upper St. Clair (15-9) 65-41 on Tuesday night at Peters Township High School. 

Central Catholic was dominant on the offensive glass all night long and got the lead up to 35-17 by halftime. Upper St. Clair would make a push in the third quarter and get the deficit down to 39-27 with about five minutes left in the third quarter but Central Catholic would wake back up offensively and roll to a 65-41 victory.

Central Catholic outrebounded Upper St. Clair, 41-24 in the contest and shot 51% from the field.. Dante DePante had 25 points for Central Catholic. Randy Wilkerson had 14 points, Peyton Wehner added 11 points and Debaba Tshiebwe had 11 points and 16 rebounds. 

Central Catholic advances to the WPIAL Championship for the first time since 2008. They will take on New Castle on Saturday at 7 pm. Upper St. Clair will host Mt. Lebanon in the WPIAL Third-Place Game at 8 pm on Thursday.

5A THIRD-PLACE GAME

North Hills 67, Gateway 51

5A FIFTH-PLACE GAME

South Fayette 56, Mars 36

5A SEVENTH-PLACE GAME

Fox Chapel 64, McKeesport 45

5A STATE SEEDING

  1. Winner of Penn Hills/Peters Township
  2. Loser of Penn Hills/Peters Township
  3. North Hills
  4. Gateway
  5. South Fayette
  6. Mars
  7. Fox Chapel