Boys Class 6A WPIAL Semifinal Preview
The parody in Class 6A for boys basketball continues to be showcased as each section will have at least one participant in the semifinals.
The top two teams are still alive, as well as the No. 5 and No. 6 seed. Both semifinals games will be played on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Below are capsules on each game.
No. 1 Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils (20-3) vs. No. 5 Penn Hills Indians (21-3) At Baldwin
Mt. Lebanon silenced any debate on whether they should have been the top-seed or not with its performance in the quarterfinals. The Section 2 champions were red hot in disposing of No. 9 Latrobe, 89-52, at Canon-McMIllan. It was the sixth straight win for the Blue Devils. Senior Caden Hinckley led the team with 21 points. Senior Antonio Garofoli finished with 17 points and junior Mike Palmer added 10. The 89 points was the third time Mt. Lebanon scored that much in a game this season and was tied for the second most offensive output of the season. The Blue Devils are making their first WPIAL semifinal appearance since 2010-11. They lost to Chartiers Valley 54-48 last year in a game that was also played at Baldwin…After not receiving a bye, Penn Hills has continued to prove that they are one of the top teams in Class 6A. The Indians knocked off No. 4 seed and Section 1 champion Central Catholic, 59-49, at Canon-McMillan. It was the third straight win for the Indians. In the win, senior Cory Fulton led the team with 25 points. In their two playoff wins, Penn Hills is outscoring their opponents, 111-100. The Indians last made the playoffs in 2015-16. They lost to North Hills, 77-52, at Fox Chapel.
No. 2 Woodland Hills Wolverines (20-3) vs. Pine-Richland Rams (19-5) At North Hills
Last year’s playoff run by Woodland Hills was classified as a Cinderella run. This year its trip into the semifinals was expected. The Wolverines were the Section 3 champions and advanced with a 57-41 win against Canon-McMIllan at Baldwin. It was their seventh straight win, In the win, senior Amante Britt led the team with 18 points. Junior Keandre Bowles added 16 points. This will be the first meeting of the season between the two teams. Woodland Hills lost in the WPIAL semifinals last year, 54-36, to Butler at Fox Chapel…North Hills has become the home away from home for Pine-Richland, who will be playing its third straight playoff game there. Last round, the Rams defeated No. 3 Fox Chapel, 48-39. It was their fourth straight win. Junior Andrew Kristofic led the team with 12 points. Junior Greg Shulkosky and senior Kenny White both poured in 10 points. In their two playoff wins, the Rams have outscored their opponents, 114-101. The two-time defending WPIAL champion are back in the semifinals, where the defeated North Hills, 85-62, at North Allegheny.
For a look at the updated bracket, click here.