New Castle named Trib HSSN boys basketball team of the week

Trib HSSN boys basketball teams of the week – New Castle Red Hurricanes

Coach: Ralph Blundo (15th season)

Record: 5-1 in Section 1-6A, 11-1 overall

For complete story and interview, click here.

Recap: 1/13/25

GIRLS BASKETBALL

SECTION 1-6A

North Hills 64, Woodland Hills 40

North Hills (4-9, 1-4)

Zoe Devlin – 26 points

Delaney Amato – 16 points

Gia Minton – 12 points

Seneca Valley 47, Pine-Richland 40

Seneca Valley (9-5, 5-0)

Gracie Cato – 17 points

Natalie Hambly – 14 points

Pine-Richland (4-10, 3-2)

Cate Gentile – 16 points

Rebekah Schaffer – 12 points

SECTION 2-6A

Norwin 59, Hempfield 36

Norwin girls clamp down on Hempfield for 3rd straight win

Upper St. Clair 46, Mt. Lebanon 37

Upper St. Clair (10-2, 4-0)

Rylee Kalocay – 31 points

Mt. Lebanon (7-6, 2-3)

Elizabeth Twyman – 13 points

SECTION 1-5A

Penn Hills 41, Gateway 20

Penn Hills (2-10, 2-4)

Milani Oliver – 16 points

Malaya Middleton – 12 points

Cara Crawford – 10 points

Franklin Regional 54, Shaler 48

Franklin Regional surges late to top Shaler, stay unbeaten in girls basketball in Section 1-5A

SECTION 2-5A

Penn-Trafford 50, Indiana 37

Penn-Trafford (13-0, 6-0)

Isabella Fontana – 11 points

Hanna Weishaar – 11 points

Torrie DeStefano – 10 points

*hit 7 three-pointers in 2nd half to erase 9-point deficit

Greensburg Salem 56, West Mifflin 28

Greensburg Salem (8-6, 2-4)

Mya Heasley – 17 points

Blessing Gantt – 10 points

West Mifflin (2-10, 0-6)

Savaughn Wimbs – 16 points

SECTION 3-5A

Chartiers Valley 57, Mars 41

Chartiers Valley (9-5, 5-1)

Rachel Boehm – 10 points

Mars (7-6, 2-3)

Cecilia Christy – 13 points

Vita Vargo – 12 points

West Allegheny 67, New Castle 42

SECTION 4-5A

Trinity 73, Uniontown 18

Trinity (8-4, 3-3)

Sutton Williamson – 15 points

Bentley Layhue – 15 points

Vitt Emerich – 11 points

NON-SECTION

Albert Gallatin 46, Brownsville 41

Albert Gallatin (5-7)

Mya Glisan – 18 points

Ellie Reese – 10 points

BOYS BASKETBALL

SECTION 1-6A

North Hills 82, Woodland Hills 56

North Hills (4-10, 3-4)

Zach Pollaro – 29 points

Nathan Schanbacher – 23 points

Jackson long – 18 points

Woodland Hills (5-8, 1-6)

Donshae Mosley – 17 points

Scoop Smith – 10 points

SECTION 4-5A

Chartiers Valley 68, Mars 65

Chartiers Valley (12-1, 5-1)

Jayden Davis – 36 points

Julian Semplice – 18 points

Mars (7-6, 3-2)

Austen Wroblewski – 32 points

Ben Detisch – 12 points

What’s coming up: 1/10/25

by: Don Rebel

RED FOX

Two teams with a combined record of 19-3 meet for a piece of the first-place pie in Section 1-6A on Friday as Fox Chapel (10-2) visits New Castle (9-1).

The Foxes currently lead the section with a 5-0 record. They had a five-game winning streak end with a loss to Class A top-ranked Neighborhood Academy, but have since won two in a row.

The Red Hurricanes are 4-1 in the section and tied for second place with Seneca Valley (4-1, 7-6). The ‘Canes suffered their only loss this season last week to Seneca Valley but rebounded Tuesday with a 13-point victory over Pine-Richland (3-2, 5-5).

Freshman guard Kai Cox leads New Castle with an average of 21.1 points per game while senior Caiden Kaiser is averaging 18.3 points per game for Fox Chapel.

You can listen to the game at 7:30 p.m. on Trib HSSN.

Recap: 1/9/25

GIRLS BASKETBALL

SECTION 1-6A

Seneca Valley 48, Woodland Hills 21

Seneca Valley (9-4, 4-0)

Natalie Hambly – 19 points

Gracie Cato – 12 points

SECTION 2-6A

Upper St. Clair 75, Hempfield 55

Upper St. Clair (8-2, 3-0)

Meredith Huzjak – 23 points

Rylee Kalocay – 21 points

Grace Howell – 15 points

Hempfield (7-5, 1-3)

Mads Pevarnik – 15 points

Ava Shipman – 11 points

SECTION 1-5A

Shaler 62, Fox Chapel 45

Shaler (11-1, 4-0)

Reese Smetanka – 22 points

Bayleigh Perez – 15 points

Olivia Gieraltowski – 13 points

Fox Chapel (8-5, 3-2)

Natalia Schaffer – 16 points

Lyla Jablon – 12 points

Bella Urso – 11 points

Franklin Regional 63, Armstrong 36

Franklin Regional (8-5, 5-0)

Madison DeRiggi – 19 points

Chloe Pucka – 11 points

Alyssa Bridges – 10 points

Armstrong (2-10, 1-15)

Isabella Yancy – 9 points

Plum 46, Gateway 13

Plum (4-7, 3-2)

Riley Stephans – 14 points

Tamia West – 11 points

SECTION 2-5A

Latrobe 54, Greensburg Salem 46

Latrobe (8-6, 4-2)

Maggie Maiers – 20 points

Brianna Havrilla – 17 points (5 three-pointers)

Greensburg Salem (7-6, 1-4)

Mya Heasley – 12 points

Vienna Jevicky – 12 points

Indiana 48, West Mifflin 27

Indiana (11-2, 5-0)

Julia Antonucci – 12 points

West Mifflin (2-8, 0-5)

Savaughn Wimbs – 17 points

Penn-Trafford 55, Kiski Area 22

Penn-Trafford (12-0, 5-0)

Isabella Fontana – 12 points

Lauren Marton – 12 points

Kam Pieper – 12 points

Raya Johnson – 10 points

SECTION 3-5A

South Fayette 72, Chartiers Valley 41

South Fayette (13-1, 6-0)

Haylie Lamonde – 16 points

Juliette Leroux – 13 points

Lailah Wright – 11 points

Chartiers Valley (8-5, 4-1)

Emma Reynolds – 12 points

Moon 53, West Allegheny 48

Moon (7-4, 3-2)

Jaedin Griggs – 26 points

Ella Smith – 14 points

Alexis Santucci – 14 points

West Allegheny (8-4, 1-4)

Alaina Holtz – 10 points

Mars 62, New Castle 31

Mars (7-4, 2-2)

Vita Vargo – 20 points

Cecilia Christy – 15 points

SECTION 4-5A

Peters Township 62, Uniontown 21

Peters Township (12-1, 5-0)

Natalie Wetzel – 19 points

Bri Morreale – 11 points

Jordyn Welsh – 10 points

Taylor McCullough – 10 points

Trinity 48, Albert Gallatin 43

Trinity (7-4, 2-3)

Kimari Behrens – 17 points

Riley Venick – 12 points

Albert Gallatin (4-7, 0-6)

Mya Glisan – 19 points

Grayce Panos – 11 points

BOYS BASKETBALL

SECTION 2-6A

Imani Christian 79, Mt. Lebanon 65

Mt. Lebanon (7-5, 3-3)

Liam Sheeley – 21 points

Sam Deibert – 19 points

SECTION 2-5A

Indiana 77, Shaler 69

Indiana (5-6, 2-3)

Aaron Webb – 22 points

Darius Webb – 14 points

Dylan Rice – 14 points

Shaler (5-8, 2-3)

Jaden Epps – 24 points

Devon Nixon – 13 points

Zach London – 10 points

Recap: 1/7/25

Photo Credit: @MoonTigersBB

BOYS BASKETBALL

SECTION 1-6A

Seneca Valley 58, Butler 52

Seneca Valley (7-6, 4-1)

Nico Santapau – 17 points (5 three-pointers)

Andrew Omasits – 17 points

Butler (8-4, 1-4)

Ayden Andrews – 14 points

Stainton Forbes – 13 points

Tayt Lucas – 13 points

New Castle 65, Pine-Richland 52

New Castle (9-1, 4-1)

Kai Cox – 30 points

Damian Harrison – 12 points

Pine-Richland (5-5, 3-2)

Grant Spacciapolli – 16 points

Emery Moye – 14 points

Eli Catalano – 10 points

Woodland Hills 43, North Allegheny 39

Woodland Hills (5-6, 1-4)

Scoop Smith – 30 points

North Allegheny (5-6, 1-4)

Carter Melzer – 11 points

Jon Jubcek – 11 points

Fox Chapel 54, North Hills 52

Fox Chapel (10-2, 5-0)

Grant Fenton – 17 points (career-high)

Caden Kaiser – 16 points

North Hills (2-10, 1-4)

Nathan Schanbacher – 19 points

Zach Pollaro – 13 points

SECTION 2-6A

Hempfield 66, Canon-McMillan 47

Hempfield (7-5, 2-3)

Drew Gordon – 16 points

Trevor Donsen – 10 points

Canon-McMillan (2-9, 0-5)

Roman Koenemund – 16 points

Michael Dietrich – 13 points

Mt. Lebanon 77, Connellsville 42

Mt. Lebanon (7-4, 3-2)

Carter Gould – 21 points

Liam Sheely – 15 points

Sam Deibert – 14 points

Connellsville (3-9, 0-5)

Rocco Farrell – 14 points

Upper St. Clair 74, Imani Christian 32

Reigning WPIAL champion Upper St. Clair routs 6A newcomer Imani Christian, enacts mercy rule

Central Catholic 62, Norwin 45

Central Catholic (7-4, 4-1)

Enzo Khalil – 14 points

Christian Williams – 10 points

Wills Kontul – 10 points

Norwin (6-6, 2-3)

Chris McKnight – 13 points

Stefano Giannikas – 12 points

SECTION 1-5A

Laurel Highlands 56, Albert Gallatin 43

Laurel Highlands (4-8, 1-4)

Aiden Black – 23 points

Antwan Black – 14 points

Albert Gallatin (7-5, 2-3)

Darrin Ford – 10 points

Latrobe 68, Franklin Regional 49

Latrobe settles in, beats Franklin Regional for 7th straight win

Penn-Trafford 66, McKeesport 59

Penn-Trafford (5-5, 2-3)

Tyler Anthony – 19 points

Brayden Stone – 15 points

Zach Feldman – 12 points

McKeesport (4-8, 2-3)

Lamont Perkins – 33 points

Uniontown 82, Gateway 73

Uniontown (10-3, 5-0)

Isaac Ellsworth – 25 points

Kelan Milsom – 22 points

Notorious Grooms – 21 points

Gateway (5-6, 3-2)

Calvin Winfrey – 14 points

Mykel Bruce-McCrommon – 25 points

Jax Vovaris – 15 points

SECTION 2-5A

Indiana 60, Armstrong 57

Indiana (4-6, 1-3)

Stanford Webb – 19 points

Aaron Webb – 17 points

Armstrong (4-8, 0-5)

Jacob Szep – 13 points

Chase Jablonski – 12 points

Quinton Olsen – 12 points

Jaydon Oliver – 12 points

Penn Hills 79, Plum 57

Penn Hills (5-6, 5-0)

Amon Hawthorne – 20 points

Calix Clark – 17 points

Cam Glenn – 14 points

Aiden Thompson – 13 points

Cato Cahill – 10 points

Plum (6-5, 2-2)

Will Beckner – 15 points

Owen Proskin – 11 points

Kiski Area 64, Shaler 44

Kiski Area (5-6, 3-1)

Colin Keller – 19 points

Amaree Gonzalez – 12 points

Carson Heinle – 11 points

Shaler (5-7, 2-2)

Deron Nixon – 12 points

Chad Gavulic – 11 points

SECTION 3-5A

Bethel Park 52, Thomas Jefferson 48

Bethel Park (5-6, 2-2)

Tanner Pfeuffer – 20 points

Thomas Jefferson (5-5, 1-3)

Nick Trklja – 20 points

Justin Fry – 16 points

Baldwin 72, Ringgold 29

Baldwin (10-1, 3-1)

Max Marzina – 14 points

Caden Cherico – 12 points

Matt Schenk – 10 points

Peters Township 62, South Fayette 50

Peters Township (9-3, 3-1)

Nick McCullough – 17 points

South Fayette (7-4, 4-1)

Gavin Orosz – 22 points

Dylan Head – 12 points

SECTION 4-5A

Blackhawk 71, Lincoln Park 49

Blackhawk (4-8, 1-4)

Justin Shanor – 30 points, 10 rebounds

Tyler Heckathorn – 20 points, 17 rebounds

Lincoln Park (2-8, 0-4)

Mason Town – 14 points

Doionte Henry – 12 points

Moon 51, Mars 43

Moon (10-2, 3-1)

Carter Tumulty – 16 points

Michael Santicola – 15 points

*15-5 run in 4th quarter to seal win

Mars (6-4, 2-1)

Austen Wroblewski – 15 points

Austin Campbell – 11 points

Montour 83, West Allegheny 60

Montour (9-1, 4-0)

Ama Sow – 33 points, 15 rebounds, 10 blocks

Colton Straight – 15 points

Trey Hopper – 10 points

West Allegheny (5-7, 1-3)

Josiah Johnson – 13 points

Anthony Lanni – 11 points

Donovan O’Connor – 10 points

Jonah Buglak – 10 points

NON-SECTION

Hampton 74, Valley 48

Hampton (5-6)

Jonas Cupps – 15 points

Gavin Guinn – 14 points

Andrew Butler – 14 points

GIRLS BASKETBALL

SECTION 1-6A

North Allegheny 63, Woodland Hills 31

Tigers dominant in win over Woodland Hills

SECTION 2-6A

Canon-McMillan 51, Hempfield 32

Canon-McMillan (7-5, 2-1)

Sam Miller – 14 points

Lauren Borella – 14 points

Madison Clair – 11 points

Hempfield (7-4, 1-2)

Mads Pevarnik – 11 points

*led 21-18 at halftime

Mt. Lebanon 53, Connellsville 31

Mt. Lebanon (7-4, 2-1)

Payton Collins – 20 points

SECTION 1-5A

Fox Chapel 59, Armstrong 41

Fox Chapel (8-4, 3-1)

Lyla Jablon – 22 points

Natalie Schaffer – 18 points

Armstrong (2-9, 1-4)

Marlo Mellish – 15 points

Plum 39, Penn Hills 29

Plum (3-7, 2-2)

Riley Stephans – 23 points

Tamia West – 16 points

Penn Hills (1-9, 1-3)

Milani Oliver – 13 points

Cara Crawford – 12 points

SECTION 2-5A

Indiana 48, Latrobe 44

Indiana (10-2, 4-0)

Addy Hutton – 12 points

Latrobe (7-6, 3-2)

Brianna Havrilla – 17 points (5 three-pointers)

Maggie Maiers – 12 points

Penn-Trafford 66, McKeesport 31

Penn-Trafford (11-0, 4-0)

Torrie DeStefano – 14 points

Kamryn Pieper – 11 points

Lauren Marton – 10 points

Kiski Area 53, West Mifflin 30

SECTION 4-5A

Peters Township 61, Albert Gallatin 29

Peters Township (11-1, 4-0)

Natalie Wetzel – 21 points

Bri Morreale – 13 points

Thomas Jefferson 75, Bethel Park 36

Thomas Jefferson (12-1, 4-1)

Maggie Spell – 22 points

Kaylee DeAngelo – 17 points

Emma Altavilla – 10 points

Allie Wilson – 10 points

Bethel Park (6-6, 3-1)

Sadie Orie – 14 points

Kat Boff – 11 points

Baldwin 83, Uniontown 13

Baldwin (6-6, 2-2)

Lynsey Bernotas – 16 points

Julianne Ott – 13 points

Mary Vargo – 10 points

Hannah Prilla – 10 points

NON-SECTION

Franklin Regional 62, Greensburg Salem 39

Franklin Regional (7-5)

Addison Musto – 20 points

Anna Novelli – 10 points

What’s coming up: 1/7/25

by: Don Rebel

GAME OF THE YEAR IN BIG SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL

A week into the new year, it’s safe to say the biggest WPIAL basketball game of 2025 – or perhaps even this season – is set to tip off Tuesday.

The top two teams in Class 6A, who a year ago both won WPIAL boys basketball championships collide for first place in Section 2-6A when Upper St. Clair hosts Imani Christian at 7 p.m.

Both the Saints and Panthers are tied for first place with 4-0 section records.

USC is 11-1 overall and has won six games in a row since falling to Montour.

The Panthers were a perfect 3-0 at the Gil Reynolds Classic in Burlington, NC, before the holidays and have outscored their opponents by an average of 62-38.

Imani is 6-3 overall but 5-0 against WPIAL competition and 1-3 against teams from across the east coast.

The Saints defeated Theodore Roosevelt from Washington, DC, then lost to teams from Maryland, New Jersey and Ohio.

Both teams feature one of the top talents in the area with 5-10 senior guard R.J. Sledge of Imani Christian, averaging 26.5 points per game, and 6-foot-10 senior Tyler Robbins of Upper St. Clair, who is scoring 18 points per game.

The Panthers won district Class 6A gold in 2024 while the Saints swept WPIAL and PIAA Class A championships for the second straight year in 2024, thus prompting the school to move all the way up to Class 6A in this current two year cycle.

You can watch the game Tuesday on Trib HSSN.

MULTIPLE 5A WINNERS

In the eight year history of WPIAL Class 5A boys basketball, there are three schools that have won more than on title in the classification.

Laurel Highlands won 5A gold in 2020 and 2022, and the other two teams battle Tuesday in a Section 4-5A clash as Mars (6-3) visits Moon (9-2) at 7:30 p.m. in a game you can watch on Trib HSSN.

The Fightin’ Planets won back-to-back 5A crowns in 2018 and 2019 while the Tigers took home 5A gold in 2017 and this past season in 2024.

So far this season under new coach Kobe Phillippi, Mars is 2-0 and tied with Montour for first place. The Fightin’ Planets are on a five-game winning streak.

Defending champion Moon is a close second with a 2-1 section mark. The Tigers have been hot, winning five consecutive contests.

Junior guard Austen Wroblewski had led the Fightin’ Planets. He is seven points shy of 200 for the season and is averaging 21.4 points per game.

The Tigers have leaned on the one-two punch of senior swingmen Carter Tumulty and Michael Santicola, who is averaging 20 and 15.9 points per game respectively.

Recap: 1/6/25

GIRLS BASKETBALL

SECTION 1-6A

Seneca Valley 64, Butler 52 (OT)

Seneca Valley (8-4, 3-0)

Gracie Cato – 23 points

Reece McFadden – 21 points

Pine-Richland 45, North Hills 43

Pine-Richland (4-8, 3-0)

Cate Gentile – 27 points

North Hills (3-8, 0-3)

Delaney Amato – 18 points

Gia Minton – 11 points

SECTION 3-5A

Moon 51, Mars 43

Moon (6-4, 2-2)

Jaedin Griggs – 22 points

Maria Depner – 20 points

South Fayette 74, New Castle 29

South Fayette (12-1, 5-0)

Ryan Oldaker – 16 points

Luci LaMendola – 11 points

New Castle (6-5, 0-4)

Rihanna Boice – 12 points

West Allegheny 55, Montour 38

West Allegheny (8-3, 1-3)

Breana Grubba – 17 points (5 three-pointers)

Emma Ruperto – 10 points

Montour (5-6, 1-3)

Zoe Woessner – 13 points

Recap: 1/3/25

BOYS BASKETBALL

SECTION 1-6A

Fox Chapel 53, North Allegheny 39

Fox Chapel (9-2, 4-0)

Caden Kaiser – 17 points

Asher White – 15 points

John Rehak – 14 points

North Allegheny (5-5, 1-3)

Carter Melzer – 13 points

Jon Jubeck – 11 points

Pine-Richland 70, North Hills 54

Pine-Richland (5-3, 3-1)

Grant Spacciapolli – 22 points

Alexander Kastner – 15 points

Emery Moye – 13 points

Eli Catalano – 11 points

North Hills (2-9, 1-3)

Zach Pollard – 21 points

Nathan Schanbacher – 16 points

Seneca Valley 57, New Castle 54

Seneca Valley (4-6, 3-1)

Andrew Omasits – 19 points

Owen Congdon – 12 points

Tyler Pepin – 11 points

Nico Santapau – 11 points

New Castle (7-1, 3-1)

Kai Cox – 20 points

Ralphie Blundo – 11 points

SECTION 2-6A

Central Catholic 67, Canon-McMillan 13

Central Catholic (6-4, 3-1)

Wills Kontul – 17 points

Canon-McMillan (2-7, 0-3)

Michael Dietrich – 7 points

Upper St. Clair 70, Connellsville 15

Upper St. Clair (11-1, 4-0)

Kaamil Jackson – 16 points

Ryan Robbins – 10 points

Dane York – 10 points

Norwin 51, Mt. Lebanon 49 (OT)

Norwin (6-5, 2-2)

Christopher McKnight – go-ahead layup with 25 seconds left in OT – 21 points

Nathan Kuch – block a game-winning 3-point attempt

Jacob Zaber – 15 points

Carter Gould – 13 points

SECTION 1-5A

Gateway 60, Albert Gallatin 42

Gateway (5-4, 3-1)

Mykel Bruce-McCrommon – 16 points

Jax Vovaris – 14 points

Chris Settles – 10 points

Albert Gallatin (7-4, 2-2)

Shymere Wilson – 16 points

Franklin Regional 59, Laurel Highlands 45

Franklin Regional (5-6, 1-3)

Connor Crossey – 21 points

Jonah Johnston – 15 points

Laurel Highlands (3-8, 0-4)

Luke Martin – 16 points

Uniontown 75, McKeesport 36

Uniontown (9-3, 4-0)

Notorious Grooms – 23 points

Calvin Winfrey – 23 points

Isaac Ellsworth – 12 points

Kelan Milsom – 12 points

McKeesport (4-7, 2-2)

Lamont Perkins – 13 points

SECTION 2-5A

Hampton 66, Indiana 50

Hampton (4-6, 2-2)

Ray Kirsopp – 20 points

Jonas Cupps – 16 points

Andrew Butler – 15 points

Indiana (3-6, 0-3)

Aaron Webb – 16 points

Stanford Webb – 13 points

Kiski Area 64, Armstrong 39

Kiski Area (4-6, 2-1)

Carson Heinle – 21 points

Amaree Gonzalez – 13 points

Colin Keller – 11 points

Andrew Zepada – 10p oints

Armstrong (4-7, 0-4)

Jaydon Oliver – 9 points

Penn Hills 82, Shaler 70

Penn Hills (4-6, 4-0)

Amon Hawthorne – 27 points

Calix Clark – 19 points

Cam Glenn – 14 points

Shaler (5-6, 2-1)

Jordan Epps – 19 points

Deron Nixon – 16 points

SECTION 3-5A

South Fayette 37, Baldwin 32

South Fayette (7-3, 4-0)

Stefano Vezio – 12 points

Tyson Wright – 10 points

*led 15-7 after a quarter

Baldwin (9-1, 2-1)

Nathan Wesling – 21 points

Peters Township 59, Trinity 52

Peters Township (8-3, 2-1)

Dylan Donovan – 14 points

Jake Wetzel – 11 points

Nick McCullough – 10 points

Trinity (6-5, 1-3)

Jacob Dunkle – 21 points

Jonah Williamson – 16 points

SECTION 4-5A

Chartiers Valley 78, Lincoln Park 38

Chartiers Valley (10-1, 3-1)

Jayden Davis – 18 points

Logan Helfrick – 13 points

Luca Federico – 13 points

Lincoln Park (2-7, 0-3)

Aaron Wehner – 11 points

Mason Rowan – 10 points

Moon 79, Blackhawk 36

Moon (9-2, 2-1)

Michael Santicola – 21 points

Carter Tumulty – 19 points

Amir Turner – 11 poitns

Blackhawk (3-8, 0-4)

Justin Shanor – 13 points

NON-SECTION

Plum 67, Bethel Park 62

Plum (6-4)

Max Grice – 22 points (10-for-10 at free throw line)

Owen Proskin – 17 points

Trey McMurray – 12 points

Will Beckner – 10 points

Bethel Park (4-6)

Tanner Pfeuffer – 14 points

Will Sabatos – 12 poitns

Michael Bruckner – 10 points

GIRLS BASKETBALL

SECTION 1-6A

Pine-Richland 34, North Allegheny 25

Pine-Richland (3-7, 2-0)

Cate Gentile – 13 points

Rebekah Shaffer – 11 points

Seneca Valley 54, North Hills 25

Seneca Valley (6-5, 2-0)

Gracie Cato – 19 points

Brooke Dufford – 12 points

SECTION 2-6A

Canon-McMillan 54, Mt. Lebanon 51

Canon-McMillan (6-5, 1-1)

Sam Miller – 18 points (5 three-pointers)

Lauren Borella – 13 points

Madison Clair – 11 points

Mt. Lebanon (6-4, 1-1)

Cali Green – 17 points

Payton Collins – 13 points

Riley Collins – 13 points

Upper St. Clair 63, Norwin 53

Upper St. Clair (7-2, 2-0)

Meredith Huzjak – 16 points

Mia Huzjak – 12 points

Norwin (4-5, 1-1)

Kendall Berger – 19 points

Averi Brozeski – 10 points

SECTION 1-5A

Shaler 49, Penn Hills 10

Shaler (10-1, 3-0)

Reese Smetanka – 19 points

Noelle Roth – 16 points (4 three-pointers)

Penn Hills (1-8, 1-2)

Caral Crawford – 8 points

SECTION 3-5A

Chartiers Valley 51, New Castle 23

Chartiers Valley (8-4, 4-0)

Rachel Boehm – 16 points

Emma Reynolds – 14 points

New Castle (6-4, 0-3)

Rihanna Voice – 11 points

SECTION 4-5A

Peters Township 51, Trinity 33

Peters Township (10-1, 3-0)

Natalie Wetzel – 14 points

Daniela Radulovich – 10 points

Trinity (6-4, 1-3)

Sutton Williamson – 10 points

What’s coming up: 1/3/25

by: Don Rebel

CLASS 6A CONTENDERS FACE TESTS AT NORWIN

The third day of the new year could be newsworthy both in and outside of the gym.

While the forecast calls for snow in the area, we are calling for a showdown in Class 6A girls hoops Friday.

Upper St. Clair faces its first stiff challenge in Section 2-6A when it visits Norwin at 6 pm.

The Panthers and Knights are tied for first place with Mt. Lebanon in the six-team section after both won their section openers before the holidays.

USC is 6-2 overall and has won three straight games by margins of 22, 22 and 21 points over Canon-McMillan, Bethel Park and Franklin Regional.

Norwin began the season with three wins in four games but has lost three of its last four including two in a row to fall to 4-4 for the season.

Both teams lost on consecutive days to District 1 power Perkiomen Valley in mid-December.

In Section 2-6A boys basketball, six of the eight teams begin 2025 with records of .500 or better.

Two of them meet in the second game of a 6A doubleheader at Norwin when the Knights host Mt. Lebanon.

The Blue Devils are 1-1 in the section and 5-3 overall after winning two of three games in the Seahawk Classic at Hilton Head, SC.

The host Knights are 5-5 overall and looking to improve to .500 in the section where they are currently 1-2.

Norwin also finished with two wins in its last three games in 2024.

Both games can be seen on Trib HSSN.

CROWDED AT THE TOP

As section play resumes following the holiday break in WPIAL boys basketball, things might start to thin out at the top of Section 1-5A.

Then again, maybe not.

Uniontown (8-3) is all alone in first place with a 3-0 section record.

Then the traffic jam begins with four teams a game behind with 2-1 section marks.

Latrobe (10-1), Albert Gallatin (7-3), Gateway (4-4) and McKeesport (4-6) are prepared to shuffle the standings following each night of section play.

On Friday, Uniontown hosts McKeesport on HSSN while Gateway makes the trek to Albert Gallatin.

Latrobe visits a Penn-Trafford (4-4) team that is just outside the crowded bubble for second place with a 1-2 section record.

Recap: 1/2/25

GIRLS BASKETBALL

SECTION 1-6A

Butler 60, Woodland Hills 31

Butler (7-4, 2-0)

Amelia McMichael – 18 points

Avery Maier – 13 points

Sydney Patterson – 12 points

SECTION 2-6A

Hempfield 69, Connellsville 37

Hempfield (7-3, 1-1)

Reagan Fisher – 17 points

Allie Cervola – 15 points

Mads Pevarnik – 14 points

SECTION 1-5A

Franklin Regional 40, Fox Chapel 36

Madison DeRiggi sparks Franklin Regional girls past Fox Chapel in defensive battle

Armstrong 31, Gateway 19

Armstrong (2-8, 1-3)

Amylia Gaiser – 9 points

Gateway (0-7, 0-3)

Ashley Griffith – 6 points

SECTION 2-5A

Indiana 50, Greensburg Salem 42

Indiana (9-2, 3-0)

Julia Antonacci – 16 points

Stella Stossel – 12 points

Emily Betsinger – 11 points

Greensburg Salem (7-4, 1-3)

Mya Heasley – 19 points

Latrobe 60, Kiski Area 30

Latrobe (7-5, 3-1)

Carley Berk – 21 points

Brylee Bodnar – 10 points

Emmy Bridge – 10 points

McKeesport 48, West Mifflin 33

McKeesport (3-8, 1-3)

Sunny Harper – 17 points

Jessica Miller – 11 points

Emily Eisenberg – 11 points

West Mifflin (2-6, 0-3)

Savaughn Wimbs – 11 points

SECTION 3-5A

South Fayette 63, Moon 39

South Fayette (10-1, 4-0)

Haylie Lamonde – 21 points

Ella Vierra – 14 points

Ryan Oldaker – 12 points

Lailah Wright – 11 points

SECTION 4-5A

Baldwin 74, Albert Gallatin 27

Baldwin (5-6, 1-2)

Lyndsey Bernotas – 23 points

Isabella Niles – 11 points

Kelsey Meyers – 10 points

Albert Gallatin (5-4, 1-3)

Mya Glisan – 15 points

BOYS BASKETBALL

SECTION 2-6A

Imani Christian 72, Hempfield 68

Hempfield (6-5, 1-3)

Drew Gordon – 17 points

Daniel Husenits – 16 points

Max Williams – 14 points