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.
WPIAL 5-A and 6-A Classifications Sports News
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.
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
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