Girls Class 5A WPIAL Semifinal Preview

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A wild quarterfinals filled with upsets set up a semifinal where anything can happen in the girls’ basketball Class 5A bracket.

The semifinals will happen on Wednesday and both games will be played at 8 p.m. and will not feature any of the top three seeds who were upset in the quarterfinals.

Below are the capsules of each game.

No. 4 Mars Planets (19-5) vs. No. 8 Oakland Catholic Eagles (16-8) At North Hills

Mars was lone higher seed team in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals, defeating section rival Hampton, 48-41. It was the rubber match for the two teams that were named co-section champions in Section 4. In the win against Hampton, Junior Tai Johnson led the Planets with 22 points. Also scoring in double figures was senior Lauryn Wasylson and sophomore Bella Pelaia with 11 points apiece. This will be the Planets’ second straight game at North Hills. In two playoff games, Mars has outscored its opponents 102-74. Mars last made the WPIAL semifinals in 2015-16, where they lost to Trinity, 57-39…Oakland Catholic enter the semifinals after upsetting top-seed Trinity, 55-46, at West Allegheny. Junior Sierra DeAngelo led the Eagles with 15 points in the game. Junior Jayde Boyd and Cierra Christian each tallied 13 points. In two playoff games, Oakland Catholic have outscored its opponents, 118-88. Oakland Catholic has recent success against Mars in the playoffs, beating them in the WPIAL quarterfinals and PIAA Second Round. The Eagles defeated Hampton, 44-37, in the semifinals last year. This is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.

No. 6 Chartiers Valley Colts (18-6) vs. No. 7 Gateway Gators (21-3) At Baldwin

The defending WPIAL champions making into the semifinals is hardly an upset, but by seeding it was when they knocked off No. 3 West Allegheny, 49-42, at Baldwin in the quarterfinals. The win gave the Colts a 2-1 season series win against the Indians and their 10th straight win. In that game, sophomore Megan McConnell led the Colts with 27 points and junior Mackenzie Wagner finished with 21 points. The semifinal game will be the second straight playoff game at Baldwin for Chartiers Valley. In their two playoff games, the Colts have outscored their opponents 99-82. This is the first meeting of the season between these two teams. Chartiers Valley beat Trinity, 47-35, in the semifinals last year…Gateway has relied on its defense all season long but they were able to outscore Thomas Jefferson in a shootout in the quarterfinals at Baldwin, 57-54. This was the first time in nine games that they allowed more than 35 points and it was its 13th straight win. Against Thomas Jefferson, sophomore Lexi Jackson led the Gators with 19 points. Senior Jordan Edwards and junior Mary Kromka finished with 15 and 13 points, respectively. It is also the Gators second straight playoff game at Baldwin. In its two playoff wins, Gateway has outscored its opponents, 96-82. Gateway last made the WPIAL semifinals in 2012-13 when they lost to Bethel Park, 36-28.

For a look at the updated bracket, click here.