Girls Class 6A WPIAL Semifinal Preview

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Three out of the four teams in the Class 6A girls’ basketball semifinals are represented by one section, but it is the one team in another section that will be the team to beat.

Both semifinal games will take place on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Below are capsules on both games.

No. 1 North Allegheny Tigers (23-0) vs. No. 5 Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils (13-11) At Fox Chapel

After a lengthy layoff, it took a quarter for top-seed and undefeated North Allegheny to take control of its quarterfinal game against Upper St. Clair, but they finally were able to pull away from the Panthers for a 45-26 win. The Tigers only led 9-7 after the first quarter, but held their opponent without a point until midway through the third quarter to break the game open. Junior Rachel Martindale led the team with 19 points. This will be the second straight playoff game at Fox Chapel for North Allegheny. North Allegheny has had recent success in the playoffs against Mt. Lebanon, defeating them 61-44 at North Hills in last year’s semifinals. They also defeated them 56-52 in the PIAA second round…Mt. Lebanon pulled off the mini upset in the quarterfinals, knocking off No. 4 Norwin, 53-50. It was the second win of the season for the Blue Devils against the Knights, also defeating them 65-58 in the season opener in the Wright Automotive Tip-Off Tournament at North Allegheny. In the quarterfinal win, sophomore Haley Sabol led the team with 16 points. Senior Alyssa Hyland was right behind her with 15 points and junior Nora Kogan added 11 points. In the two playoff wins for Mt. Lebanon, they are outscoring its opponents, 84-70.

No. 2 Peters Township Indians (20-3) vs. No. 3 Bethel Park Black Hawks (17-5) At Baldwin

The Section 3 rivals will be meeting for the third time this season, but none more meaningful than this game. Peters Township swept the season series, winning at Bethel Park, 38-37, on Dec. 21 and at home, 58-44, on Jan. 22. The Indians advanced to the semifinals with a 48-40 win against Hempfield at Baldwin. In the win, Junior Makenna Marisa led the team with 20 points. Senior Lillian Young and junior Isabella Mills both chipped in with 13 points. The semifinal game will be the second straight playoff game at Baldwin for the Indians. Peters Township last made the WPIAL semifinals in 2009-10, when they lost to Mt. Lebanon, 61-34…Bethel Park advanced to the semifinals with a dominating 70-50 win against Latrobe at Gateway. In the win, junior Maria Cerro led the Black Hawk with 19 points. Freshman Olivia Westphal finished with 17 points and senior Kamryn Lach added 10 points. This is Bethel Park’s second straight trip into the WPIAL semifinals. They defeated Penn Hills, 41-36, at North Allegheny last year.

For a look at the updated bracket, click here.