Broadcast Doubleheader; Penn-Trafford Visits Norwin
In game one of our Quad-A Game of the Week doubleheader, the Lady Warriors of Penn-Trafford battle the Norwin Knights with the top spot in Section 1-AAAA on the line. Penn-Trafford is 7-4 overall and 6-0 in section play while Norwin sits at 6-4 overall and 4-0 within the section. Both teams have earned a key win over Hempfield along the way, making tonight’s contest a showdown for first place at the midway point of the season.
Penn-Trafford, ranked 10th by the MSA Sports Network, has won three in a row entering tonight’s action. Amongst those triumphs, the Warriors claimed an exciting win at the buzzer over the reigning section champion Hempfield Spartans. The Warriors trailed by 13 in the first quarter but rallied to win the game, 63-62, on a shot by junior guard Casey Aunkst at the buzzer.
Penn-Trafford has dominated the section in recent years, boasting a 41-3 section mark since 2010-11. Despite losing three of five starters from a year ago and owning a youthful roster, the Warriors have continued their winning ways behind the play of Aunkst and forward Maria Palarino. Aunkst is a talented multi-sport athlete who also plays on the Penn-Trafford girls’ soccer team, while Palarino is an all-section pick who averages 18 points per game.
The Norwin Knights have been to the post-season 11 consecutive years but are hoping to make a splash by winning their first section crown since 2010 and making a deep run in the playoffs. Norwin is ranked seventh by the MSA Sports Network and is coming off a convincing 70-11 drubbing of Kiski Area. Sophomore Alayna Gribble led the Knights with 16 points in the victory, joined in double-digits by freshman Taylor Ingel who scored 11.
The Knights are certainly battle tested to this point in the season as their losses have come to some of the best that Quad-A has to offer, falling to North Allegheny, Bethel Park and Shaler. Norwin has plenty of depth with seven different players scoring in double-digits this season.
Tip off for tonight’s MSA Sports & Quad-A Conference Girls Basketball Game of the Week is slated for 6:00 pm at Norwin. The pre-game show will start at 5:45 with Randy Gore and Buddy McKay calling the action. To listen to tonight’s broadcast, click here!
In the second game of our twin bill, Norwin (7-5, 2-3) hosts Penn-Trafford (4-8, 1-4) in a Section 1-AAAA boys’ basketball contest. This game pits two teams heading in opposite directions. Norwin has won five consecutive games while Penn-Trafford has lost five in a row. Despite the slow start to the season, a win tonight could pull the Warriors back into the thick of the section playoff race.
The Warriors have a young a team that relies on defense. While scoring just 47 points per game, the third lowest in Quad-A, Penn-Trafford permits only 50 points per game on defense. Senior Sam Kavel is a 6-7 forward who provides leadership in the post. Young guards Timmy Vecchio, Dom Conconcelli and Sam Stinelli are talented players who will be the nucleus for Penn-Trafford teams in the years to come. Stinelli is a sharpshooter from beyond the arc who knocked down seven treys in a game against Connellsville on December 17.
The Knights have a sharpshooter of their own in Curtis Perz. The junior guard poured in 32 points in Norwin’s most recent win over Connellsville last Friday night, 57-47, and averages 18 points per game. Senior Alex Haas opens things up for Perz with his play in the post.
Tip-off for tonight’s boys’ game between Norwin and Penn-Trafford is scheduled for 7:30 pm. Click here to listen to the game live or on archive!
For bonus coverage of tonight’s Quad-A clash between reigning WPIAL champion New Castle and second-ranked Hampton, click here for a broadcast courtesy of MSA Sports.