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Photo Credit: @MoonTigersBB

by: Don Rebel

MOON BOYS LOOK TO MAKE ANOTHER STATE PLAYOFF RUN

A year ago, the Moon boys basketball team had just captured the program’s fifth WPIAL championship with a victory of Franklin Regional in the district finals.

The Tigers hosted Obama Academy in the first round of the PIAA playoffs and won convincingly, 52-34.

They followed the up with wins over York Suburban, 59-38 and Bethel Park, 57-51, to earn a rematch with Franklin Regional in the state semifinals.

The Panthers earned revenge from their district title game loss and eliminated the Tigers, 60-43, ending Moon’s golden season at 26-4.

Following a loss to eventual WPIAL 5A champion Chartiers Valley in the district quarterfinals and getting the No. 7-seed out of District 7 with a 1-1 record in the consolation round, the Tigers will be hard pressed to repeat their state success from a year ago.

On Friday in the PIAA 5A first round, Moon (19-7) heads east to visit the No. 3 ranked team in the state in 5A, Johnstown, at 7 p.m.

The District 6 champion Trojans have won 24 of their 25 games this season with their only loss coming on Valentine’s Day to one of the top 3A teams in the state, Bishop Guilfoyle.

Johnstown defeated Hollidaysburg in the District 6 5A championship game, 68-52, before defeating District 10 champion Meadville in a PIAA sub-regional game, 52-41.

Here are the other six PIAA first round games involving WPIAL 5A boys basketball teams:

The No. 9 team from District 3, Cocalico (14-12), visits WPIAL champion Chartiers Valley (23-3) at 6 p.m.

The No. 3 team from the WPIAL, Montour (24-2), will host the No. 7 team from District 3, Milton Hershey (17-9), at 6 p.m.

The No. 6 team from the WPIAL, Latrobe (20-6), heads east to face District 3 runner-up Exeter Township (14-11) at 7 p.m.

Penn-Trafford (14-12) pulled off a first-round stunner in the WPIAL playoffs when it bounced No. 2 Baldwin. Can the Warriors do it again in the PIAA postseason when they travel to District 3 champion Hershey (21-3) at 6 p.m.

District 10 winner Meadville (16-8) hosts the No. 5 team out of the WPIAL, Uniontown (22-4) at 7 p.m.

WPIAL No. 4 Mars (14-12) also heads east to battle District 3 No. 3 West York (20-6) at 6 p.m.

WPIAL runner-up Peters Township (18-8) is home to District 3 No. 8 Spring Grove (11-14) at 6 p.m.

WPIAL vs. CITY LEAGUE

Going up against WPIAL competition is nothing new for City League girls basketball champion Allderdice.

In fact, 10 of the Dragons’ 25 games this season have been against teams from District 7.

No. 11 comes Friday in a PIAA 6A first-round playoff game as Allderdice (20-5) hosts Canon-McMillan (15-9) at 7 p.m.

Thus far this season, the Dragons are 6-4 against WPIAL teams.

Allderdice captured the District 8 title when it beat Carrick in the semifinals, 70-14, and Obama Academy in the City League championship game, 52-45.

The Dragons earned their spot in the PIAA postseason by defeating Erie in a state sub-regional game, 64-48.

Following a loss to Norwin in the WPIAL 6A semifinals, the Big Macs earned their spot on the Road to Hershey with a consolation game victory over Mt. Lebanon, 36-34.

Here are the other two PIAA first-round game involving WPIAL 6A girls basketball teams:

WPIAL champion Upper St. Clair (19-6) will host District 3 No. 8 Manheim Township (19-9) at 6 p.m.

District 6 champion Altoona (22-2) is home to WPIAL runner-up Norwin (15-8) at 7 p.m.