What’s coming up: PIAA Second Round, Day 2

Posted on: by Big 56 Conference

by: Don Rebel

LONE CAT ON THE PROWL

As New Castle, Central Catholic and Mt. Lebanon all saw their seasons come to an end with PIAA Class 6A boys basketball first-round losses, WPIAL champion Uppers St. Clair was dominating in another playoff blowout.

After winning all three WPIAL playoff games by 20 points or more, the trend continued Saturday in the PIAA first round.

USC jumped out to a 21-4 lead after one quarter and guaranteed a mercy rule running clock for the entire second half when it led 45-10 at intermission.

The Panthers defense allowed four, six, seven and 13 points in each quarter to cruise, 67-30.

Senior forward Tyler Robbins led with 15 points while junior guard Jake Foster added 11 points for USC.

On Wednesday, Upper St. Clair (24-2) will play the No. 3 team from District 3, Governor Mifflin (20-8), at Altoona at 6:30 p.m.

In the first round, the Mustangs defeated Mt. Lebanon, 66-54. Andrew Galantomo led the way for GM with 22 points.

FOURTH TIME’S A CHARM?

They met twice in the girls basketball regular season and once in the district postseason and each time, Peters Township (24-3) has defeated Thomas Jefferson (22-5).

Could the fourth time be a charm for the Jaguars against the Indians?

WPIAL champion Peters Township has won the previous meetings against Thomas Jefferson, but the outcomes keep getting closer.

In December at TJ, the Indians won by 13 points. In the rematch at PT in early February, the Indians won by nine points.

The two met for a third time at Mt. Lebanon in the district semifinals and PT defeated TJ by only three points.

Now the fourth clash is set for Canon-McMillan on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Senior Natalie Wetzel scored 16 points as Peters Township crushed Conrad Weiser in the state playoff opener, 58-25.

Thomas Jefferson pulled away from Susquehannock in the first round, 55-37, thanks to 17 points from sophomore Kaylee DeAngelo and 16 from junior Maggie Spell.

One other WPIAL team remains alive in girls 5A basketball.

District 7 runner-up South Fayette (25-2) will battle West York (21-7) at Altoona at 5 p.m.

The Lions bounced back after falling to Peters in the WPIAL title game with a rout of Lower Dauphin, 56-21.

Junior Ryan Oldaker led South Fayette with 24 points.