With a little less than three minutes remaining in South Fayette's first-round playoff win over New Brighton Wednesday night, the starting five from Wash High descended down the bleachers on the New Brighton side of North Allegheny High School's gymnasium.
A large contingent of South Fayette students, dressed in white, spotted the Prexies players and busted into a chant.
"We want Wash High."
Washington senior Mark Wise and sophomore Zach Barnes smiled and waved to the Lions' student section. Rest assured South Fayette, Wash High wants South Fayette too.
Welcome to the best basketball rivalry in the southwest corner of Pennsylvania.
South Fayette (20-3), winners of 17 straight and the No. 4 seed in the WPIAL Class AA boys basketball playoffs, gets No. 5 seed Wash High (21-2) in the quarterfinals Saturday afternoon at Baldwin High School. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
Don't be surprised if it ends up being the best game in a loaded Class AA bracket.
"I can't wait," South Fayette senior guard Joe Silko said Wednesday. "We have a lot of respect for Wash High. We play those guys probably eight times every summer. We know each other real well."
Wash High, which allows just 38.3 points per game, hosted South Fayette on Dec. 9 and won, 62-53. The two meet every year in a non-section game that usually plays out like it's for a section championship.
"We feel like we owe them one," Silko said.
In the first meeting, Prexies senior Nick Bryant had a big game and is coming off a 27-point performance during a first-round victory over West Shamokin.
"It's a great game every time we play," Bryant said after Tuesday night's win, and expecting that the Lions would beat New Brighton a day later. "They're a great team."
The winner advances to the semifinals and plays the winner of the Jeannette-Quaker Valley quarterfinals. The winner also draws a lot closer to a WPIAL title. Washington has won four during the 28-year coaching tenure of Ron Faust. South Fayette, an annual playoff team, is looking for its first WPIAL basketball title.
One thing to look for is the health of South Fayette sophomore Mike Lamberti, who tweaked an ankle late in Wednesday's victory. After the game, Lions coach Rich Bonnaure said Lamberti is fine.
39 comments:
wash high is going to win
I do like Wash High's chances. They take playing South Fayette very personally.
I also like South Fayette's chances.
Plus, there's a good chance the winner moves on to Palumbo.
South Fayette will bring home the victory, on a neutral site i love their chances.
Lamberti vs wilson, and bryant vs silko are the match ups to watch, the two south fayette scorers will go off, its a show you wont want to miss
the winner will go to the palumbo.. an i pick washington
South Fayette has to many offensive weapons for Wash High. Zedreck, Silko, and Henry will shoot the lights out. You won't want to miss this one. I like South Fayette in a close one.
everyone forgets that mark wise played his best game of the year 18 points agianst a great team like them is something that stands out. This will be a great game because of the match ups nick bryant is a great scorer as well as troy wilson zach barnes and mark wise control the boards and robert anderson is a scrappy point guard that can make plays a great defense this will be one for the ages I LIKE WASH HIGH
to much offensive of power? where was that the first game huh?
stop living in the past. that was almost two months ago. the offense will be there saturday.
your right wash high's D will be there too
well see my man. well see.
Write this down:
M-A-R-S, Mars B*tches! That's we are going! Red Rocks! Yeah yea!
--dave chappelle
I think the key matchup is South Fayette's Mike Burroughs versus Washington's best offensive rebounders - Troy Wilson and Robert Anderson.
While Burroughs won't be guarding Anderson, the SF big man must find ways to limit Wash High's damage on offensive putbacks. I'm not sure if I've seen a better offensive rebounder than Wilson this year.
It's destiny. Faust gets to Palumbo.
This won't be CLOSE!
South Fayette rolls by 25! Good Bye High.
Lions to Palumbo, no doubt.
Mike, I have seen a better offensive rebounder this year... DeJuan Blair, but that's college. As far as high school goes, I agree with your statement on Wilson.
by 25 your not serious are you.. everyone keeps down playing wash high will see tomorrow..
South Fayette is good but I don't see them shutting down Wash High. Lamberti and Zedreck don't D up like they should. Look for whoever they are covering to have a big game. Silko and Henry need to make some shots for SF to have a chance but I don't think they'll get the looks cause Wash High plays some DEFENSE!!
PREXIES TO PALUMBO BABY!!
Wash high who????
south fayette 43 foul shots...wash high 11...nuff said
whats a prexie?
Cry about. Sf in the semis baby.!!
yeah cry alright thats all lamberti does and their whole team racist officals that was horrible there will be another rematch at states south fayette BUMS
SF BABY!!! BYE BYE WASH HIGH!!!!!!!!!
SF over jeanette no doubt
South Fayette vs. North Catholic
in Palumbo
I think that Monessen is going to upset North Catholic and you will see Monessen and South Fayette in the Championship. Monessen has heart! The Longs may be family through blood but the Hounds are brothers through love and respect for one another...
Monessen vs South Fayette
Go Hounds...................
How many AA teams make states?
Does Wash High still have a chance or no?
Eight Class AA teams make it to states and Wash High is one of them.
Yes, IMO, the Prexies have a chance to make a run.
Where was Wise the 2nd half? Sitting on the bench where he belongs
yeah because everything was called on him and the prexies and if you were at the game you saw that theres no way in a physical game like that south fayette shoots 44 foul shots and wash high 11 give me a break if that wasnt cheatin or officals out to get wilson and wise i dont know what is
Mike do you agree with any of that??
Not really
It just because South Fayette players went to the hoop while Wash high players settled for jump shots.. End of story.
why not?
Has there ever been a basketball game that wasn't determined by the "cheatin officials" ? From saturday afternoon YMCA ball to the WPIAL playoffs the officials always get blamed by fans who can't deal with the reality of getting beat.
is there a chance wash high and south fayette can play each other yet agian? and if so what will the out come be?
The outcome will be determined by the "cheatin officials" just like always. Just ask the fans of the team that loses.
ok did you watch the game at all because it wasnt a fair game at all i dont care what team your a fan of lets just say it wasn't a consistant calling game from the officals
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