Boys basketball
Team of the Week
Avella – The Eagles were scuffling to stay in the playoff hunt out of Section 2-A a couple weeks ago. Thanks to a recent surge, Avella not only locked up a playoff berth, the Eagles set themselves up for a possible second-place finish.
Avella won at Carmichaels, 62-59, on Saturday and followed with 54-48 home victory over Beth-Center on Sunday.
The Eagles and Bulldogs are tied for second-place in Section 2. Both with 8-3 records.
Runner-up – Monessen
Starting five
Craig Wolcott, Peters Township
Pat Zedreck, South Fayette
Damon Cupp-Sheader, Avella
Josh Valentic, Trinity
Jalen Madison, Monessen
Off the bench
Chad Hagan, Canon-McMillan
Games of the Week – Peters Township blows double-digit lead then rallies to win at Canon-McMillan, 64-61, with a 7-0 run to close the game as Hagan returned to the Big Macs' lineup; California beats Burgettstown, 74-71 in overtime.
Weird, wild stuff – Wolcott and Washington's Troy Wilson are both four-year starters for their respective teams. Considering Wolcott plays at the Class AAAA level and Wilson plays for the Prexies, it's a considerable accomplishment for both.
On Friday night, both players topped 1,000 career points and it happened within minutes of one another.
Wolcott needed 12 points entering the game at Canon-McMillan and got it on a 25-foot three-pointer (he launched it from the volleyball line) in the second quarter of a game which started 20 minutes late. Wilson also needed 12 points entering Friday's game against Charleroi and reached the milestone in the third quarter.
Girls basketball
Team of the Week
Beth-Center – Following a nine-day layoff, Beth-Center traveled to Washington Saturday, a place where the Bulldogs never win. In their previous eight trips there, the Bulldogs lost by an average of 36.9 points.
Needing a win to clinch the Section 5-AA championship, Beth-Center notched a 59-49 victory as Megan Sowers finished with a double-double.
Beth-Center won its first section championship since 1983.
Runner-up – Peters Township
Starting five
Chelsea Evans, Washington
Megan Sowers, Beth-Center
Olivia English, Avella
Courtnee McMasters, California
Ellie Hanlon, Peters Township
Off the bench
Chaniece Tarpley, Charleroi
Games of the Week – California took advantage of some chilly Monessen shooting (0-for-9 free throws) as it defeated Monessen, 55-43, to give the Greyhounds their first loss against a team not in Class AAAA; Avella boosted its chances of tying Cornell for fourth place in Section 2 with a 41-36 win over Chartiers-Houston.
Weird, wild stuff – Canon-McMillan, a team ravaged by injuries in recent years (five players were lost to knee injuries in 2008-09), beat Ringgold Saturday for its first win in Section 4-AAAA.
The Big Macs finished 1-13 in section and the victory snapped a 27-game losing streak in section play.
5 comments:
Congrats to my main man, Avella Head Coach Joe Hough, on making the playoffs again this season.
What do you think of the new basketball conferences, Mike?
Just gave them a quick read Mailman. With Char Valley and Moon joining Section 4-AAAA next year with Ringgold going to Class AAA, it makes for a great section with huge crowds and strong rivalries.
I'm also pleased they put Washington and Trinity together in Section 5-AAA, along with South Fayette. That section improved vastly under realignment. Some people may not realize it but Wash High and South Fayette is a rivalry.
Monessen's section seems a little odd, doesn't it?
Monessen's section is down right wrong. Do they realize that to get to the JV games by 5:30 the boys will have to be back to their school by 4:00-4:15 so they can get their stuff from the locker before getting on the bus. They get out of school at 2:45 so they don't get home from their bus stops unitl 3:15. When are they eating and studying. They won't be getting back home from the game until around 10:15-10:30 and then go to the school lockers, ride home, shower and eat something- it is now 11:30. Again, when to they study? Come on wpial, THIS IS STUPID!
Really eating and studying before a basketball game? I don't know one kid that isnt napping before coming back to the school for a game be it home or away.
Post a Comment