High School category, Page 192
PIAA officials postpone PIAA football quarterfinal between Westinghouse, Bishop Guilfoyle
For the second time this week, the PIAA has made a change to the PIAA Class A quarterfinal matchup between City League champion Westinghouse and District 6 champ Bishop Guilfoyle. Because of inclement weather, PIAA officials on Friday moved the game to 1 p.m. Saturday at Farrell High School. The...
After championship season, Norwin girls looking for ‘best 5’ to make another run
Last year, Norwin found itself on top of the WPIAL Class 6A girls basketball mountain. However, with the departure of key seniors from the championship team, the Knights will need to do it with a new group as they put last year’s success behind them. Norwin, which finished 23-4 overall...
New coach hopes to make talent stand out for Norwin boys
The Norwin boys basketball program looks to have culture change in store as the Knights begin a new era with a familiar face in charge. Cam Auld, a 2016 Norwin graduate, takes over as coach after spending the last two seasons at Greensburg Salem. Auld, 26, went 9-34 overall and...
5 things to watch in H.S. football: WPIAL finals at Acrisure Stadium bring added excitement and sometimes new shoes
Pine-Richland coach Jon LeDonne wonders what the grass at Acrisure Stadium might look like when the WPIAL 5A final kicks off Saturday night. He’s not necessarily worried, just curious. The three WPIAL championship games LeDonne coached in previously were all played elsewhere on artificial turf. Peters Township’s T.J. Plack shares...
High school roundup for Nov. 21, 2024: Tucker Cullen’s hat trick sparks Fox Chapel
Tucker Cullen scored a hat trick and Miles Carey made 43 saves to lead Fox Chapel to a 4-1 win over Penn-Trafford in PIHL Class 2A hockey Thursday night. Pierce Osterholm also scored for Fox Chapel (4-1-1). Rylan Kistle scored for Penn-Trafford (7-2). Bishop McCort 2, Baldwin 1 – Jack...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Nov. 21, 2024
Football WPIAL playoffs Championship Saturday’s schedule At Acrisure Stadium Class 5A Pine-Richland (11-1) vs. Peters Township (11-1), 8 p.m. Class 3A Avonworth (10-3) vs. Central Valley (7-5), 5 p.m. Class 2A Seton LaSalle (11-0) vs. South Park (11-1), 2 p.m. Class A Fort Cherry (13-0) vs.Clairton (13-0), 11 a.m. PIAA...
Fierce defenses square off when Pine-Richland, Peters Township meet in WPIAL title rematch
There are plenty of old football coach sayings that link defense and championships. Pine-Richland coach Jon LeDonne offered this one ahead of the WPIAL finals: “If they don’t score, they can’t win.” Simple enough. No. 1 Pine-Richland (10-1) plays No. 3 Peters Township (11-1) in a WPIAL Class 5A final...
New coach looks to carry on Mt. Pleasant girls basketball tradition of toughness
Meet the new boss, same first name as the old boss. After 19 seasons at the helm of the Mt. Pleasant girls basketball team, Scott Giacobbi retired in June after compiling a 246-192 record and 13 WPIAL playoff appearances. Scott Hillen now takes over after spending the last 10 years...
Mt. Pleasant boys to embark on ‘refocusing year’ after starters graduate
Mt. Pleasant boys basketball coach Annie Malkowiak always tries to find the positive in everything. Despite what looked to be a bad year, with the Vikings finishing 8-13 overall, she saw plenty of growth within the team. “It was about those kids getting used to something completely different from what...
Trib HSSN PIAA football preview capsules for Week 13
While a lot of eyes will be on the four WPIAL championship games at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, the big weekend of high school football begins Friday with three area teams taking part in PIAA quarterfinals. Newly minted WPIAL champions Central Catholic in Class 6A and Thomas Jefferson...
Plum girls planning to think fast, play fast to help replace graduated top scorer
Senior Serena Carnahan would like the Plum girls basketball team to be in the best position to make quick decisions. It’s a skill that will come in handy as the Mustangs lost their leading scorer and will have a group looking to blend youth and experience. To cultivate that skill,...
After struggles last season, Plum boys basketball ‘hungry to succeed’
Belief, in and of itself, isn’t going to carry the Plum boys basketball team to the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs for the first time since 2016. But the Mustangs have shown an immense amount of dedication to the sport in the offseason that senior guard Will Beckner believes will produce...
Through the Years: 40 years ago, Freeport finally got the better of nemesis Jeannette
Each week throughout the high school football season, the Valley News Dispatch has taken a look back at the players, coaches and events that shaped our scholastic legacy. For decades, Freeport High School football experienced success against many local rivals, particularly in conference play. But that came to a temporary...
Kiski Area football coach Sam Albert hangs up head coach’s whistle after 3 decades
Thirty-four years after landing his first head coaching job, Kiski Area football coach Sam Albert has decided those days are over. But he’s not ready to retire. Albert resigned Wednesday at Kiski Area after eight seasons as coach with plans to serve elsewhere next fall as an assistant. A former...
Monessen girls basketball team sets sail under Schmidt
Jason Schmidt is following a legend. Jason F. Schmidt, that is. Schmidt — don’t call him a Junior — takes over as coach of the Monessen girls basketball team, succeeding Janine Vertacnik, who has retired after combining for 365 victories in a career that, in addition to her six seasons...
Monessen looks to extend playoff streak to 43 years despite graduation of top scorer
Forty-two and counting. Hopefully, there will be enough in the tank, Monessen boys basketball coach Dan Bosnic said, to reach the WPIAL playoffs for a 43rd consecutive season. “We always expect to be competitive and be right there,” said the Greyhounds’ high-energy bench boss, whose otherwise gentle demeanor steadily has...
WPIAL Class 3A championship preview: Avonworth, Central Valley set for rematch
To the naked eye, the matchup in the WPIAL Class 3A championship may not seem surprising based on the recent history of the two programs. No. 5 Avonworth will take on No. 2 Central Valley for gold at 5 p.m. Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. Avonworth is set to appear in...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Nov. 20, 2024
Football WPIAL playoffs Championship Saturday’s schedule Class 5A Pine-Richland (11-1) vs. Peters Township (11-1) at Acrisure Stadium, 8 p.m. Class 3A Avonworth (10-3) vs. Central Valley (7-5) at Acrisure Stadium, 5 p.m. Class 2A Seton LaSalle (11-0) vs. South Park (11-1) at Acrisure Stadium, 2 p.m. Class A Fort Cherry...
Trib 10: New team takes over top spot with only 10 teams left standing
We present the survival edition of the Trib 10 in this 2024 season. After all the smoke has cleared, these are the 10 teams still alive heading into lucky Week 13. The top two teams are officially district champions while the other eight power-ranked teams are heading to the North...
New coach likes commitment he sees from Leechburg girls
The Leechburg girls basketball team made the playoffs with an 8-11 record last season. This year, the Blue Devils want nothing more than to make it back. The Blue Devils won four out of six games from Jan. 15 to Feb. 1, which helped punch their ticket into the postseason....
With additions to roster, Leechburg boys hungry to turn program around
Andrew McDermott is heading into his second year coaching a hungry Leechburg boys basketball team. The players, coaches and community are determined to turn the ship around. Last season, the Blue Devils finished 2-20, but with a big turnout, McDermott sees potential out of the program. “My primary goal is...
WPIAL Class 2A championship preview: After long wait, Seton LaSalle, South Park return to title game
There are a lot of familiar teams playing in the WPIAL football championships this fall. Title games in Class 6A and 5A involved the same two finalists from a year ago. In three of the other championship contests, one of the teams returned to the title game from last fall...
PIAA bumps Thomas Jefferson to Saturday, changes sites for Westinghouse, Central Catholic games
The PIAA has pushed Thomas Jefferson’s state playoff game back a day and changed the location of games involving Westinghouse and Central Catholic. Citing impending weather, the PIAA moved Thomas Jefferson’s Class 4A quarterfinal against District 9 champ Clearfield to 1 p.m. Saturday at Mansion Park in Altoona. It was...
WPIAL Class A championship preview: Defending champion Fort Cherry to be tested by No. 2 Clairton
Saturday’s WPIAL Class A championship features a test for both teams the likes of which they’ve yet to see this season when defending champion and top-seeded Fort Cherry takes on No. 2 Clairton at Acrisure Stadium. On one side, the Clairton Bears have surrendered just 21 points all season. No...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Nov. 19, 2024
Football WPIAL playoffs Championship Saturday’s schedule Class 5A Pine-Richland (11-1) vs. Peters Township (11-1) at Acrisure Stadium, 8 p.m. Class 3A Avonworth (10-3) vs. Central Valley (7-5) at Acrisure Stadium, 5 p.m. Class 2A Seton LaSalle (11-0) vs. South Park (11-1) at Acrisure Stadium, 2 p.m. Class A Fort Cherry...
