2012 WPIAL Boys Basketball Playoff Preview

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, February 17, 2012 | 3:38 PM

The ball goes up on Friday night for the start of the 2012 WPIAL Boys Basketball Playoffs as Gateway, Montour, Monessen and Vincentian Academy prepare to defend their hardwood titles. Here is a preview of the girls version of the 'Battle to the Bluff'.

CLASS AAAA

Top seeds: Shaler is first, Chartiers Valley second, Mount Lebanon third and Woodland Hills fourth.

Best first-round game: Penn-Trafford vs. Gateway, Saturday at Plum.

Fab 5 to watch: Nolan Cressler, Plum; Geno Thorpe, Shaler; Nate Snodgrass, Butler; Lincoln Davis, Central Catholic; Tyler Scott, Gateway.

Hidden statistics: This is the second year is the No. 1 seed, but Shaler has never made it to a WPIAL final. … Chartiers Valley coach Tim McConnell is trying for his sixth WPIAL title. Only four other coaches have won six titles.

Do you remember?: Ten years ago, Uniontown defeated New Castle, 60-57, in a memorable title game. It was the first time since 1967 that a championship in the largest class matched two teams with only one loss between them. Ambridge beat Mount Lebanon in 1967.
 

CLASS AAA

Top seeds: New Castle is first, Montour second, Hampton third and Keystone Oaks fourth.

Best first-round game: West Mifflin vs. Mars, Tuesday, site and time to be determined.

Fab 5 to watch: Micah Mason, Highlands; Devin Wilson, Montour; Shawn Anderson, New Castle; Corey Eggleston, New Castle; Rocco Contristano, Keystone Oaks.

Hidden statistic: New Castle’s Eggleston and Anderson were the only two players from the same team to average 18 points or more this season. Eggleston averaged 18 and Anderson 19.

Do you remember?: In 1999, New Castle became the first team to win three Class AAAA titles in a row when it defeated North Allegheny, 51-32. The New Castle team featured David Young, who played at Xavier and then North Carolina Central before being taken in the second round of the 2004 NBA draft.
 

CLASS AA

Top seeds: Monessen is first, Beaver Falls second, Sto-Rox third and Summit Academy fourth.

Best first-round game: The winner of Wilkinsburg-Brownsville vs. the winner of Jeannette-Fort Cherry, Wednesday, site and time to be determined.

Fab 5 to watch: Sheldon Jeter, Beaver Falls; P.J. McLaughlin, Greensburg Central Catholic; Jaisen Irwin, Monessen; Elijah Minnie, Summit Academy; Dontez Ford, Sto-Rox.

Hidden statistic: Sto-Rox, Beaver Falls, Quaker Valley, Chartiers-Houston, Soudh Side Beaver, Riverview and Brentwood all give up fewer than 50 points a game.

Do you remember?: Seven years ago, Beaver Falls defeated Aliquippa, 79-78, in one of the best title games in WPIAL history. It went three overtimes and Lance Jeter hit a shot near half-court to win it for Beaver Falls.
 

CLASS A

Top seeds: Lincoln Park is first, North Catholic second, Clairton third and Serra fourth.

Best first-round game: St. Joseph vs. Sewickley Academy, Friday night at North Hills.

Fab 5 to watch: Devontae Watson, Lincoln Park; Danny Savulchak, North Catholic; Trey Hosack, Lincoln Park; Brandon Camic, Serra; Chris Koryak, Vincentian.

Hidden statistic: Lincoln Park has played 80 games the past three seasons.

Do you remember?: Three years ago, Sewickley Academy’s Tom Droney tied a championship game scoring record when he poured in 40 in a game against Sewickley Academy. … Also, only three years ago Serra’s T.J. Heatherington scored a WPIAL playoff game record when he scored 50 in a semifinal game against Neshannock.