PIAA spirit championship highlights Saturday’s 3 things to watch in high school sports

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, January 11, 2019 | 11:35 PM

Last week was the district championships, now it’s time to be aggressive, b-e aggressive as the PIAA holds its competitive spirit state championships.

Last week at the WPIAL championships, it was a repeat performance as Bethel Park in Class AAA, Elizabeth Forward in AA and Chartiers-Houston in A won back-to-back crowns.

Fifteen WPIAL schools qualified for the PIAA championships in Hershey.

Butler, Baldwin, Norwin, Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Regional, Shaler, Penn-Trafford, Elizabeth Forward, Bethel Park, Pine-Richland, South Fayette, Hopewell, South Park, North Allegheny and North Hills are all in Chocolate Town this weekend.

Shaler (small), St. Hubert (medium), Bishop McCort (large) and Upper Perkiomen (co-ed) were the 2018 PIAA state champions.

Out of district boys hoops

There are only five boys basketball games on the Saturday slate around the WPIAL, and three teams are going out of the district for nonsection competition.

Its City League vs. WPIAL when Carrick visits Frazier, Armstrong will host District 6 Hollidaysburg in an afternoon affair, while the toughest test will be for Franklin Regional.

The Panthers are 10-3 as they head north to take on District 10 and statewide powerhouse Kennedy Catholic. The Golden Eagles are ranked No. 2 in 6A in the latest Trib HSSN PIAA boys basketball rankings.

Girls Saturday hoops

There is one section game scheduled for Saturday in WPIAL girls basketball as Peters Township hosts Hempfield in a battle of opposites in Section 2-6A.

The Indians are in first place with a 10-0 record, while the Spartans are struggling in the basement with an 0-5 section record, but they are 5-5 overall.

Fresh off a win Friday in the empire state, Bishop Canevin ends its weekend trip to New York against Rush-Henrietta. The Crusaders won Friday, 49-47, at Bishop Kearney to improve to 11-2 overall.

Also on Saturday, Gateway hosts Oakland Catholic in a nonsection rematch of last year’s WPIAL Class 5A title game. More offense is expected after the Gators beat the Eagles, 29-27, to win district gold.

Don Rebel is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Don at drebel@tribweb.com or via Twitter @TheDonRebel.

Tags: Armstrong, Bishop Canevin, Carrick, Franklin Regional, Frazier, Hempfield, Peters Township