Decade’s best WPIAL finals: Girls basketball No. 6

By: Don Rebel
Saturday, February 15, 2020 | 6:22 PM

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There were a lot of changes to the WPIAL basketball championships over the last 10 years.

They expanded from two days to three days and from eight boys and girls finals to a dozen championship games. The district also switched venues, moving from the Palumbo Center at Duquesne to the Petersen Events Center on the Pitt campus.

Bigger and better has led to some fantastic championship moments over the course of the just completed decade. So as we prepare for the first finals of the 20s, here is a look back with a countdown of the top 10 WPIAL boys and girls basketball championship games from the last 10 years.

Girls No. 6 – Golden Gators

A Jordan hitting a game winning shot? Sounds familiar, but this wasn’t Michael, this was Edwards, as in Gateway senior Jordan Edwards.

The Gators did everything but score in the first three quarters of the 2018 WPIAL Class 5A championship game as Oakland Catholic held Gateway to 12 points heading into the fourth quarter. Fortunately for the Gators, the Eagles didn’t do much better and only led 19-12 after three.

Gateway picked up the offense, and Edwards hit the game-winning jump shot to win the lowest-scoring district girls basketball championship game in 45 years. It was also the first and only championship for the Gators girls basketball program.

Click below for HSSN’s Jerin Steele’s recap with photos.

Gateway 29, Oakland Catholic 27

Previous Top 10:

Boys No. 7 – Stormy repeat

Girls No. 7 – Thrilling three-peat

Boys No. 8 – Panthers survive

Girls No. 8 – High flying Hawks

Boys No. 9 – A Royals flush

Girls No. 9 – Surprise bolt

Boys No. 10 – Hat trick

Girls No. 10 – Ram tough

Tags: Gateway, Oakland Catholic