Alle-Kiski Valley high school notebook: Basketball teams await 2nd chances

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, February 25, 2018 | 9:15 PM

After falling out of the WPIAL basketball playoffs over the past week, a handful of Alle-Kiski Valley teams are playing a different sort of game — the waiting game.

As part of the WPIAL’s follow-the-leader process in determining PIAA playoff qualifiers, quarterfinal teams can advance to the state playoffs depending on what happens in the WPIAL semifinals and championship games.

The Highlands boys already clinched a PIAA playoff berth by advancing to the Class 5A semifinals.

Last season the Freeport and Leechburg girls made the PIAA playoffs via follow-the-leader. A look at this season’s scenarios:

• In Class 6A boys, Fox Chapel would qualify for the state playoffs if Pine-Richland beats Woodland Hills on Wednesday.

• In Class 4A boys, Valley would qualify for the state playoffs if Quaker Valley beats Indiana on Wednesday.

• In Class 2A boys, Leechburg would qualify for the state playoffs if Sewickley Academy beats Chartiers-Houston on Tuesday. Springdale would qualify if OLSH beats Jeannette on Tuesday.

• In Class 3A girls, Apollo-Ridge would qualify for the state playoffs if Neshannock beats East Allegheny on Wednesday.

• In Class 2A girls, Leechburg would qualify for the state playoffs if Chartiers-Houston beats Brentwood on Monday, or if Brentwood wins the WPIAL title.

• In Class A girls, St. Joseph would qualify for the state playoffs if Quigley Catholic wins the WPIAL title.

Big Red-letter day

Burrell junior Alex Bellinotti thought something seemed different about the letter he received in the mail Friday from Cornell.

Although he thought at first it looked like another letter of interest that colleges frequently send out to juniors, it turns out this was something much more significant: his first offer to play football in college.

“It’s hard to believe, but it’s pretty cool,” Bellinotti said.

I am very blessed, excited, honored, and humbled to announce that I have received my first offer from Cornell!!! All the Glory to God!?⚪ #GOBIGRED @CoachFalbo pic.twitter.com/JWFvpFDYoW

— Alex Bellinotti (@bello_624) February 24, 2018

Bellinotti said he got in touch with Cornell’s coaching staff online but had yet to visit the Ivy League School. He was invited to the Big Red’s junior day this spring and plans to visit.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Bellinotti was named first-team all-conference at both tight end and linebacker for the second consecutive season in 2017. He led the Bucs with 95 tackles and caught 15 passes on offense, including three touchdowns.

College prep

Several more Alle-Kiski Valley athletes either signed with schools or made their college decisions in recent days.

• Freeport senior Ben Beale announced a commitment to Penn State Behrend for basketball, choosing the Lions over Bethany, Chatham, Pitt-Greensburg and Waynesburg.

Next chapter??? pic.twitter.com/75QJvC4Rla

— Benny Beale (@BenjaminBeale) February 15, 2018

The 6-foot-2 guard averages 18.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Yellowjackets (15-6), hitting 65 3-pointers and shooting 82.3 percent from the free-throw line.

• Fox Chapel senior Scott Hastings committed to Grove City for football.

I’m very excited to say that I will be continuing my education and football career for the next 4 years at Grove City College. #brickbybrick @CoachBaney @WPAFootball pic.twitter.com/YREDLzQJqL

— Scott Hastings (@hastingsscott7) February 21, 2018

The 6-foot-2, 240-pounder earned honorable mention honors in the Allegheny Nine Conference at offensive tackle and had 36 tackles and a sack on defense.

• Freeport senior Sarah Lipniskis signed with Allegheny to play soccer.

Congrats Sarah Lipniskis – Signing with Allegheny College: Soccer!! @SLipniskis #freeportpride #gojackets pic.twitter.com/A1JeEM4SRT

— Freeport Athletics (@FASD_Athletics) February 13, 2018

A midfielder, Lipniskis scored seven goals and added 15 assists to help lead the Yellowjackets to their second consecutive Section 2-AA championship and a spot in the WPIAL semifinals. She was named all-section.

• Freeport senior Jenna Manke signed with Allegheny for basketball.

Excited to say that I will be continuing my basketball and academic career at Allegheny College! pic.twitter.com/Eq5UwLuwAF

— Jenna (@MankeJenna) February 12, 2018

The 5-foot-9 post player averaged 12.9 points and between eight and nine rebounds per game during the regular season, helping lead Freeport to second place in Section 1-4A and a berth in the WPIAL playoffs. She’ll join 2016 Freeport graduate Zoe Soilis on the Allegheny women’s basketball team.

• Freeport senior Hannah Mason signed with St. Vincent for volleyball.

Saint Vincent College welcomes Hannah Mason to their Volleyball team!! @1hannahmason #freeportpride #gojackets pic.twitter.com/tZXhDqhhet

— Freeport Athletics (@FASD_Athletics) February 13, 2018

An outside hitter, Mason helped lead Freeport to the first PIAA title in school history this season. In addition to garnering all-section and all-WPIAL honors, she was one of four Yellowjackets to be named all-state by the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association.

• Freeport senior Jake Sarver committed to Clarion for football.

Excited to announce that I will be continuing my next 4 years for my academic and my athletic career at Clarion University #Clar18nRising ? pic.twitter.com/F4IdjxyHEY

— Jake Sarver (@Jacob_Sarver23) February 21, 2018

An all-conference kicker and punter, Sarver went 3-for-3 on field goals and 32-for-32 on extra points and averaged 32.2 yards per punt. Also a starter at wide receiver and defensive back, Sarver led the Yellowjackets with 16 catches and had 32 tackles and an interception on defense. He also played some quarterback and returned kicks. Fellow Freeport seniors Matt Charlton and Austin Kemp also committed to Clarion.

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at dgulasy@tribweb.com or via Twitter @dgulasy_Trib.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Leechburg, St. Joseph, Valley