WPIAL Class 5A, 2A boys teams set for semifinals in Tuesday’s 3 games to watch

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, February 26, 2018 | 6:27 PM

The Final Four will soon give way to the Terrific Two as the WPIAL championship matchups will be set for Friday at Pitt's Petersen Events Center in both Class 5A and Class 2A. Here is a look at three of the WPIAL semifinals games slated for an 8 p.m. tip Tuesday.

Class 5A semifinals: Mars vs. Trinity at Baldwin, 8 p.m.

Mars senior Robby Carmody will go down as one of the top boys basketball players to come out of the WPIAL in sometime. The Notre Dame recruit has accomplished so much in his four years with one exception; his resume not only does not include a WPIAL championship, it doesn't include a trip to the district title game where legends cement their legacy.

That could change Tuesday when Mars faces Trinity. The Fightin' Planets enjoyed a first-round bye as the top seed in Class 5A before making their postseason debut with an impressive 70-51 triumph over Hampton. Carmody was held to 23 points, but teammates Cade Hetzler added 17 points and Andrew Recchia chipped in 14 for the Planets. The 23 points for Carmody was 10 points below his season average of 33.6.

Trinity has a pair of nine-point postseason wins under its belt. The Hillers knocked off Greensburg Salem, 61-52, in the first round behind Joey Karoly's 16 points and 13 points from Dylan Kern. Trinity trailed 39-31 after three quarters in that game, but outscored the Golden Lions, 30-13, in the final quarter. Then, after finishing second to McKeesport in Section 1-5A, the Hillers won the rubber-game against the Tigers, 48-39, in the quarterfinals. Kern led the way with 14 points and Zach Ecker added 13 for Trinity.

Class 5A semifinals: Highlands vs. Franklin Regional at Fox Chapel, 8 p.m.

Highlands and Franklin Regional split during the regular season and finished as co-champs in Section 3-5A as they prepare for Round 3 on Tuesday. Round 3 is appropriate for this contest as there was a lot of physical play and verbal sparring in the most recent battle between these two teams.

Highlands won that contest at home 87-68 on Jan. 23, as the Golden Rams came out flying and led by 11 after one quarter and 40-20 by halftime. Both Luke Cochran and Ryan Signorella had 17 points, and Shawn Erceg added 16 for Highlands. After a first-round bye, Highlands held off West Allegheny, 66-58, in the quarterfinals. Johnny Crise led the Rams with 16 points while Erceg added 15 points.

Franklin Regional also won a one-sided game in this season series as the Panthers pounded the Golden Rams, 70-46, three days before Christmas. Franklin Regional outscored Highlands, 22-8, in the final quarter to cruise to the win that was sparked by Jake Rosenberg and Nate Leopold, who each finished with 14 points for the Panthers. Franklin Regional also had a first-round playoff bye and ousted defending champion Moon in the quarterfinals 28-26.

Class 2A semifinals: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart vs. Jeannette at Peters Township, 8 p.m.

This is a rare meeting between two programs that have claimed WPIAL silver in recent years. Jeannette lost to Monessen in the 2015 Class A championship game while Our Lady of the Sacred Heart was the runner-up a year ago to Sewickley Academy in the Class 2A finals. This game could be sponsored by Johnson & Johnson as both teams are led by players with that surname.

Donovan Johnson is the younger brother of former Pitt and current North Carolina starter Cam Johnson. The 6-foot-6 sophomore is averaging 19.4 points and had 11 points in playing only the first half in the Chargers' 73-46 rout of Springdale in the quarterfinals. Austin Wigley led OLSH with 18 points and freshman Dante Spadafora added 13 points.

Anthony Johnson leads the way for Jeannette. Despite playing only half the season because of injuries suffered in the Jayhawks' football championship run, he is averaging 19.5 points and scored 19 in Jeannette's 74-69 quarterfinal win over Shenango. Robert Kennedy led the Jayhawks in scoring in that game with 20 points, and Tre Cunningham added 16. Jeannette will be without junior Marcus Barnes, who picked up a double technical foul in the win over Shenango and must sit out one game following his ejection.

Don Rebel is a TribLive High School Sports Network broadcaster and staff writer. Reach him at drebel@tribweb.com.

Tags: Franklin Regional, Highlands, Jeannette, Mars, Trinity