Basketball

Greensburg Central Catholic’s Geoff Helm reaches for the tip-off against Cornell’s Isaiah Langston on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019 at Peters Township High School during WPIAL boys basketball Class A quarterfinal playoffs.

High school roundup for Feb. 21, 2019: Nazareth Prep rallies past Union

February 21, 2019

It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.

No. 2 Aliquippa erases 14-point second-half deficit to defeat Neshannock

M.J. Devonshire was taking his official recruiting visit to Kentucky when Aliquippa lost to Neshannock in January, a loss that bothered him hundreds of miles away.

Fast start sends Blackhawk past Southmoreland and into WPIAL 4A semifinals

Blackhawk started hot and never let up.

Spirnak lifts No. 5 Elizabeth Forward past upset-minded Quaker Valley in quarterfinals

With Quaker Valley pushing Elizabeth Forward to the edge late in the fourth quarter, Bri Spirnak did what she had been doing all game: She stayed tough and found a way to score.

Shaler’s Mekhi Reynolds battles against McKeesport’s Justin Todd during a WPIAL Class 5A playoff game Feb. 18, 2019, at Fox Chapel.

Shaler boys break through with playoff win vs. McKeesport

Navigating the regular season is a grind. So is finding a path through the WPIAL Class 5A boys basketball playoffs, Shaler coach Rob Niederberger said.

Alle-Kiski Valley basketball playoff capsules: Games of Friday, Feb. 23, 2019

Girls

Franklin Regional coach Steve Scorpion calls out a play against Shaler Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019 at Franklin Regional.

Franklin Regional quite familiar with Moon

Franklin Regional has developed a playoff connection with Moon in the WPIAL boys basketball playoffs.

Anton Good and his Jeannette teammates face Sewickley Academy for the fourth consecutive postseason.

Westmoreland high school notebook: Jeannette gets another shot at Sewickley Academy

To Jeannette, it seems like Sewickley Academy is lurking around every corner at boys basketball playoff time. There seems to be no escaping the perennially strong Panthers.

Latrobe’s Reed Fenton shoots a three-pointer during a game against Fox Chapel on Jan. 22, 2019, at Fox Chapel High School.

Westmoreland basketball playoff capsules: Games of Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019

Saturday’s games

North Allegheny’s Brynn Serbin fouls Norwin’s Jessica Kolesar Friday, Jan. 4, 2019 at North Allegheny High School.

Five things to watch in the WPIAL girls basketball quarterfinals

It took five playing days and nearly a week’s time, but the opening round of the 2019 WPIAL girls basketball playoffs is in the books.

Moon’s Donovan Johnson grabs a rebound over Franklin Regional’s Logan Summerhill during WPIAL playoff action Friday, Feb. 22, 2019 at West Allegheny High School.

No. 3 Moon boys push past Franklin Regional in Class 5A quarterfinals

Franklin Regional and Moon had to wait a few extra minutes to take the court Friday night while the crowd from the first game of the playoff doubleheader cleared out at West Allegheny.

Ringgold’s Luke Wyvratt drives between Patrick Keeley (15) and Aiden Skradski (11) during the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs Feb. 20, 2019, at Gateway.

Ringgold boys oust Freeport in Class 4A opening round

February 20, 2019

The Freeport and Ringgold boys basketball teams were both on lengthy streaks without a WPIAL playoff victory.

Deer Lakes girls pull away from Seton LaSalle in Class 3A 1st round

Western Pennsylvanians saw nearly every form of precipitation Wednesday: snow, ice, sleet and rain.

Derry Area’s Aiden Bushey drives past Blackhawk’s Carmen Campagna during their WPIAL Class 4A first round playoff game Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, at North Allegheny High School.

High school roundup for Feb. 20, 2019: Deshields leads Uniontown past Beaver

Billy Deshields had the hot hand Wednesday night and carried Uniontown to a 72-53 victory over Beaver in the first round of the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball playoffs at Peters Township.

Knoch displays versatility, rolls past South Park in 1st round

Knoch has displayed an ability and willingness to get out and run the floor a little more than it has in the past, and that continued in a big way in the playoffs Wednesday night.

Derry Area’s Aiden Bushey scores over Blackhawk’s Ryan McClymonds during their WPIAL Class 4A first round playoff game Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, at North Allegheny High School.

Derry denied elusive playoff win thanks to Blackhawk’s late surge

Neither Derry nor Blackhawk had school Wednesday because of the early morning snow storm.

Highlands’ Johnny Crise had 29 points and 16 rebounds in the Golden Rams’ victory Wednesday.

Highlands holds off Belle Vernon in Class 4A 1st-round victory

Highlands saw its playoff life flashing before its eyes against an unafraid underdog Belle Vernon.

Mars boys, Peters Township girls stay atop Trib 10 basketball power rankings

Every Wednesday during the 2018-19 WPIAL basketball season, the TribLive High School Sports Network releases Power Rankings during the WPIAL Roundball Report at 6:30 p.m.