Section rivals face semifinal rematches in Monday’s 3 boys games to watch

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, February 26, 2018 | 3:36 AM

The semifinals are full of familiar names.

In Class 3A and A, the two brackets in action Monday, the eight semifinalists have combined for 11 WPIAL titles and 18 finals appearances in the past decade. Of the eight teams, only Union hasn't reached the final in the past 10 years, but the Scotties did win the Class A title in 2003.

Lincoln Park won WPIAL titles in 2014 and ‘12 with runner-up finishes in 2010, ‘11, ‘16 and ‘17. The Leopards seek their seventh WPIAL finals appearance in nine years.

Aliquippa won in 2016 and ‘15. Seton LaSalle won in 2014 and was the runner-up a year later. Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic won in 2017, ‘16, ‘10 and ‘09.

Vincentian Academy won in 2013 and ‘11. Cornell was runner-up in 2012. Imani Christian was runner-up last season.

Class 3A: Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic vs. Seton LaSalle at Moon, 8 p.m.

No. 6 seed CWNC (13-11) is the defending WPIAL champion, but the Trojans must find a way to defeat section rival Seton LaSalle if they want to return to Petersen Events Center.

No. 2 Seton LaSalle (18-5) won both regular-season matchups in Section 2. The Rebels won twice in a seven-day period with a 54-38 victory on Jan. 20, and won 39-34 in the rematch Jan. 26.

CWNC reached the semifinals with a 47-34 victory over No. 3 Washington. Mike Dramble scored 15 points for CWNC and Bryan Davidson added 12. Seton LaSalle defeated No. 7 Shady Side Academy, 74-52, in the semifinals. The Rebels had two scorers reached 20 points: George Mike with 24 and Jakob Richardson with 20.

Class 3A: Lincoln Park vs. Aliquippa at Geneva College, 8 p.m.

This also is a section rematch.

No. 1 seed Lincoln Park (17-6) defeated No. 4 Aliquippa (17-6) twice during the season, both times by double figures. Lincoln Park won 55-32 on Jan. 9, and won 69-57 on Jan. 30.

Lincoln Park's star is Keeno Holmes, who scored 34 points in an 89-69 victory over Burgettstown in the quarterfinals. Aliquippa defeated No. 12 Riverside, 53-50, on a game-winning shot by Will Gipson, one of three scorers in double digits. MJ Devonshire led the Quips with 17 points.

Class A: Union vs. Imani Christian at Peters Township, 8 p.m.

No. 3 seed Union (16-5) is trying to reach the WPIAL finals for the third time in school history. No. 7 Imani Christian is trying to reach the final for the second time in two years.

Tre Charles has led Union's run. The 5-11 senior guard matched his scoring average with a 24-point effort in the quarterfinals to defeat No. 6 Eden Christian, 67-52. Teammate Nate Meeks scored 17 and Seth Pinkerton had 13.

Imani Christian was the WPIAL runner-up last season to Monessen but avenged that loss in this year's quarterfinals. DeSean Hubbard scored 22 and Sam Fairley had 16 as Imani upset the No. 1 seed in overtime, 61-59.

In the other Class A semifinal, No. 1 Vincentian Academy (16-7) faces No. 5 Cornell (28-6) at Northgate at 8 p.m. Vincentian won both regular-season matchups between the Section 1 teams, 56-46 and 67-55.

Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at charlan@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CHarlan_Trib.

Tags: Aliquippa, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Cornell, Lincoln Park, North Catholic, Seton-LaSalle, Vincentian Academy