Sports
FINAL 2016-2017 WPIAL Girls Basketball Standings
February 13, 2017
Here are the FINAL WPIAL girls basketball standings for the 2016-2017 regular season...including the FINAL playoff clinchings. The standings will be updated daily throughout the rest of the regular season here on the MSA Sports Network. Don't forget weekly WPIAL girls hoops rankings are released each Monday along with girls basketball talk every Wednesday during the WPIAL Roundball Report at 6:00pm and live and archived girls hoops broadcasts only here on the MSA Sports Network. Click on the team name for the schedule and results for that team.
WPIAL Alum Q&A – Lauren Wolosik
While injuries are an unfortunate reality in sports, an athlete suffering two severe injuries is extremely rare, and often devastating. Lauren Wolosik has not been deterred, however, by two season-ending injuries in a three-year span. In the midst of a stellar basketball season at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Wolosik, a former champion at North Catholic, is this week's feature. Wolosik enjoyed incredible success during her time at North Catholic. She and the Trojanettes appeared in three straight WPIAL championship games, beginning in her freshman year in 2009-10.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Boys Basketball Playoff Rankings 2017
February 12, 2017
Every week during the regular season, we put together the MSA Sports Top Ten WPIAL Boys Basketball rankings. With the regular season behind us and 80 teams preparing for the district postseason, we now present our Boys Basketball Playoff seedings. This is our two cents in the process of building the basketball brackets in which the district uses the 1 vs 16, 2 vs 15, 3 vs 14, 4 vs 13, 5 vs 12, 6 vs 11, 7 vs 10 and 8 vs 9 format using the rule of thumb of avoiding teams from the same section playing in Round One. Keep in mind they are NOT a straight ranking because you have to fiddle to avoid section teams playing each other in the opening round. There are plenty of byes and NO Preliminary Round games in this postseason.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Girls Basketball Playoff Rankings 2017
Every week during the regular season, we put together the MSA Sports Top Ten WPIAL Girls Basketball rankings. With the regular season behind us and 76 teams preparing for the district postseason, we now present our Girls Basketball Playoff seedings. This is our two cents in the process of building the basketball brackets in which the district uses the 1 vs 16, 2 vs 15, 3 vs 14, 4 vs 13, 5 vs 12, 6 vs 11, 7 vs 10 and 8 vs 9 format using the rule of thumb of avoiding teams from the same section playing in Round One. Keep in mind they are NOT a straight ranking because you have to fiddle to avoid section teams playing each other in the opening round. There are plenty of byes and NO Preliminary Round games in this postseason.
WPIAL Coaches Corner – Zach Skrinjar
In this feature titled “Coach’s Corner”, I will be interviewing a different coach every week and asking them questions about their personal life and about coaching. Hopefully their answers will not only shed some light on how they coach their respective teams, but also allow readers to get to know the men behind the fields/courts. This week highlights Fox Chapel boys basketball coach Zachary Skrinjar. Coach Skrinjar is in his 8th season as head coach of the Foxes, after four years as an assistant. Also a social studies teacher in the North Hills school district, Coach Skrinjar is hoping to bring Fox Chapel their first WPIAL title in 40 years. Let’s take a look inside Coach Skrinjar’s corner:This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 02/11/2017
February 11, 2017
Love is in the air because of Valentine's Day and because ALL fans love our exclusive coverage of EVERY district playoff game which tips off this week on the MSA Sports Network. Our postseason coverage begins with the WPIAL Playoff Pairings Show and continues with First Round boys and girls hardwood action along with District 6 boys and girls basketball playoff games, District 9 regular season high school basketball and college hoops featuring Carlow University.MSA Sports Frozen Fab Five PIHL Rankings – 02/11/2017
Here are the latest MSA Sports Sports Frozen Fab Five rankings of PIHL high school hockey teams in each of the four classifications for the 2016-2017 high school hockey season...including a NEW #1 team in Class 2-A. Don't miss the latest rankings every Wednesday during the regular season, plus PIHL Notebook every Tuesday on our website and the weekly Chatham University PIHL Power Play Show every Wednesday night at 8:00pm. We also have audio and video game broadcasts and center stage interviews as well here on the home of the best PIHL high school hockey coverage, the MSA Sports Network. PIHL CLASS 3-A:2017 PIAA Team Wrestling Playoffs RESULTS
Nazareth won the PIAA Class 3-A Team Wrestling championship, their first since 2006 while District 10 champion Reynolds won the Class 2-A crown for the first time since 2009 Saturday afternoon at the GIANT Center in Hershey. The only WPIAL team to medal was Class 3-A champion Kiski Area after the Cavaliers won four consolation round matches to finish in third place. Here are ALL the final results from the 2017 PIAA Team Wrestling State Playoffs. Results with (MSA) following are matches you can hear archived here on the MSA Sports Network. 2017 PIAA CLASS 3-A TEAM WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:Scholastic Notebook – 02/10/2017
February 10, 2017
For the second consecutive year, Latrobe’s Austin Butler is one of the best scorers in the WPIAL. It’s a rare two-year scoring run. In the latest scoring statistics, Butler leads the WPIAL at 29.8 points a game. Last season, he finished the regular season second in the league in scoring at 25.7 points. Only Waynesburg’s Darton McIntire (25.8) averaged more. No one else in the WPIAL is averaging more than 27 this year. Latrobe has one regular-season game left Friday night against Penn Hills, which means Butler will probably finish as the league’s leading scorer.Hempfield’s Jordan Miller Wins WPIAL Rifle Title
Hempfield junior Jordan Miller beat out Aleah Atkinson of Woodland Hills via the bull's-eyes and center shot tiebreakers Thursday afternoon to win the 2017 WPIAL Individual Rifle Championship at the Dormont-Mt. Lebanon's Sportsmen Club in Canonsburg. Miller and Atkinson both registered scores of 200, but Miller 19 bull's-eyes and 5 center shots compared to Atkinson's 19 and 3. It was a bitter-sweet win for Miller, whose older sister Keegan finished in 15th place, just one spot out of the PIAA state qualifiers. Keegan and Jordan's dad, Tom, is the head coach of the Spartans, who finished third behind Trinity and Woodland Hills on Tuesday in the Team Rifle championships.Trinity Edges Woodland Hills for WPIAL Rifle Crown
February 8, 2017
Days after the championship of the National Football League went to overtime to determine the winner, the 2017 WPIAL Team Rifle title wasn't decided until a tiebreaker gave a slim edge to Trinity over Woodland Hills. The Hillers edged the Wolverines 800 - 63x - 69x to 800 - 63x - 68x, ending Woodland Hills three year run as district team champions. The one additional bulls-eye gave Trinity their district leading 18th Team Rifle championship but first title since 2011. Here are all of the championship scores. The 2017 Individual Rifle Championships are Thursday, also at the Dormont-Mt. Lebanon Sportsmens Club in Canonsburg. 1) TRINITY HILLERS - 800 - 63X - 69xMSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Boys Basketball – 02/07/2017
February 7, 2017
Here are the latest MSA Sports Top Ten WPIAL Boys Basketball rankings for the 2016-2017 season...including NEW #1 teams in Class 6-A, Class 5-A and Class 4-A. Check out the weekly boys rankings every Tuesday, along with boys hoops talk during The WPIAL Roundball Report every Wednesday night at 6:00pm and boys basketball broadcasts throughout the regular season with exclusive coverage of every boys WPIAL playoff game in February all here on the MSA Sports Network. WPIAL CLASS 6-A: 1. FOX CHAPEL FOXES (18-1) (Last Week #2) 2. PINE-RICHLAND RAMS (19-1) (Last Week #1)PIHL Notebook – 02/07/2017
The stretch run of the PIHL regular season is in full effect, as a number of marquee matchups highlight the schedule over the next few weeks. For many teams fighting for their playoff hopes, each game has become a must-win scenario. Moreover, for teams already in the postseason, building momentum down the stretch is of the upmost importance. Here's a glimpse at the big news around the league this week. Melting the Ice (the longest unbeaten streak in each classification)
WPIAL Alum Q&A – Dale Clancy
February 6, 2017
While Seton-LaSalle has a strong basketball tradition on the girls' side, the boys' team has won just one title since the 1980s. That triumph came in 2014, with point guard Dale Clancy leading the way for the Rebels. Clancy, who is now a star for the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown, is under the microscope for the WPIAL Q&A. Prior to claiming gold, the Rebels enjoyed a very successful campaign in 2012-13, as Clancy helped the team go 21-3, including a perfect mark of 12-0 in section play. Seton-LaSalle bested Mohawk in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs, as well, before falling to Quaker Valley in the quarterfinals.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Girls Basketball – 02/06/2017
Here are the latest MSA Sports Top Ten WPIAL Girls Basketball rankings for the 2016-2017 season. Check out the weekly girls rankings every Monday, along with girls hoops talk during The WPIAL Roundball Report every Wednesday night at 6:00pm and girls basketball broadcasts throughout the regular season with exclusive coverage of every girls WPIAL playoff game in February sponsored by Carlow University all here on the MSA Sports Network. WPIAL CLASS 6-A: 1. NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS (19-1) (Last Week #1) 2. PINE-RICHLAND RAMS (19-1) (Last Week #2) 3. PENN HILLS INDIANS (17-2) (Last Week #3)
WPIAL Coaches Corner – Chris Minerd
February 5, 2017
In this feature titled “Coach’s Corner”, I will be interviewing a different coach every week and asking them questions about their personal life and about coaching. Hopefully their answers will not only shed some light on how they coach their respective teams, but also allow readers to get to know the men behind the fields/courts. This week spotlights California girls basketball coach Chris Minerd. This is Coach Minerd’s 7th season as the Trojans head coach. He has led his team to the playoffs in 5 of the last 6 years, including a WPIAL Semifinal berth in 2014. Let’s take a look inside Coach Minerd’s corner:This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 02/05/2017
The regular season comes to an end in district high school basketball while the team wrestling postseason switches from the district to the state this week on the MSA Sports Network. We have section coverage of WPIAL, District 6 and District 9 boys and girls high school basketball, college hoops featuring Carlow University, postseason mat action with the PIAA Team Wrestling Playoffs and plenty of pucks with more audio and video coverage of PIHL high school hockey, plus we have The WPIAL Roundball Report, The PIHL Power Play Show and Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, February 6th:2017 WPIAL TEAM WRESTLING Results
It has been a decade of dominance for the Burrell High School wrestling team. Now it is a decade PLUS. Since 2007, the Bucs have now won a record eleven straight WPIAL Class AA Team Wrestling championships after knocking off the Freedom Bulldogs for a second consecutive season in the district finals on Saturday. Meanwhile, the top-seed Kiski Area Cavaliers remained undefeated as they won the 3-A championship for the third time in school history and the Cavs first title since 2003. Here are ALL the results from the 2017 WPIAL Team Wrestling Playoffs. All scores marked with (MSA) are matches you can hear archived here on the MSA Sports Network. 2017 WPIAL CLASS AAA TEAM WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Burrell Wins Record 11th Straight WPIAL AA Wrestling Crown
February 4, 2017
Every year begins the same way in AA WPIAL wrestling, with fans asking one question, who will end Burrell's reign? And for the 11th year in a row, the answer remains the same, no one. Burrell came in to Saturday with an intensity that was clearly unmatched, and they dominated from start to finish en route to their 13th overall WPIAL crown. It started with their semi-final win over Derry, where after losing the first match by fall, rattled off 11 straight wins to knock off the Trojans 44-18. They advanced to the finals, where they would meet Freedom for the second straight season. The Bulldogs were coming off a 38-30 win over South Fayette, avenging an earlier 40-28 loss from the South Side Duals.
Kiski Area Perfect in Winning WPIAL Wrestling 3-A Title
Kiski Area capped off an incredible season on the mat, as the Cavaliers remained undefeated in capturing the 2017 WPIAL Class AAA Championship at Penn Hills High School. The top-seeded Cavaliers (19-0) defeated Canon-McMillan 41-21 to claim the first team wrestling title since 2003. The Cavs and No. 2 seed Big Macs exchanged falls at the onset, as Kiski's Nick Delp and Canon-McMillan's Gerrit Nijenhuis provided pins in the 152-pound and 160-pound weight classes, respectively. Next, the Big Macs' took a brief lead, as 170 pounder Blaze Kansco notched a decision. The Cavs responded, though, as Kiski's Vinny Romano secured a decision to deadlock the score at 9-9.
