Sports
2012 PIHL Penguins Cup High School Hockey CLASS A Blog
March 24, 2012
It's championship time, so that means it's MSA Sports blog time! Sure, we are the only place to listen to all three PIHL Penguins Cup Championship Games live (and archived), but if you don't have the time and want a quick update on the happenings of the high school hockey finals all day long from the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh.CLASS A: #1 QUAKER VALLEY QUAKERS vs. #2 MARS PLANETSThe Champions:FINAL SCORE: Quaker Valley 4, Mars 2.GOAL! Mars is making it interesting, cutting it to 4-2 Quaker Valley on a Power Play goal by Robert Foley. One minute to go here in this one.GOAL! Mars will not be shut out in this one. Robert Foley scores with 4:21 remaining to make it now 4-1 Quaker Valley.Neumann-Goretti Beats Montour Again for Three-Peat in PIAA Boys AAA
The Montour Spartans jumped out to a ten point first quarter lead but the Neumann-Goretti Saints rallied to take the lead late in the second quarter and survived some poor free throw shooting down the stretch to claim their third consecutive PIAA Class AAA Boys Championship with a 48-45 victory Friday night at the Bryce Jordan Center.Montour had a chance to tie the game with two seconds to play, but Kevin Scuilli's three point attempt from the left corner was deflected by La'Quan Coaxum, ending the dreams of the Spartans. The Saints could have pulled away but went 5 of 15 in the fourth quarter from the line, a 14 of 30 performance for the game.Oakland Catholic Falls to Archbishop Carroll in PIAA Girls AAAA Finals
March 23, 2012
The Archbishop Carroll Patriots picked up their second PIAA Girls Quad-A title with a 56-37 victory over Oakland Catholic on Friday night at the Bryce Jordan Center. The Patriots won the 2009 title and fell to Mount Lebanon in last year's title game.The Patriots were led by Sarah Curran with 16 points and 7 rebounds, Rachel Pearson added 14 points with 7 rebounds and Meghan Creighton with 10 points and 7 boards.Archbishop Carroll took the lead midway thru the first quarter as Creighton hit a three to stake the Patriots to a 14-9 lead. Oakland Catholic turned the ball over five times in the first and went without a basket over the final 3:07.The second quarter started the same way as the first for the Eagles, only one point and no field goals thru the first four minutes. Pearson hit a three with 2:27 left in the half forced Oakland Catholic coach Shannon Boyle to take a timeout with a 22-10 Patriots lead.Lincoln Park Comes Up Short Again in State Class A Boys Title Bid
The Philadelphia Constitution Generals made their first trip to Penn State a good one as they defeated the WPIAL champion Lincoln Park Leopards 68-49 in the Class A Boys title tilt. Seniors Savon Goodman and Daiquan Walker dominated the show for the District 12 champions, scoring 27 and 22 points respectively.The win was the fourteenth straight for the Generals.Lincoln Park fell for the second straight year in the title game, falling to another D-12 school, Math, Civics and Science 70-55. The Leopards saw a ten game winning streak come to an end.Constitution jumped out to a 7-2 lead, highlighted by a Savon Goodman slam. The Generals extended that lead to 22-11 after one, but went cold in the second, coming up empty on five out of six possessions near the end of the half. Lincoln Park cut the lead to six twice, but missed multiple chances to reduce the deficit.PIAA Has A New Leader
The PIAA Board of Control announced this morning that Dr. Robert Lombardi will replace Bradley Cashman as executive director of the PIAA, at the end of Cashman's term.Cashman announced his retirement last year and the board narrowed the search down to two candidates, who were interviewed this morning. Lombardi has been with the PIAA since 1988 and oversees several championship events. He is also responsible for the PIAA officials convention, held in August and works with the PIAA's registered sports officials.A Perfect Season for Seton LaSalle as Rebels Win PIAA Class AA Girls Championships
The Seton LaSalle Rebels made history by going perfect for the season with a 71-47 win over York Catholic in the Girls Class AA championship game at the Bryce Jordan Center. The Rebels pick up their second state title and first since 1984 in dominant fashion, leading by 20 points or more in the third quarter on the way to picking up the gold basketball and a 30-0 record. The Rebels placed four players in double figures, Angela Heintz led with 18 points, Nicolete Newman added 16 off the bench with four three pointers, Naje Gibson had a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds and Cassidy Walsh scored 11 and dished out 8 assists.
2012 PIAA Basketball Championship Games Preview
March 22, 2012
The Path to Penn State has ended, eight championship tilts are on tap for this weekend at the Bryce Jordan Center. A rematch highlights the first day's action, with four games each day. The MSA Sports Network will have complete coverage, with broadcasts indicated, plus recaps from both days action. Here are previews of all eight games, starting with Friday's action: Girls Class AA Championship Game: Seton LaSalle Rebels (29-0) vs. York Catholic Crusaders (29-3) Noon Friday on the MSA Sports Network CLICK HERE for Game Link2012 WPIAL Baseball Review and Preview
The first pitch will be fired Friday to open up the 2012 WPIAL baseball season. Seneca Valley, Elizabeth Forward, Riverside and Neshannock are ready to defend their district crowns while Riverside and Serra Catholic prepare to defend their PIAA state titles. 2011 WPIAL BASEBALL REVIEW:Here are the final WPIAL baseball standings for the 2011 regular season.WPIAL CLASS AAAASection 1: (Section Record) (Overall Record) #-Seneca Valley Raiders : (9-3) (12-3) *-Pine-Richland Rams : (8-4) (13-5) *-Butler Golden Tornado : (8-4) (12-4) *-Shaler Titans : (8-4) (12-7) x-North Allegheny Tigers : (7-5) (14-5) x-North Hills Indians : (2-10) (6-10) x-Fox Chapel Foxes : (0-12) (3-17)PIAA Basketball Semifinals Wednesday Recaps
The 2012 WPIAL Class A girls champs and the lone district team remaining in Class AAA were eliminated on Wednesday, two WPIAL teams got their ticket punched to Happy Valley. Beaver Falls boys and North Catholic girls will join Montour, Lincoln Park, Oakland Catholic and Seton-LaSalle at Penn State University this weekend participating in the state championship games. Here are recaps from the games involving D-7 teams on Semifinals Wednesday in the PIAA Basketball Playoffs.Thanks to Bob Barrickman, Ryan Lucas and Jason Lucia for their help with these recaps.PIAA BOYS CLASS AA SEMIFINALS: Beaver Falls Tigers 55 - Quaker Valley Quakers 45
PIHL Penguins Cup Semifinals Wednesday Recaps
The PIHL Penguins Cup Semifinals concluded Wednesday night with Class AAA taking center stage. South Hills rivals Bethel Park and Peters Township both rose to the occasion and eliminated the top two seeds at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Complex. Here are recaps from both games.Bethel Park Black Hawks 3 - Penn-Trafford Warriors 2 By Mark Schaas2012 WPIAL Softball Review and Preview
March 21, 2012
The first pitch will be fired Friday to open up the 2012 WPIAL softball season. Latrobe, Yough, Burrell and Chartiers-Houston are ready to defend their district crowns and Valley prepares to defend their PIAA state title. This also marks the second season of the MSA Sports Hometown Softball program. Stay tuned for more information. 2011 WPIAL SOFTBALL REVIEW:Here are the final WPIAL softball standings for the 2011 regular season.PIAA Basketball Semifinals Tuesday Recaps
It was a banner night for the WPIAL. Now four district teams are one win away from plenty of gold and a state championship banner. Montour in AAA boys and Lincoln Park in A boys were winners and earn a repeat trip to the PIAA Finals for a second straight year. Oakland Catholic in AAAA girls and Seton-LaSalle in AA girls were also winners and will play Friday in Happy Valley for state gold. Here are recaps from the west on Semifinals Tuesday in the PIAA Basketball Playoffs.Thanks to Dennis Fischer, Jim Frederick and Don Rebel for their help with these recaps.PIAA BOYS CLASS AAA SEMIFINALS: Montour Spartans 45 - Hampton Talbots 29
PIHL Penguins Cup Semifinals Tuesday Recaps
The PIHL Penguins Cup Semifinals continued Tuesday night with Class AA taking center stage. Both Erie Cathedral Prep and West Allegheny fell behind early before coming back to win at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Complex. Here are recaps from both games.Erie Cathedral Prep Ramblers 6 - Chartiers Valley Colts 4 By Josh RowntreeThey say the 15th Anniversary the "crystal" anniversary.But on Saturday, the Erie Cathedral Prep hockey team will be looking for gold as they will play for their third Penguins Cup Championship, with the last coming 15 years ago.Jimmy Bufalino and Mitch Cambell each netted hat tricks and #4 Prep knocked off #2 Chartiers Valley 6-4 in a wild semifinal matchup at the RMU Island Sports Center.
WPIAL Softball Realignment for 2013 and 2014 Seasons
March 20, 2012
The WPIAL Board of Control has approved the new realignment for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Here is a breakdown of each section in all four classifications for the next two years of District 7 softball.WPIAL CLASS AAAA Section 1: Connellsville Falcons Franklin Regional Panthers Hempfield Spartans Kiski Area Cavaliers Latrobe Wildcats Norwin Knights Penn-Trafford WarriorsWPIAL CLASS AAAA Section 2: Allderdice Dragons Gateway Gators McKeesport Tigers Oakland Catholic Eagles Penn Hills Indians Plum Mustangs Woodland Hills WolverinesCLASS AAAA Section 3: Butler Golden Tornado Fox Chapel Foxes North Allegheny Tigers North Hills Indians Pine-Richland Rams Seneca Valley Raiders Shaler Titans
WPIAL Baseball Realignment for 2013 and 2014 Seasons
WPIAL baseball will have a bit of a symmetrical look to it for the next two years after the district Board of Control approved the new realignment for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. There will be more sections in each class with fewer teams in each section in all four classifications. Here is a breakdown of each section.WPIAL CLASS AAAA Section 1: Butler Golden Tornado Fox Chapel Foxes New Castle Red Hurricane North Allegheny Tigers North Hills Indians Seneca Valley RaidersWPIAL CLASS AAAA Section 2: Albert Gallatin Colonials Connellsville Falcons Hempfield Spartans Kiski Area Cavaliers Latrobe Wildcats Norwin Knights Penn-Trafford Warriors
