WPIAL Class 3A boys basketball finals preview: Lincoln Park vs. North Catholic

By:
Wednesday, February 27, 2019 | 9:46 PM


Class 3A boys

Lincoln Park (21-4) vs. North Catholic (21-4)

9 p.m. Thursday, Petersen Events Center

Starting lineups

No. 1 Lincoln Park (21-4)

Coach: Mike Bariski

No. Player, Pos., Ht., Yr.

2 Johnnie Bryant, G, 6-0, Jr.

5 Isaiah Smith, G, 6-0, Jr.

10 Andre Wilder, F, 6-3, Jr.

11 Tanner Mathos, F, 6-6, Jr.

24 Keeno Holmes, G, 6-2, sr.

No. 3 North Catholic (21-4)

Coach: Dave DeGregorio

No. Player, Pos., Ht., Yr.

1 Nick Koscinski, G, 6-0, Sr.

11 Ryan Feczko, G, 6-0, Jr.

24 Jackson Paschall, F, 6-3, Jr.

35 Zack Rocco, F, 6-3, Jr.

55 Isaac DeGregorio, G, 5-11, Jr.

Title-game history: This is a rematch of the 2017 Class 3A final that North Catholic won 56-51. North Catholic owns four WPIAL titles (2009, ’10, ’16, 17). Lincoln Park has three (2012, ’14, ‘18), including last year’s over Seton LaSalle, 62-47.

Stat leaders: LP: Keeno Holmes 17.5; NC: Isaac DeGregorio 21.3

Notable: This is Lincoln Park’s fourth consecutive appearance in the WPIAL finals and the team’s eighth since 2010. The Leopards are 3-4 in WPIAL championships. Holmes received an offer last month from Clarion. Smith, a 15-point scorer, transferred to Lincoln Park last summer. He won a WPIAL title last season with Sewickley Academy. Lincoln Park reached the finals with a 75-58 semifinal victory over Seton LaSalle. Smith led with 23 points. … Dave DeGregorio, a former North Allegheny head coach, is in his first season at North Catholic. DeGregorio coached last season as an assistant at Hampton, where son Isaac starred as a sophomore. Isaac DeGregorio scored 23 points in the Trojans’ 61-49 semifinal victory over Aliquippa, four days after scoring 37 points in the quarterfinals. North Catholic ranks third in scoring offense among all WPIAL teams with a 75.4-point average. Lincoln Park is sixth at 72.8 points per game.

Predicted winner: Lincoln Park

*Watch all 12 WPIAL boys and girls basketball championships via live and archived video stream Thursday, Friday and Saturday at TribHSSN.triblive.com.

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: ,

More Basketball

WPIAL launches investigations into Baldwin, Imani Christian over ‘possible recruiting violations’
Penn Hills notebook: Basketball grad to play professionally in Ireland
New coach Gabby Baldasare excited to fill big shoes with North Allegheny girls basketball
Woodland Hills provides ‘right situation’ for Steve Scorpion’s 2nd chance as head coach
Gene Brisbane resigns as Derry girls basketball coach