Typo to blame for Mapletown girls basketball’s section in realignment
When WPIAL section alignments were revealed earlier this week, one team’s placement in Class A girls basketball had many local coaches and administrators scratching their heads in disbelief.
Mapletown, which is located in southeastern Greene County, was placed in Class A’s Section 1A with Cornell, Quigley Catholic, Rochester, Sewickley Academy and Union, all of which are northwest of Pittsburgh
The WPIAL fixed the error Wednesday by switching the Maples to Section 2A with Avella, Geibel Catholic, Jefferson-Morgan, Monessen and West Greene.
Originally, Propel Andrew Street, which is localed in Munhall, was placed in Section 2, but the WPIAL switched it with Mapletown when the error was brought to its attention.
“That was a typo in that section,” WPIAL executive director Tim O’Malley said. “We try to get the information out quickly and it was an error. They didn’t belong in that section. Once it was brought to our attention, we made the change.”
The Maples’ most extensive travel for a section game would have been 113 miles to Union. The Maples didn’t travel more than 55 miles this season. Also, the average distance from their section opponents would have been 85.6 miles.
“We were really relieved,” Mapletown athletic director Linda Messich said. “It’s nice to be with our traditional opponents and to not have to travel that far.”