Local teams aim to stay hot in 2nd round of states
On Saturday, the local basketball teams in the state playoffs matched the heat of the unseasonably warm temperatures.
All five local teams in action Saturday won their respective games and with two more winners on Friday, an impressive seven teams remain alive in the state tournament.
The second round of the PIAA tournament will be played Tuesday and Wednesday.
Jefferson-Morgan is the lone boys team remaining, while the Canon-McMillan, South Fayette, Trinity, Peters Township, Belle Vernon and Chartiers-Houston girls teams all won first-round games.
Here’s a look at each team’s upcoming second-round matchup beginning with the two games on Tuesday.
Canon-McMillan vs. Allderdice
This is a rematch of a Class 6A first-round game from last year, which Canon-McMillan won 48-44 for its first-ever state tournament victory.
The two teams meet at 6 p.m. at Peters Township.
Madison Clair had 23 points in last year’s meeting.
Allderdice (20-6) broke a long drought by winning its first PIAA game in 40 years with a 49-42 victory against Upper St. Clair. Bailey White led the Dragons with 21 points.
Canon-McMillan, meanwhile, needed a fourth-quarter rally to survive an upset bid by District 3’s Governor Mifflin. The Big Macs (22-4) ended up winning 48-46 behind 11 points from Clair and 10 from Sam Miller.
It was Canon-McMillan’s school-record 22nd victory.
Chartiers-Houston vs. Bishop McCort
Chartiers-Houston made a long trip to Kane worthwhile, knocking off the District 9 runner-up, 46-29, on its home court.
Ali Wingard had 15 points and Ava Kolovich scored 11 to pace the Bucs (22-4). They advanced to play District 6 champ Bishop McCort, 7 p.m. Tuesday at Norwin. The Crushers (18-8) cruised to a 60-29 win against District 10’s Mercer.
Bishop McCort made it to the PIAA Class 2A championship game last year and have four senior starters in Kalina Bailey, Reese Bair, Emma Preuss and Ava Zucco.
Wednesday’s Games
Boys
Jefferson-Morgan vs. Jeannette
A celebration 26 years in the making took place Saturday when Jefferson-Morgan blitzed Redbank Valley in a 50-26 victory in the Class 2A first round. It was the Rockets’ first state playoff win since it beat Forbes Road in 2000. Now they’ll try to get to the state quarterfinals, but face a tall task in Jeannette, the WPIAL runner-up.
The Rockets (24-3) and Jayhawks (23-2) play at 7:30 p.m. at Peters Township.
Jeannette shook off a loss to Sewickley Academy in the WPIAL final and cruised to a 72-34 victory against Northern Cambria in the PIAA first round.
Girls
South Fayette vs. Penn-Trafford
Fresh off a WPIAL title, South Fayette started its PIAA Class 5A championship defense by rolling past Milton Hershey, 64-35.
Juliette Leroux led the way with 14 points.
Now the Lions (26-1) will face Penn-Trafford 6 p.m. at Peters Township.
The Warriors (21-6) were a 60-35 winner against West York in the first round.
Torrie DeStefano had 24 points in the win over West York and Raya Johnson scored 21.
Trinity vs. York Suburban
Trinity defeated one district champion and now must beat another to advance to the Class 5A quarterfinals.
The Hillers (19-8) downed District 6 champ Hollidaysburg 39-29 in the first round. They advanced to play District 3 champion York Suburban (23-2) at 5 p.m. at Altoona.
York Suburban took care of Fox Chapel, earning a 61-30 win in the first round. Jordyn Williams had 19 points.
Trinity played Fox Chapel in the WPIAL seventh-place game and won 68-45.
Peters Township vs. Manheim Central
Peters Township (16-11) had the longest road trip of anyone from the WPIAL in the first round, but left Susquehannock with a 46-41 overtime win. Maddyn Mehl had a dozen points for the Indians, who face another District 3 opponent, Manheim Central, in the second round. It won’t be as far of a trip this time, however, as the game is at 6:30 p.m. at Altoona.
Manheim Central (19-8) had an equally long road trip to Peters Township in the first round and stunned WPIAL runner-up Thomas Jefferson, 43-41.
Belle Vernon vs. Blackhawk
Behind 24 points from Aubrey Brown, Belle Vernon secured a 58-46 win at District 9 champ Clearfield in the Class 4A first round.
It was Belle Vernon’s first state playoff win in 28 years.
The Leopards (19-6) play WPIAL runner-up Blackhawk, 7:30 p.m. at North Allegheny.
Blackhawk (23-1) beat District 10 third-place team Fairview, 45-34, in the first round. Aubree Hupp scored 24 points for the Cougars.