Sports briefs
PIAA basketball
Three area basketball teams – the Washington boys, Washington girls and Avella girls – clinched berths in next week’s PIAA tournament by virture of the outcome of WPIAL playoff games played this week.
With Lincoln Park winning the 3A title on Thursday, the Washington boys finished as the seventh-place team from the WPIAL. The Prexies will begin play in the state tournament March 9 against District 10 champion Sharon.
The Washington girls clinched a spot when Neshannock defeated Avonworth in the Class 3A semifinals. A Neshannock win the final today will make Washington the fifth-place team. If the Lancers lose to Shady Side Academy, then Washington will be the sixth-place team from the WPIAL. The Class 3A girls tournament begins Friday. The Prexies will play either the District 10 champion or the District 6 champion.
Avella secured a PIAA berth when Rochester advanced to the finals. The Rams’ win over West Greene in the Class A title game Friday made Avella the fifth-place team in the WPIAL. The Eagles will begin play March 9 against the District 5 champion, either Berlin or Shanksville.
Other local teams that have clinched PIAA berths are the Canon-McMillan boys, Monessen boys, peters Township girls and West Greene girls. The Ringgold boys will qualify if New Castle wins the WPIAL Class 4A title. The Trinity girls qualify if Chartiers Valley wins the 5A title.
Harvick wins pole
Kevin Harvick has won the pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the first time in his 19-year NASCAR Cup Series career.
Harvick turned a lap in 29.914 seconds Friday in his Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, beating out Denny Hamlin and hometown hero Kyle Busch for the top spot in Sunday’s race.
Harvick secured his 26th career pole only because NASCAR ruled Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott didn’t start their final lap before time expired in the last qualifying heat. Bowman and Elliott posted the two fastest times, but they didn’t count.
Harvick is the defending champion in the early season race at Las Vegas, leading a track-record 214 laps last year while earning his 100th career victory across the three national series.