By: Don Rebel


Sunday, January 19, 2025 | 8:58 PM

They have been ranked Nos. 2 and 3 for several weeks now in WPIAL Class A girls basketball.

If the playoffs were to start this week, they likely would be the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds in the Class A playoffs.

On Monday, Clairton visits Geibel Catholic for first place in Section 2-A in a game on Trib HSSN.

The Bears are alone in first place with a section record of 6-0 and an overall mark of 8-2.

The black and orange have won five straight games since losing to Class 5A power Thomas Jefferson.

Meanwhile the Gators are 7-1 in the section and 14-1 overall.

The green and gold are also hot, coming into the game on a seven-game winning streak since suffering its only loss of the season Dec. 16 at Clairton, 67-51.

This showdown also features the two leading scorers in WPIAL girls basketball.

Clairton senior guard Iyanna Wade is trying to win a third straight district scoring title. She has 429 points and is averaging 42.9 points per game.

Geibel Catholic junior guard Emma Larkin has scored 323 points this season and is averaging 24.8 points per game.

Chipping away

Two district girls basketball teams have built up a two-game section lead heading into the final three weeks of the season while their closest section foe in the standings would like to narrow that gap Monday.

In Section 3-4A, Laurel Highlands (11-4) will visit front running Elizabeth Forward (9-3).

The Mustangs are 6-2 in the section and tied for second place with South Park (5-2, 8-4).

The Warriors lead the section with a perfect mark of 6-0.

EF won a close game at Laurel Highlands last month, 60-56.

In Section 1-3A, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (13-2) will host Beaver Falls (7-4).

A victory would improve the Chargers to 9-0 in the section and give them a comfortable three-game cushion with only five section games remaining.

However, if the Tigers can win at home Monday, they would improve to 7-2 and be only one game out of first place.

In the earlier meeting Dec. 16, OLSH defeated Beaver Falls, 48-34.

Battle of Butler County leaders

While it is a nonsection contest, one girls basketball game worth noting Monday is a battle between section leaders in different classifications when North Catholic (12-2) hosts Seneca Valley (10-4).

The Trojans are on a 12-game winning streak after dropping their first two games of the season.

North Catholic is 7-0 and alone in first place in Section 1-4A.

The visiting Raiders have won five consecutive games and own wins in nine of their last 10 contests.

Seneca Valley is 5-0 and on top in Section 1-6A.

Tags: Beaver Falls, Clairton, Elizabeth Forward, Geibel, Laurel Highlands, North Catholic, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Seneca Valley