By: Don Rebel


Thursday, February 6, 2025 | 11:42 PM

For some WPIAL boys basketball teams on this final night of section play, it’s kind of like dancing the hokey pokey.

If you win, you are in, and if you lose, you are out. That’s what Friday is all about.

Section championships and some District 7 postseason berths are still in play.

The one section title that will be decided in a head-to-head clash is the championship in Section 2-5A when Kiski Area (13-6) visits Penn Hills (10-8).

Both teams are tied for the lead with 10-1 section records.

The Cavaliers are perfect in 2025, winning 10 consecutive games since an overtime loss to Mohawk on Dec. 27.

The Indians have won three straight and six of their last seven games since losing at Kiski Area on Jan. 14, 68-53.

Seniors Carson Heinle (21) and Jacob Musselman (20) combined for 41 points in the victory for the Cavs.

Junior swingman Calix Clark led the Indians that night with 20 points.

Both teams are averaging 59 points per game on offense, but the difference between the two has been of defense.

Kiski Area has allowed an average of 47 points per game while Penn Hills is giving up an average of nearly 59 points per game.

You can watch the game on Trib HSSN at 7:30 p.m.

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Some other WPIAL boys basketball section championships up for grabs, shared or outright, on Friday include:

• In Section 1-4A, North Catholic (15-5) visits Deer Lakes (16-4). The Trojans are 10-1 in the section while the Lancers are a game back at 9-2. North Catholic won the first meeting at home, 61-46. Knoch (14-6) is also in the mix for a share of the section championship with a 9-2 record. The Knights host Freeport on Friday. If Deer Lakes and Knoch win, there will be tri-section champions in Section-4A.

• In Section 2-4A, Avonworth (17-3) hosts Beaver (17-4). The Antelopes are 8-1 in the section and the Bobcats check in at 7-2. Avonworth won the first meeting in a tight one at Beaver, 57-53. This game features the top two scorers in WPIAL basketball with senior Rowan Carmichael of Avonworth, averaging 32.5 points per game, and Brady Mayo of Beaver at 26.5 ppg.

• In Section 1-A, Nazareth Prep (16-4) hosts Aquinas Academy (17-4). The Saints are 9-0 in section play while the Crusaders are a game back at 8-1. Nazareth Prep outscored Aquinas Academy in the first meeting, 87-80.

• In Section 31-6A, New Castle (16-3) and Fox Chapel (15-5) are tied for first place with 10-3 section records. On Friday, the Red Hurricanes are home to North Allegheny and the Foxes are at Butler. New Castle swept the season series with Fox Chapel.

• In Section 4-2A, Neshannock (17-2) is one game up on Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (16-5). The Lancers are 12-1 in the section while the Chargers are 11-2. On Friday, Neshannock is at Union while OLSH is faces South Side at Cornell. If the Lancers lose and Chargers win, they will be co-champs since they split in their head-to-head during the regular season.

Playoff scenarios on the bubble

Life on the playoff bubble on the final day of section play is energetic yet stressful, especially if teams do not control their own destiny.

There are 11 teams in limbo that should have their playoff fate determined by the end of Friday. (Only section records used below)

• In Section 1-6A, if Woodland Hills (5-8) wins at playoff-bound North Hills (6-7), the Wolverines will earn a playoff berth. You can watch the Wolverines and Indians on Trib HSSN.

• Section 2-5A has the most lengthy playoff explanation with three team tied for fourth place and the final playoff spot. Two of them meet head to head as Plum (4-7) welcomes Indiana (4-7). The loser is eliminated. The winner has to wait to see what Shaler (4-7) does when it hosts playoff-bound Hampton (6-5). If Shaler wins and Plum is victorious, only the Titans qualify because they were 2-0 against the Mustangs. If Shaler and Indiana win, the Little Indians are the only qualifier because they were 2-0 against the Titans. If Shaler loses, it is out and only the winner of Indiana at Plum qualifies.

• In Section 3-5A. Thomas Jefferson (5-6) has a one-game lead for the fourth and final playoff berth over Bethel Park (4-7). If the Jaguars upset visiting Baldwin (10-1), TJ clinches and is playoff bound. If the Black Hawks (4-7) knock off visiting Peters Township (8-3) and Thomas Jefferson loses, then only BP clinches because it was 2-0 against TJ this season. Anything other than a Thomas Jefferson loss and Bethel Park win, and the Jaguars clinch. You can watch Peters at Bethel on Trib HSSN.

• In Section 1-4A, Burrell finished 4-8 in the section and will be interested spectators on Friday. Playoff-bound Highlands (4-7) is home to Valley (0-11) and Freeport (3-8) is at Knoch (9-2). If Highlands were to lose and Freeport wins, there would be a three-way tie for fourth place, and Highlands would win the head-to-head tiebreaker, 3-1. Burrell’s only hope to qualify is for Highlands to get upset by Valley and have Freeport lose to Knoch. In that case, Burrell and Highlands split their head-to-head games and both would qualify.

• In Section 1-2A, Riverview (5-8) is alive but needs to win and get help. The Raiders need to beat visiting California (0-13) and have playoff-bound Bentworth (6-6) lose at home on Friday to Frazier (2-11) and at Jeannette (10-2) on Saturday.

• In Section 2-2A, Eden Christian (5-6) has clinched as it prepares to visit Winchester Thurston (7-4) on Friday. If Eden loses, Brentwood, which finished 5-7, would clinch a playoff berth because the Warriors and Spartans would be tied and they split during the regular season.

• In Section 4-2A, Laurel (4-9) can move into a tie for fifth place with playoff-bound South Side (5-9) if the Spartans win at home over Western Beaver on Friday. Laurel and South Side would tie and both would qualify after they split their two regular season games.

State mat quarters

It was a rough preliminary and first round for the eight WPIAL and City League wrestling teams in the PIAA bracket Tuesday.

Only district finalists Franklin Regional and Connellsville survived in 3A and WPIAL champion Burrell in 2A.

Now those three teams are in Altoona to take part in the state quarterfinals Friday.

In 3A, WPIAL champion Franklin Regional will face Nazareth, and District 7 runner-up Connellsville goes up against Council Rock South with both matches set for 7 p.m.

In 2A, Burrell will battle Faith Christian Academy at 5 p.m.