By: Don Rebel


Friday, January 31, 2025 | 12:23 AM

We say so long to January with a busy “Frayday” of WPIAL boys basketball stretch run action.

The three-way tie for first place in Section 1-4A will be whittled down to either two or one team on top following Friday night.

Deer Lakes (16-3), Knoch (13-5) and North Catholic (13-5) all enter the final week-plus of the regular season deadlocked with only one section loss.

The Lancers are 9-1 with two section contests left while the Knights and Trojans are 8-1 in the section with three remaining conference games.

On Friday, two-time defending district champion Deer Lakes heads to Saxonburg to battle Knoch.

The visiting Lancers have won four games in a row and nine of their last 10.

The host Knights had a five-game winning streak end Saturday when they lost a nonsection matchup against Belle Vernon.

In the first meeting between the teams 24 days ago, Deer Lakes won at home over Knoch, 45-38.

Senior Nathaniel Moore scored 11 points in the third quarter and finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Lancers.

Juniors Derek Lang and Jackson Bauman each led the Knights with 11 points.

Also on Friday, North Catholic visits fourth-place Highlands (3-6, 4-12).

The Trojans next week finish section play by hosting Knoch on Tuesday and visiting Deer Lakes on Friday.

The race is back on

While things have been tight near the top in Section 2-4A all season, Avonworth (14-3) entered the final two weeks of the season with a perfect section mark and a two-game lead for the section crown.

However, a three-point loss to Quaker Valley (13-4) on Tuesday cut the Antelopes’ lead to only one game over both Central Valley (15-3) and Beaver (15-4) and two games over the Quakers.

Avonworth is 6-1, Central Valley and Beaver are 5-2 and Quaker Valley sits at 4-3 with three section games remaining for each.

On Friday, the Antelopes host the Warriors, who hope to end this week tied for first place.

Avonworth won big at Central Valley earlier this month, 58-38. Senior Rowan Carmichael led the ‘Lopes with 22 points while senior Isaiah Jeter scored 20 to lead CV.

Also on Friday, Beaver is at Ambridge (0-7, 4-13) and Quaker Valley visits Hopewell (1-6, 7-11)

Big difference

A year ago, the Waynesburg boys basketball team finished in last place in Section 4-3A with an overall record of 7-15.

On Friday, the Raiders will be playing for first place in the section.

They have already beaten their win total for the season, entering this showdown with an 8-9 mark.

Now Waynesburg faces the task of battling host Southmoreland, which has won 14 of its 18 games this season.

The Scotties are alone in first place at 7-0, one game ahead of the Raiders at 6-1.

Waynesburg will be trying to avenge its only section loss when it lost at home to Southmoreland on Jan. 7, 72-62.

Junior Noah Felentzer led the Scotties with 24 points in that game while sophomore Cole Headlee paced the Raiders with 18 points.