Jan 31, 2016 10 min read

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Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Charleroi center John Arnold and the Cougars are returning to the WPIAL Class AA playoffs.

Katie Roupe

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Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Peters Township’s Nick Valentic shoots during the first half of the game against Mt. Lebanon on Friday, January 22.

Katie Roupe

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Katie Roupe/ Observer-Reporter Cam Hanley and Chartiers-Houston need to win out to secure a spot in the postseason.

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Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Charleroi’s Aislyn Lee shot gets block by Washington’s Tajah Gordon during a game at Charleroi High School on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016.

CELESTE VAN KIRK

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Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Trinity’s Alayna Cappelli is fouled by South Fayette during the first half of the game on Thursday, December 17.

Katie Roupe

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Madison Kerr of Peters Township battles through Canon-McMillan defenders Taylor Waller (left), Tamara Mathis (right) and Kierra King (back) on her way to the basket. Kerr scored 16 points to help the Indians to victory, 70-43, against the Lady Macs.

Eleanor Bailey A

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Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Charleroi’s Eric Tedrow’s shot is blocked by Brownsville’s Tryvon Brown during the first quarter of Friday night’s game.

Katie Roupe

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There were upsets, milestones achieved, section titles were clinched and a handful of teams punched their tickets to the postseason this week. Some teams showed they are contenders and others look destined for a short stay in the WPIAL playoffs, but before we talk about possible seedings, let’s take a look at each section featuring local teams.

Remember: brackets will be released at the WPIAL basketball pairings meeting, which is scheduled for Tues., Feb. 9th at 7 p.m. The postseason begins three days later, but before we get there, I’ll remind you of the playoff structure. Preliminary round games could start Thurs., Feb. 11.

The top four teams in each section quality for the playoffs. Teams that tie for first place will not have the tie broken and all will be declared section champions. In the event of a multiple tie (two or more teams) for a playoff position, head-to-head competition is used. If there is a three-way tie for fourth place that cannot be broken, all three head to the playoffs.

Chartiers Valley 11-1

Baldwin 8-4

Bethel Park 7-5

Peters Township 6-6

Upper St. Clair 5-7

Canon-McMillan 2-10

Moon 2-10

Chartiers Valley won eight consectuive section games to clinch the title. Baldwin needs a win over Moon at home and one on the road at Bethel Park to secure second place. The Black Hawks travel to C-M Tuesday night and lost the first meeting to Baldwin by 10 points. Peters Township, meanwhile, has a tough road game at Upper St. Clair Tuesday night and hosts C-M Friday. The Indians clinch by winning out, but can make it with a split with help. That would likely be a Mt. Lebanon upset over the Panthers.

Canon-McMillan and Moon are eliminated.

My picks: Chartiers Valley, Baldwin, Bethel Park and Peters Township make it.

Steel Valley 10-2

West Mifflin 7-5

Thomas Jefferson 7-5

Laurel Highlands 6-6

Eliz. Forward 5-6

Uniontown 5-7

Belle Vernon 4-8

Ringgold 3-8

Steel Valley won the section, while the rest are fighting for seeding. West Mifflin travels to Ringgold and hosts TJ, so the Titans are likely second place. The Jaguars will be third with a win over Laurel Highlands and surprisingly, Elizabeth Forward has three section games remaining (TJ, Ringgold, Belle Vernon). The Mustangs travel to Belle Vernon and host Uniontown. Surprisingly, Uniontown and Belle Vernon are still alive, but they’ll need plenty of help.

Ringgold was eliminated since it loses the tiebreaker to LH.

My picks: Steel Valley, West Mifflin, Laurel Highlands and Thomas Jefferson make it in that order.

West Allegheny 9-2

Trinity 7-3

South Fayette 7-3

Montour 6-4

South Park 5-6

Keystone Oaks 2-8

McGuffey 0-10

West Allegheny’s road to a section title became much more difficult with its loss to Trinity Friday night. It has one section game remaining (Friday at Montour) and a win clinches the championship. The Hillers travel to Montour Monday, which it defeated 47-39 earlier this month, and hosts McGuffey Friday night. South Fayette, which swept Trinity during the regular season, has McGuffey and Keystone Oaks. Montour and South Park split, but the Eagles have one only one game remaining (at Keystone Oaks).

Hypothetically, if West Allegheny loses at Montour while Trinity and South Fayette both win, there will be a three-way tie for the section championship.

Keystone Oaks and McGuffey are eliminated.

My picks in order of finish: West Allegheny, South Fayette, Trinity (loses tiebreaker) and South Park.

Bishop Canevin 11-0

Washington 10-1

Seton-La Salle 9-3

Carlynton 4-8

Chartiers-Houston 4-8

Brentwood 4-9

Burgettstown 3-9

Fort Cherry 1-11

Bishop Canevin is in the driver’s seat since it has already beaten Washington and Seton, but it hosts Wash High Monday night then travels to face the Rebels Friday night. The Prexies have BC, Carlynton and Burgettstown this week. Carlynton, which defeated Chartiers-Houston earlier this season, travels to play the Bucs Monday night. If C-H does defeat the Cougars, it still has to host Fort Cherry Friday night, which it lost to by seven points Jan. 20.

My picks: Washington and Bishop Canevin share the section title. Seton-LaSalle finishes third and Chartiers-Houston is fourth.

Brownsville 10-0

Charleroi 8-2

Waynesburg 6-4

Frazier 4-6

Beth-Center 4-6

Carmichaels 2-8

Bentworth 1-9

The Falcons secured at least a share of the section title with their win over Charleroi Friday night. The Cougars travel to Bentworth and host Waynesburg next Monday. They’ll need to win out and have Brownsville lose to Beth-Center and Frazier. Waynesburg hosts Carmichaels and travels to Charleroi, while Frazier travels to Carmichaels and has the section champs. The Raiders clinched. They own the tiebreaker over Frazier and split with Beth-Center.

Beth-Center, which split with Frazier and Carmichaels, has Brownsville and Bentworth. Carmichaels can still make it with wins over Frazier and Waynesburg, plus help. Bentworth is eliminated.

My picks: Brownsville clinches the section title outright. Charleroi is second, Waynesburg third. Beth-Center and Frazier finished tied for fourth. The bigger question is whether or not the section can make noise in the postseason.

Monessen 10-0

California 9-1

West Greene 6-4

Avella 5-5

Jefferson-Morgan 3-7

Geibel Catholic 2-8

Mapletown 0-10

The top four are set, but California and Monessen can share the section title if the Trojans upset the Greyhounds at home Friday night. Avella travels to West Greene, so the winner is likely grabbing third place. West Greene won the first meeting, 48-38.

Jefferson-Morgan, Geibel Catholic and Mapletown are eliminated.

My picks in order: Monessen (surprise, surprise), California, West Greene, Avella\

Peters Township 10-3

Canon-McMillan 10-3

Bethel Park 9-3

Mt. Lebanon 8-4

Baldwin 7-5

Upper St. Clair 3-9

West Allegheny 2-10

Moon 0-12

Peters Township threw a wrench into the playoff picture with its win over Canon-McMillan Saturday afternoon. The Indians can clinch at least a share of the title with a win at Upper St. Clair Monday night. The Big Macs need a win over Bethel Park Tuesday for at least a share. The Black Hawks split with PT and won the first meeting with Canon-Mac. They are on the road at C-M Tuesday night and host Baldwin Thursday. Two wins gets them a share or they can win it outright with two wins and a PT loss.

Mt. Lebanon travels to West Allegheny and hosts Upper St. Clair. Baldwin has Moon and Bethel Park. Mt. Lebanon owns the tiebreaker, so one win and the Blue Devils are in. That likely comes Monday night.

My picks in order: Peters Township, Bethel Park, Canon-McMillan, Mt. Lebanon

South Park 9-1

Brownsville 9-2

Ringgold 8-3

Eliz. Forward 4-6

West Mifflin 3-7

Belle Vernon 2-8

Thomas Jefferson 3-7

South Park, Brownsville and Ringgold are in. The Eagles clinch at least a share of the section title with a win over Elizabeth Forward Monday. They travel to Ringgold Thursday night. The Falcons split with South Park, so beating Thomas Jefferson Monday and one loss by the Eagles ties the two for the title. Ringgold hosts South Park Thursday, but can finish no higher than third since it was swept by Brownsville.

Elizabeth Forward, West Mifflin and Belle Vernon are still alive for the final spot. The Warriors have South Park and BV, West Mifflin has BV and TJ, and Belle Vernon plays both. Winning both could potentially create a three-way tie for fourth.

My picks in order: South Park, Brownsville, Ringgold and Elizabeth Forward

South Fayette 10-0

Trinity 8-2

Chartiers Valley 7-4

Keystone Oaks 5-5

Montour 3-7

Quaker Valley 3-8

McGuffey 0-10

South Fayette has clinched at least a share of the section title and can win it outright with a win Monday at McGuffey. Trinity travels to Montour and McGuffey. If the Lions somehow lose twice and the Hillers win out, they grab a share of the championship. Chartiers Valley and Keystone Oaks have clinched. They play Monday night, so the winner grabs third place. Montour is out since it loses the tiebreaker to Keystone Oaks.

Quaker Valley and McGuffey are also eliminated.

My picks in order: South Fayette, Trinity, Chartiers Valley, Keystone Oaks. That was easy.

Bishop Canevin 9-1

Seton-La Salle 8-1

Char-Houston 7-3

Brentwood 5-5

Steel Valley 4-7

Burgettstown 2-8

Wilkinsburg 0-10 The Crusaders are in the driver’s seat, but still have games against Wilkinsburg and Seton. BC owns the tiebreaker over Seton-La Salle, but split with Chartiers-Houston. the Bucs host the Rebels Monday night and have a road game at Burgettstown. Brentwood hosts Burgettstown and travels to Steel Valley. The Ironmen need the Spartans to lose out to grab a playoff spot. The order is still completely up for grabs, but its particularly interesting that Seton can realistically lose two games this week.

Burgettstown and Wilkinsburg are eliminated.

My picks in order: Bishop Canevin, Chartiers-Houston, Seton-La Salle and Brentwood. Picking the Bucs to upset the Rebels and BC to finish the sweep.

Washington 9-1

Charleroi 8-2

Frazier 7-2

Beth-Center 5-5

Waynesburg 4-7

Carmichaels 1-9

Bentworth 1-9

Washington is in control after its win over Charleroi and can clinch at least a share of the title with a win Monday night over Beth-Center. The Prexies travel to Frazier Thursday, which could determine whether or not they share it. Charleroi needs wins over Bentworth and Frazier to stay in the hunt, but the Cougars have clinched. Frazier has also clinched. The Commodores have a game at Carmichaels, with homes games against Charleroi and Wash High on back-to-back nights. Not an easy way to finish the season.

Beth-Center and Waynesburg are battling for the final spot. The Bulldogs split with the Raiders and have games against Wash High and Bentworth. Waynesburg travels to Carmichaels. If Beth-Center wins one game, the Raiders are out.

My picks in order: Washington, Charleroi, Frazier and Beth-Center.

Jefferson-Morgan 12-0

California 10-2

West Greene 9-3

Fort Cherry 6-6

Avella 5-7

Geibel Catholic 3-8

Mapletown 2-9

Monessen 0-12

Jefferson-Morgan clinched at least a share of the section title with games remaining against West Greene and Mapletown. A win over the Pioneers gives them the championship outright. California and West Greene have also clinched playoff spots. The Trojans need the Rockets to lose out to have a shot at sharing, but also needs to win out to avoid tying for second or finishign third. Fort Cherry is in control for the final spot with games against California and Geibel remaining.

All the Rangers need is one win to secure a spot. The Eagles, who have games against Geibel and West Greene, are one game back and split with Fort Cherry. That means they need some help.

Geibel is not eliminated yet. It has three games remaining against Avella, Mapletown and FC. Winning could create a three-way tie.

My picks in order: Jefferson-Morgan, California, West Greene and Fort Cherry.