Catching up with area highlights from the past month:
The game was billed as the “Showdown at North Allegheny” and Quaker Valley’s Nick Cohen definitely showed up.
Cohen, a 5-11, 155-pound sophomore guard, scored 26 points in leading the Quakers to a 64-27 nonsection win Dec. 13 against Brentwood.
Cohen has connected for 26 points in a game three times in his career.
Against Brentwood, he tossed in six triples and had 10 points at halftime before bursting loose for 16 in the third quarter.
“Nic is a high-level shooter who puts in a lot of time and continues to improve and grow his shooting skills every year,” QV coach Mike Mastroianni said, “but it would be unfair to categorize him as just a shooter.
“Nic’s skill level in many areas sets him apart. His court vision, ball skills, competitiveness and understanding of the game round out his impact on our team play every game.”
The Quakers improved to 4-0 with the win against Brentwood and followed up with a 63-21 victory Dec. 19 over Ambridge in their section opener.
“I would say we’ve been playing good team basketball so far,” Cohen said.
“Sharing the ball and communication has been one of the keys to our start, as well as our chemistry both on and off the court.”
In what was undoubtedly QV’s most exciting game so far, the Quakers on Dec. 9 edged Farrell, 48-47, thanks to Sam Chapman’s winning field goal with 1.4 seconds remaining.
A 6-3 junior guard, Chapman finished with a game-high 21 points. He was complemented by 6-2 senior guard Zach Washington with 11 points and Cohen with nine.
“My expectations for the team this season are honestly to win both a WPIAL and section championship,” Cohen said.
“We have experience and have been able to develop together over the last two years, so I’d say that gives us an advantage.
“I do not play any other sports at Quaker Valley, but as the years go on, I’d like to have more of an impact on other peoples’ lives off the court in addition to on the court.”
Panthers moving up
Two WPIAL boys basketball teams that recently reached the state finals will voluntarily play in higher classifications for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons.
Neighborhood Academy will move to Class 2A, and Sewickley Academy jumps to Class 4A next winter, according to a list provided by the PIAA. Neighborhood Academy is the reigning WPIAL and PIAA Class A champion.
Sewickley Academy was the state runner-up in Class 2A last season.
They’re among 14 WPIAL basketball teams that elected to “play up” into a higher classification starting next winter.
The Upper St. Clair boys and girls teams will both compete in Class 6A, while the Avella, Mapletown and West Greene boys and girls all asked to play in 2A. Also playing up in classification are the boys basketball teams at Central Catholic (Class 6A) and Eden Christian (2A), along with girls teams at Greensburg Central Catholic (2A) and Oakland Catholic (5A).
The deadline to voluntarily move up was Dec. 1.
QV hockey rolling
Senior forward Jace Vasbinder scored the game-winner and senior goaltender Ian Lorang made 14 saves to lead Quaker Valley to a 1-0 victory over Montour Dec. 22 in the PIHL Class A division.
The Quakers registered 55 shots on goal.
Previously, QV skated past North Catholic, 9-2, as sophomore Matthias Lezama collected three goals and three assists, senior forward Max Modrovich had three goals and two assists, and junior forward Charlie Pyle added a goal and four assists.
The Quakers began the new year with an 11-1-1 record and led Class A in scoring with 79 goals.
Matthias, Modrovich, senior forward Ben McHenry and Vasbinder were the team’s leading scorers.
Lorang had an 8-1-1 record with a 1.99 goals-against average, .913 save percentage and four shutouts.
QV football honors
Thomas Eshenbaugh made significant impact in his first year as head football coach at Quaker Valley.
Eshenbaugh was honored as coach of the year in the Class 3A Western Hills Conference after leading the Quakers to a 4-6 record.
QV seniors Logan Benedict and jBen McHenry were named first-team all-conference on defense, Benedict as an Athlete and McHenry at a DB position.
Quakers top podium
Quaker Valley’s Bruce Anderchak, Harper Sipes and Matt Danna (160) were individual titlists at the Ed Driscoll MAC wrestling tournament Jan. 3 at Laurel.
Danna, a senior who attained his 100th career win earlier this season, blanked Laurel’s Braxton Carr, 7-0, in the 160-pound finals to improve to 20-7.
Sipes, a junior, defeated Moon’s Zachary Regotti, 5-3, in the 145-pound championship round to boost his season record to 10-5. Anderchak, a senior, won via a 19-4 technical fall at 121 against Kayden Braun of Freedom to go to 12-0.
Junior Trey Dunlap placed second at 189 for the Quakers.
Other QV competitors at the tournament included sophomore Natalie Minnock (107), junior Andrew Rhode (127), sophomores Damien McClay (133), Brendan Fitzgerald (139) and Jack Bednarski (152), freshman Jake Neff (172), junior Sawyer Stelzig (215) and freshman Angel Perez (285).
Big win for Eden
Four players reached double figures Jan. 3 for Class 2A Eden Christian Academy in a 70-63 boys basketball nonsection win over Class 4A Highlands.
Junior guard Mason Dean and freshman forward Samuel D’Ippolito both scored 19 points while freshman Michael Sample and sophomore Brady Salvia chipped in with 12 apiece to lead the Warriors.
Did you know?
Did you know that Ryan Riesmeyer and Kristin Hric are the new boys and girls lacrosse coaches at Quaker Valley?