As the third-to-last week of the WPIAL boys basketball regular season concludes, there are three matchups with at least a share of first place at stake.
In all three sections, there will be a leader with a two-game advantage or a tie for the top spot by this weekend.
One of those games is in Monroeville as Gateway hosts Franklin Regional for first place in Section 1-5A.
The first-place Gators are 8-1 in the section and 10-5 overall. They have won four straight games and six of their last seven contests.
The Panthers are 7-2 in the section and 11-4 this season. They have won two in row and four of their last six.
Franklin Regional hopes to avenge a home loss to Gateway on Dec. 19.
In that first meeting, the Panthers had an eight-point lead after one quarter and were up five at halftime before the Gators rallied in the second half for the close win, 56-54.
Chris Settles had a game-high 22 points for Gateway while both Logan Walter and Webber Rankin scored 18 points each for Franklin Regional.
2 other 1st-place frays
The other two district games Friday where first place could be deadlocked or built to a two-game lead will take place in Class 4A and 3A.
In Section 3-4A, Belle Vernon has a one-game lead over both Derry and Elizabeth Forward heading into the Leopards’ visit to the home of the Trojans.
Belle Vernon is 7-1 in the section and 11-7 for the season. The Leopards have won two in a row and four of their last five.
Derry has won three in a row and four of five as it sits tied for second with a 6-2 section record and an overall mark of 11-6.
In their first meeting, the host Leopards crushed the Trojans, 81-62, despite trailing by eight points after the opening quarter.
Luca Ghilani led Belle Vernon with 20 points while Brayden Robinson had a game-high 21 points for Derry.
Elizabeth Forward (5-2, 8-7) is home to Greensburg Salem (3-5, 8-8) on Friday.
In Section 3-3A, first-place South Park looks to take a two-game lead with two weeks remaining when they welcome second-place Seton LaSalle.
The Eagles are 13-2 this season and are perfect in the section with a 5-0 record.
South Park has won six consecutive games and 10 of its last 11.
The Rebels hope to force a tie for the top spot as they are 4-1 in the section and 11-4 overall.
Seton LaSalle has won seven of its last eight games, including two in a row.
The Eagles jumped out to a 15-3 lead after one and held on to win on the home court of the Rebels last month, 61-56.
Luke Scarff had 20 points for South Park while Charlie Crummie had a game-high 24 points for Seton LaSalle.
Winner alone on top
The boys basketball matchups mentioned above are all second-place vs. first-place teams.
There is one district game Friday that pits two teams currently tied for the top spot in their section.
For the lead heading into the stretch run in Section 1-A, Avella visits Nazareth Prep.
Both the Eagles and Saints are tied for first with 4-1 section records.
Avella is 12-3 this season and has won three in a row and five of its last six games.
Nazareth Prep is 4-10 against a challenging nonsection schedule and comes into the game having lost two straight.
In the first meeting, the Eagles flew past the Saints, 72-49.
Bryce Wright scored 23 points to lead Avella and Grey Wible led Nazareth Prep with 21 points.
Friday on Trib HSSN
There are 12 broadcasts you can watch or listen to at TribHSSN.TribLive.com on the 23rd day of January.
WPIAL Boys Basketball – Video Stream: Fox Chapel at Woodland Hills at 7:30 p.m. on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Boys Basketball – Video Stream: Chartiers Valley at Moon at 7:30 p.m. on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Boys Basketball – Video Stream: Seton LaSalle at South Park at 7:30 p.m. on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Boys Basketball – Video Stream: Franklin Regional at Gateway at 7:30 p.m. on the Gateway Gators Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Boys Basketball – Video Stream: Laurel Highlands at Latrobe at 7:30 p.m. on WMBS-AM 590, WMBS-FM 101.1 at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Boys Basketball – Video Stream: Uniontown at Penn-Trafford at 7:30 p.m. on WMBS-AM 590, WMBS-FM 101.1 at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Boys Basketball – Video Stream: Valley at North Catholic at 7:30 p.m. on the North Catholic Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Boys Basketball – Video Stream: Belle Vernon at Derry at 7:15 p.m. on the Westmoreland Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Boys Basketball – Video Stream: Charleroi at Southmoreland at 7:30 p.m. on the Westmoreland Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Boys Basketball – Video Stream: Union at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at 7:30 p.m. on OLSH Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Boys Basketball – Video Stream: Laurel at Shenango at 7:30 p.m. on Lawrence County SportsNet at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Girls Basketball – Video Stream: Franklin Regional at Gateway at 6 p.m. on the Gateway Gators Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com