Boys
Class 4A
Semifinals
1-Quaker Valley (19-3) vs. 13-Deer Lakes (12-12)
3 p.m. Saturday at Pine-Richland
Winner plays: Winner of 2-North Catholic (18-5)/3-Knoch (20-4) at 9 p.m. Thursday in WPIAL championship at Petersen Events Center
Players to watch: Zachary Washington, Quaker Valley; Evan Moore, Deer Lakes
Layup lines: Quaker Valley had a first-round bye and defeated No. 8 Belle Vernon, 72-41, in the quarterfinals. The Quakers have won 11 straight games and captured the Section 2 title at 10-0. QV is led by Washington (17.2 ppg) and Nic Cohen (16.2 ppg). They scored 18 and 17 points, respectively, against Belle Vernon. Sam Chapman added 14 points, and Kolton Johnson had 13. Coach Mike Mastroianni surpassed 600 career wins earlier this season. The Quakers are seeking a third WPIAL title (1997, 2022). … Deer Lakes upset No. 4 Derry, 57-46, in the first round and No. 5 Hopewell, 71-59, in the quarterfinals. Against Hopewell, Deer Lakes used a 20-7 run in the second quarter to take control. Moore poured in 33 points and was complemented by Collin Rodgers with 17, Luca Mangieri with nine and Dylan Ferraro with eight. The Lancers won WPIAL titles in 2023 and ’24. They are in the playoffs for the 20th time and the semifinals for the fourth time. … The losing team will play in the third-place game at 7 p.m. Wednesday at a site to be determined. Both teams have qualified for the PIAA tournament.
2-North Catholic (18-5) vs. 3-Knoch (20-4)
1 p.m. Saturday at Pine-Richland
Winner plays: Winner of 1-Quaker Valley (19-3)/13-Deer Lakes (12-12) at 9 p.m. Thursday in WPIAL championship at Petersen Events Center
Players to watch: Jude Rottmann, North Catholic; Teegan Finucan, Knoch
Layup lines: North Catholic had a first-round bye and then defeated No. 7 Elizabeth Forward, 73-64, in the quarterfinals. The Trojans closed the game on a 25-5 run in the fourth quarter. Rottmann had 30 points, and Jason Fredericks added 26. Brandon Pickett scored 15 for the Trojans. North Catholic and Knoch shared the Section 1 title at 11-1 and split their season series. Knoch won 65-56 on Jan. 9, and North Catholic won 61-55 on Feb. 3. The Trojans have won nine of their past 10 games. North Catholic, the district runner-up last season, has won five WPIAL titles, with the most recent coming in 2020. … Knoch beat No. 14 East Allegheny, 56-21, in the first round and No. 6 Central Valley, 57-24, in the quarterfinals. Finucan scored 22 points, Roman DeFelice had 11 and Vincent DeFelice added 10 against the Warriors. Knoch is searching for its first WPIAL title. The Knights are in the playoffs for the 27th time and the semifinals for the fifth time, including a win over Thomas Jefferson in 2004. … The losing team will play in the third-place game at 7 p.m. Wednesday at a site to be determined. Both teams have qualified for the PIAA tournament.
SWCAC championship
Cheswick Christian Academy (19-6) vs. Grove City Christian Academy (13-1)
5 p.m. Saturday at Beaver County Christian
Player to watch: Brady Rochkind, Cheswick Christian Academy
Layup lines: Cheswick Christian Academy is playing in the SWCAC championship game for the fourth straight season. The Chargers have won the past two titles. Seniors on the team have won 82 career games, the most of any CCA class in program history. The Chargers earned a spot in the final after beating Plants and Pillars, 59-47. Rochkind had 25 points and 12 rebounds. Joseph Rosio added 20 points, seven rebounds and six steals. CCA also will play next month in the NCSAA championships at Cedarville University in Ohio. … Grove City Christian defeated Portersville Christian, 55-53, in overtime in the semifinals Thursday. The Galatians won the Tri-County division title with an 11-1 record. They defeated Harvest Baptist, 62-38, in the first round. The teams have not played this season. Cornerstone Prep and Portersville Christian will play for the SWCAC girls basketball title at 2 p.m. Saturday at Beaver County Christian.