Jeannette is being cautious as it moves ahead in the WPIAL Class 2A boys basketball bracket.
The Jayhawks don’t want to step in a bear trap.
Jeannette (21-1) will take on Clairton (18-3) for a third time this season when the teams meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the semifinals at Norwin.
Fifth-seeded Clairton is the only WPIAL team to truly challenge Jeannette this year. Top-seeded and defending champion Jeannette won both matchups, 57-42 and 54-50.
Only Clairton and Springdale were able to keep the Jayhawks under 60 points in Section 2 play. Jeannette also swept the Dynamos, winning 53-44 in the second game.
Clairton and Jeannette players know each other well, having played several times on the football field, including this year’s WPIAL Class A quarterfinals when the Jayhawks came storming back before falling 38-33 at Franklin Regional.
Many of the same playmakers also suit up for basketball.
When Jeannette and Clairton play, fans get to watch athletes, not necessarily full-time basketball players — Jeannette’s Markus McGowan is an exception now — compete on a similar level.
It can get physical when good on good thrashes after another win. No one rides for free.
Jeannette has heard the adage about the challenge that comes with beating a team three times in a season. After all, the Jayhawks had three losses all of last season (25-3), all to Greensburg Central Catholic.
“It’s going to be a hard-fought game,” Jeannette coach Adrian Batts said. “We know each other. Those two games are long gone. We have to continue to play our game and stick to our game plan. It will be a fun game.”
Names of the past linger in the postseason for both programs. Jeannette won its title last season for the first time since Terrelle Pryor played in 2008. Clairton’s last semifinal team — in 2012-13 — featured Tyler Boyd.
With home-court advantage gone in the WPIAL quarterfinals, semifinals and finals, teams hope their fans travel well and create a raucous atmosphere.
“Clairton was one of the toughest places to play,” Jeannette guard Jayce Powell said. “It was louder than GCC. Loudest I’ve ever played in. They’re a tough team. But we feel confident going against them on a neutral site.”
Jeannette is hoping for a better start than it had against Eden Christian in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
The Jayhawks and Warriors were tied 13-13 after the first quarter and Jeannette had a light grasp at halftime with a 24-15 edge.
They put up 29 second-half points and won 52-36.
“Our guys came to the huddle after the first quarter and said, coach, that’s too any points (for Eden Christian),” Batts said.
Said Powell: “Way too many.”
Still, teams don’t get bonus points for vanity in the playoffs. It doesn’t have to be pretty.
“We won and at this time of year it’s all about advancing,” Batts said. “We have, what, 46 wins in the last two years? We have guys who have played a lot of games. They have played together all their lives. We don’t have any transfers. Our guys are from three square miles in Jeannette.”
Monday’s winner gets the winner of No. 3 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (20-4) and No. 2 Sewickley Academy (23-1) in the championship at 5 p.m. Friday at Pitt’s Petersen Events Center.