If Brian Brozeski asks his Norwin girls basketball players to raise their hand if they have played at the “Pete,” he might hear crickets.
Despite this being the team’s third straight finals appearance, only three current players have appeared in title games: seniors Ava Christopher and Anna Fraser and junior Liz Yarosik.
Norwin (19-4) will play finals first-timer Canon-McMillan (20-4) in the WPIAL Class 6A championship game at 5 p.m. Saturday at Pitt’s Petersen Events Center.
“It’s playoffs in general,” Brozeski said. “For most of our girls to be a part of it all for the first time, it’s about the girls who have been there passing on what they know.
“It’s always exciting when you get a chance to play for a championship. All the girls wanted us to get back there.”
Christopher will make her third straight start in the WPIAL 6A final.
She played nearly 60 minutes in two championship games. She was the leading scorer in 2024 with 16 points (6 for 11 shooting) when Norwin defeated North Allegheny, 56-41, for their third title and first since 2016.
Last year, in a 45-40 loss to Upper St. Clair, she also led the Knights with 11 points, playing all 32 minutes.
“I usually lead by example,” Christopher said, “but I had some words of wisdom for the younger girls.”
Christopher missed 10 games this year with a knee injury, but her return bolstered the lineup.
She likes coming back to Pitt. That is where she will attend college. One thing, though: She won’t be playing basketball.
“This is it,” she said. “I’m sure I’ll still play some pickup.
“I am so excited to get back (to the finals). I love these girls.”
Another final
Brozeski has coached Norwin for 15 seasons and has a record of 272-91. This will be his fourth appearance in the WPIAL finals. He is 3-1 in the big game.
Norwin won back-to-back titles in 2015 and ’16.
Home sweet home
Penn-Trafford clinched third place in WPIAL Class 5A with a 54-51 victory over Peters Township on Tuesday night in the consolation bracket.
Torrie DeStefano, who set a program record for career steals this season. had a team-high 19 points.
The team also set a record. The win was its 25th in a row at home.
Local champs
Norwin and Greensburg Central Catholic are both in the WPIAL girls finals for the third consecutive season.
GCC has the most titles among Westmoreland County girls teams with seven (2025, ‘24, ‘07, ‘06, ‘03, 1997 and ‘91). Norwin is chasing its fourth (2024, ‘16, ‘15), which would put in in second place in county titles — Monessen also has three (2006, ‘04 and 1995).
The Jeannette boys are seeking their third title, which would tie Norwin for third most in Westmoreland. Norwin won in 1988, ‘86 and ‘63.
Monessen has the most boys titles with eight (2017, ‘15, ‘11, ‘02, ‘01, 1995, 1920, 1919). Irwin is second with five (1954, ‘53, ‘50, ‘48, ‘47).
Local boys and girls teams have won titles in the same season in 2025 (Belle Vernon, Jeannette boys; GCC girls), 2015 (Monessen boys, Norwin girls) and 1995 (Monessen boys and girls).
The local record for teams in the finals was set in 2024 with five (GCC, Franklin Regional and Burrell boys and Norwin and GCC girls).