The Road to Hershey continues with second-round action Wednesday with teams from boys Class 6A, 3A and 2A and girls Class 5A, 4A and A taking center stage.
Nearly 40 years ago, legendary Central Catholic boys basketball coach Chuck Crummie led the Vikings all the way to the 1988 PIAA Class 4A championship game where they lost to Carlisle, 80-54.
The last time Central Catholic reached the state quarterfinals was nearly 20 years ago when it fell in Round 3 in 2008 to Moon, 61-41.
On Tuesday, the Vikings try to reach the quarterfinals again when they face Chambersburg at Pitt-Johnstown at 6 p.m.
Central Catholic improved to 23-3 on the season with a first-round state playoff victory over host Allderdice, 48-34.
Enzo Khalil went over 1,000 points for his career in the win, leading the Vikings with 14 points, while teammate Jack Stoessel added 11 points.
The No. 5 seed out of District 3 is Chambersburg, which enters the game with a record of 20-7 after knocking off Coatesville in the state playoff opener, 57-49.
The Trojans have had their own struggles getting past the PIAA second round.
The last time Chambersburg played in a PIAA quarterfinal was 72 years ago. The Trojans defeated Williamsport in the 1954 PIAA quarters, and then lost in the state semifinals to Chester.
Chambersburg has never faced a WPIAL team in 28 previous state boys basketball games.
Here are the other two state second-round games involving WPIAL boys 6A teams:
• Upper St. Clair (25-1) vs. Red Lion (23-4) at Hollidaysburg, 6 p.m.
• New Castle (24-2) vs. Methacton (23-4) at Penns Valley, 5:30 p.m.
Second-round redo
A year ago, WPIAL runner-up Aliquippa squared off against District 6 champion Forest Hills in a PIAA Class 3A quarterfinal.
On Wednesday, the rematch is set a round earlier for Norwin High School at 6 p.m.
However, this year, the Quips are the district champions and the Rangers are the runner-up.
None of the seeding mattered a year ago when the Quips jumped out to a 22-6 lead after one quarter and pounded the Rangers, 73-34.
Current Lincoln Park guard Josh Pratt led Aliquippa with 27 points while Qa’lil Goode added 25 for the Quips.
Dylan Stohon led Forest Hills with 15 points as the Rangers lost for only the third time all year.
This year, Forest Hills is 24-4 after defeating Shady Side Academy in the state opener, 58-39.
Stohon, now a junior, led the Rangers with 19 points while junior Easton Gramling and senior Brandon Gregovich each added 13 points.
In Round 1 of the PIAA postseason, 2024 state champion Aliquippa crushed Cranberry, 87-52, to improve its record to 19-6.
Goode led the way with 20 points, Anthony Ingram scored 18 and Jalen Harvey added 10 points for the Quips.
The first-round triumph was win No. 101 all-time for Aliquippa in the state playoffs.
Here are the other three second-round games involving WPIAL boys 3A teams:
• Mohawk (24-2) vs. Camp Hill Trinity (21-2) at Richland, 6 p.m.
• Seton LaSalle (20-7) vs. Westmont-Hilltop (20-6) at IUP, 7:30 p.m.
• South Park (22-4) vs. Bishop Guilfoyle (24-4) at Norwin, 7:30 p.m.
Double A success
The two most successful classifications for WPIAL boys basketball teams in the first round were Class 5A and 2A.
Both had eight teams and finished 5-3.
In Class 2A, two of the District 7 survivors go head-to-head in Round 2 when WPIAL runner-up Jeannette squares off against Jefferson-Morgan on Wednesday at Peters Township at 7:30 p.m.
Both teams were section champions this winter. The Jayhawks won Section 1-2A by two games over Clairton while Jefferson-Morgan shared the Section 3-2A title with Chartiers-Houston.
Defense is the key in this matchup as Jeannette and Jefferson-Morgan had the No. 2 and 3 defenses in Class 2A behind district champion Sewickley Academy.
The Jayhawks allowed 39.5 points per game while the Rockets yielded 35.5 points per contest.
Jefferson-Morgan lost to OLSH in the WPIAL quarterfinals, then went 1-1 in the 2A consolation round before winning big at Redbank Valley in the PIAA first round, 50-26.
Jeremiah Robertson had a game-high 24 points for the Rockets.
Rebounding from its emotional district title game loss to Sewickley Academy, Jeannette crushed visiting Northern Cambria in the PIAA opener, 72-34.
Markus McGowan led the way for the Jayhawks with 24 points, Kymon’e Brown and Jayce Powell both scored 11 points and Xavier Odorisio-Farrow added 10 points.
The teams are a combined 47-5 with Jefferson-Morgan sitting at 24-3 and Jeannette entering with a record of 23-2.
Here are the three other state second-round games involving WPIAL boys Class 2A teams:
• Sewickley Academy (26-1) vs. Port Allegany (20-8) at PennWest Clarion, 7:30 p.m.
• Clairton (19-5) vs. McConnellsburg (26-1) at Pitt-Johnstown, 7:30 p.m.
• Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (22-5) vs. Mercyhurst Prep (20-6) at Sharon, 7:30 p.m.
From consolation to states
Once again this season, WPIAL teams from girls Class 5A flexed their collective muscles and went 6-2 in the PIAA first round.
So now in Round 2, there is not just one but two state playoffs games matching District 7 teams against each other.
One of them pits Indiana (22-5) against Baldwin (22-5) at Fox Chapel at 7 p.m.
The last time we saw these teams on the same court was two weeks ago.
In the game to determine the No. 5 and 6 seeds out of the WPIAL, Baldwin made the long trek to Indiana and came out on top, 41-37.
Lynsey Bernotas led the Highlanders with 15 points while Julianne Ott added 10 points for the purple and white.
Addy Hutton had a game-high 16 points in a losing cause for the Little Indians.
Baldwin improved to 22-5 after a PIAA opening-round victory at District 3 Middletown, 67-60.
Lynsey Bernotas scored 25 points, Lacey Bernotas scored 17 and Ott finished with 16 points.
Indiana bounced back from the loss to Baldwin in a big way.
The Little Indians traveled north and stunned No. 2 Class 5A state-ranked Erie Cathedral Prep, 46-34.
Julia Antonacci had a game high 17 points and Hutton added 15 for Indiana.
The other battle between WPIAL teams has defending champion South Fayette (26-1) going up against Penn-Trafford (21-6) in a game played at Peters Township at 6 p.m.
The last time these two squared off in a postseason game was three years ago in the WPIAL quarterfinals as the Lions roared past the Warriors, 70-49.
Here are the two other state second-round games involving WPIAL girls 5A teams:
• Trinity (19-8) vs. York Suburban (23-2) at Altoona, 5 p.m.
• Peters Township (16-11) vs. Manheim Central (19-8) at Altoona, 6:30 p.m.
Feline fight
When the WPIAL Class 4A brackets were released, it looked like the stage was set for one of the district powers this century to meet a team that, with lots of young talent, is built for success over the next few years.
However, an upset in the quarterfinals prevented that matchup from happening.
Now the battle of green will take place in the PIAA second round Wednesday when WPIAL runner-up Blackhawk faces Belle Vernon at North Allegheny at 7:30 p.m.
The Cougars have been to the WPIAL title game in each of the last five years. While they only won one title in that time frame, they have eight district championships, which is tied for third in league history.
The Leopards have yet to win a WPIAL girls basketball crown, but with five underclassmen starting and enjoying a breakout season this winter, the future could be bright.
Blackhawk improved to 23-1 after beating Fairview in the PIAA first round, 45-34.
Senior standout Aubree Hupp had 22 points in the win for the Cougars.
Belle Vernon has a record of 19-6 after it also scored a double-digit point win in Round 1 over Clearfield, 58-46.
Aubrey Brown led the Leopards with 24 points, Saylor Lee scored 13 and freshman Lyla McConnell added 10 points.
Here are the other two state second-round games involving WPIAL girls Class 4A teams:
• Oakland Catholic (22-2) vs. Slippery Rock (20-5) at North Allegheny, 6 p.m.
• Harbor Creek (22-4) vs. North Catholic (21-6) at Sharon, 6 p.m.
Then there was one
The WPIAL sent six girls Class A teams into the PIAA playoffs with a first-round game Saturday.
When the dust settled, only one District 7 team remains.
Serra Catholic, Geibel Catholic, Union, Sewickley Academy and St. Joseph saw their seasons end with losses in Round 1.
That leaves only Aquinas Academy heading into the second round as it battles District 6 champion Bishop Guilfoyle Academy at IUP at 6 p.m.
The Crusaders improved to 22-3 for the season with a victory over Northern Bedford County, 58-40.
Tess Duer led the way for Aquinas with 19 points while Elliot Keverline had 15 points and Katie Taquinio scored 10.
In their first state playoff game this season, the Marauders moved to 19-4 with a convincing victory over Otto-Eldred, 71-27.
Penguins Cup A final four
PIHL Penguins Cup semifinals week continues Wednesday with a pair of Class A games at the RMU Island Sports Complex on Neville Island.
In the opener, No. 1 Canon-McMillan (19-1-1-0) will take on No. 4 Avonworth (17-3-1-1) at 7 p.m.
Canon-McMillan defeated Butler in the quarterfinals last week, 4-1.
Brayden Edgar registered a natural hat trick for the Big Macs with three third-period goals, the first of which broke a 1-1 tie.
Avonworth eliminated Moon in the second round, 9-4.
Richard Malsch scored twice and Austin Dzadovsky had a goal and two assists for the Antelopes.
The ‘Lopes beat Beaver in the first round while the Big Macs had an opening-round bye.
In the second game, No. 2 Mars (16-1-2-2) faces off against No. 3 Quaker Valley (20-1-0-1) at 9 p.m.
Mars eliminated Plum in the quarterfinals, 4-1.
Grant Weaver had the hat trick for the Fightin’ Planets.
Also last week, Quaker Valley knocked out Chartiers Valley in overtime, 3-2.
Matthias Lezama scored the game winner for the Quakers at 9:53 of OT.
In the first round, QV beat Greensburg Salem and Mars enjoyed a bye.
Wednesday on Trib HSSN
There are six broadcasts you can watch or listen to at TribHSSN.TribLive.com on the 11th day of March.
PIAA Boys Basketball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 6A Second Round: New Castle vs. Methacton at 5:30 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
PIAA Boys Basketball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 3A Second Round: Mohawk vs. Camp Hill Trinity at 6 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
PIAA Girls Basketball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 5A Second Round: Trinity vs. York Suburban at 5 p.m. on WJPA-AM 1450 at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
PIAA Girls Basketball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 5A Second Round: Peters Township vs. Manheim Central at 6:30 p.m. on WJPA-AM 1450 at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
PIHL Hockey Penguins Cup Playoffs Video Stream – Class A Semifinals: Avonworth vs. Canon-McMillan at 7 p.m. on Tenband TV at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
PIHL Hockey Penguins Cup Playoffs Video Stream – Class A Semifinals: Quaker Valley vs. Mars at 9 p.m. on Tenband TV at TribHSSN.TribLive.com