Who will be lucky on St. Patrick’s Day?
Since they started playing together in the same classification two years ago, they have become big-game rivals.
They have battled in the Class 5A championship game and district semifinals in back-to-back years in the WPIAL playoffs, and now they are preparing to square off for the second straight season in the PIAA 5A semifinals.
Current WPIAL and reigning PIAA 5A girls champion South Fayette (28-1) takes on Peters Township (18-11) at Bethel Park at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The Lions have a record of 28-1 this season and have won 20 games in a row since a December loss to Miami Country Day in Florida.
South Fayette has been dominant in wins in the PIAA postseason over Milton Hershey by 29 points, Penn-Trafford by 30 points and Baldwin in the quarterfinals by 21 points.
The Indians barely qualified for the WPIAL playoffs, beating Bethel Park in the final Section 4-5A game to secure fourth place. They are 18-11 this season and have won 11 of their last 13 games.
On the Road to Hershey, Peters Township has a 22-point victory over Manheim Central in the second round, but two overtime wins: over Susquehannock in the opening round and York Suburban in the quarterfinals.
Here is a rundown of the three previous big-stage showdowns between the Lions and Indians:
2025 WPIAL 5A championship – Peters Township 40, South Fayette 36
The three-time defending district champion Lions had a six-point leading heading into the fourth quarter but only scored three points in the final quarter as the Indians rallied to win. Natalie Wetzel led Peters Township with 13 points while Haylie Lamonde had a game-high 19 points for South Fayette.
2025 PIAA 5A semifinals – South Fayette 50, Peters Township 36
The game was close at the half with the Lions up by only two points before they pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Indians 26-14 to win by 14 points. Lailah Wright led South Fayette with 14 points while Wetzel and Taylor McCullough scored nine points each for Peters Township.
2026 WPIAL 5A semifinals – South Fayette 66, Peters Township 27
The Lions punched their ticket to a fifth straight WPIAL championship game early in this game, outscoring the Indians 22-8 in the first quarter and then extending the lead by halftime to 42-18. Juliette Leroux had a game-high 20 points for South Fayette while Peters Township was paced by 16 points for Jordyn Welsh.
In the other PIAA semifinal, which is also a rematch of the 2025 state semis, District 2 champion Crestwood (26-3) faces District 12 winner Archbishop Wood (15-12) at Bethlehem Liberty at 7:30 p.m.
Speaking of rematches …
There is another WPIAL rematch from the last two district championship games set for Tuesday.
Class 4A girls basketball title game foes collide again when two-time WPIAL champion Oakland Catholic battles Blackhawk at Hampton at 7 p.m.
The Eagles are flying high with 2026 gold, a 17-game winning streak and an overall record of 24-2.
The OC has eliminated two District 10 teams and a D-6 school in the first three rounds of the state playoffs, beating Corry by 38 points, Slippery Rock by 27 points and Penn Cambria by 11 points.
The Cougars are 25-1 and looking to avenge their only loss of the season.
On the Road to Hershey, Blackhawk defeated District 10 Fairview by 11 points, Belle Vernon by 14 points and North Catholic by 22 points.
Cougars senior Aubree Hupp has scored 77 points in the three state playoff wins.
In the 2026 WPIAL 4A title game, Oakland Catholic beat Blackhawk, 51-44.
Both Josie Fontana and Aubree Hupp registered double-doubles in the game. Fontana had 20 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Eagles while Hupp scored 20 points with 14 rebounds for the Cougars.
In the other PIAA Class 4A girls semifinals game, District 2 champion Scranton Prep (23-5) plays District 12 winner Neumann-Goretti (18-10) at Bethlehem Liberty at 6 p.m.
Panthers Pride I
For the second year in a row, three-time WPIAL champion Upper St. Clair is headed to the PIAA boys 6A semifinals.
A year ago, the Panthers’ season ended in the state final four against District 12 power Roman Catholic.
Now the Panthers hope to become only the second District 7 team to play in the PIAA 6A boys basketball state championship game and the first since Pine-Richland played in the inaugural 6A title game in 2017.
On Tuesday, Upper St. Clair battles District 3 champion Central Dauphin at Altoona at 6 p.m.
The Panthers have defeated two District 3 teams and a WPIAL rival in the PIAA postseason thus far.
USC improved to 27-1 by defeating Cedar Crest by 14 points, Red Lion by 17 points and Central Catholic by six points in the state playoffs.
The Rams have ousted two District 1 teams and a WPIAL school to reach the PIAA final four.
Central Dauphin beat Pennsbury by 19 points, Souderton by 13 points and New Castle by 11 points to improve to 25-3.
Upper St. Clair is 15-15 in state playoff games and 0-2 in semifinals, having lost to Reading in 2021 and Roman Catholic last season.
Central Dauphin is 13-12 all-time in PIAA games and is 0-1 in the semifinals, falling to Chester in 2012, 67-48.
These teams played in the 2024 first round with the Panthers beating the visiting Rams in a tight one, 47-43.
It’s an all-District 12 semifinal in boys 6A as D-12 runner-up Father Judge (18-11) once again takes on D-12 champion Imhotep Charter (24-6) at Bensalem at 7 p.m.
Panthers Pride II
Just when it looked the we might see a rematch of the WPIAL Class 2A boys championship game in the PIAA 2A semifinals, a whistle, a foul and two free throws have made it District 7 vs. District 10 with a berth in the 2A state title game up for grabs.
Last year’s PIAA runner-up, Sewickley Academy (28-1), is set to take on Mercyhurst Prep (22-6) at Sharon at 7 p.m.
The Panthers have scattered the board in the state playoffs, beating District 10 Saegertown, District 9 Port Allegany and District 5 McConnellsburg to reach the state semifinals for a second straight year.
For the Lakers, the Road to Hershey has run directly through and over the WPIAL.
Mercyhurst Prep has eliminated Winchester Thurston, Our Lady of the Sacred and Jeannette in the PIAA playoffs.
Sewickley Academy is 7-2 in the PIAA postseason against teams form District 10.
With their three wins this postseason, Mercyhurst Prep is 12-15 all-time against WPIAL teams.
In the other PIAA 2A boys basketball semifinal, District 2 champion Old Forge (21-6) goes up against undefeated District 6 winner United (30-0) at Penns Valley at 7 p.m.
Elsewhere on the Road to Hershey
Here are the other PIAA basketball semifinals games scheduled for Tuesday.
In boys Class 3A:
• District 3 champion Camp Hill Trinity (23-2) faces District 6 winner Bishop Guilfoyle Academy (26-4) at Chambersburg at 6 p.m.
• District 12 champ West Catholic (15-12) goes up against District 11 winner Notre Dame-Green Pond (27-3) at the Geigle Complex in Reading at 7 p.m.
In girls Class A:
• It’s an all-District 6 semifinals game as No. 4 seed Williamsburg (25-5) meets No. 3 seed St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy (27-3) at Altoona at 7:30 p.m.
• District 1 champion Delco Christian (28-2) battles District 4 winner Lourdes Regional (28-2) at Lehighton at 7 p.m.
Makeup
Because of a late afternoon snow storm Monday, the PIAA postponed the boys Class 5A and 4A semifinals until Tuesday. Some of the sites have been changed from the original schedule.
In boys 5A:
• Chartiers Valley (26-2) battles West York (23-1) at Hollidaysburg, 6 p.m.
• Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast (22-6) faces Upper Moreland (20-9) at Norristown at 7 p.m.
In boys 4A:
• It’s Philly against the ‘Burgh when Carver Engineering & Science (23-6) plays Obama Academy (19-9) at Big Spring at 6 p.m.
• Lewisburg (25-4) goes up against Devon Prep (8-18) at Hazleton at 6 p.m.
In girls 6A:
• Dallastown (26-3) takes on Altoona (22-4) at Chambersburg, 7:30 p.m.
• Upper Dublin (27-2) faces Archbishop Carroll (24-5) at Plymouth-Whitemarsh at 7 p.m.
Penguins Cup double up
A pair of PIHL high school hockey teams hopes this turns out to be “Two for Tuesday.”
Seneca Valley in 3A and Avonworth in Class A are looking to repeat as Penguins Cup champions.
The PIHL finals conclude with two more title games at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry on Tuesday.
In the Class 3A title game, top-seeded Seneca Valley Raiders (19-0-2-1) battles No. 2 Peters Township (16-4-0-2) at 6:15 p.m.
The Raiders have yielded only one goal in each of their two postseason wins, 5-1 over Upper St. Clair and 2-1 over Pine-Richland.
The Indians defeated South Fayette in the quarterfinals, 5-2, and then upended Thomas Jefferson in overtime in the semis, 3-2.
Seneca Valley defeated Peters Township twice in the regular season, winning in October, 3-2, and registering a shutout in December, 2-0.
In the Class A finals, No. 4 Avonworth (18-3-1-1) takes on No. 3 Quaker Valley (21-1-0-1) at 8:45 p.m.
In their trek back to the finals, Avonworth rolled past Beaver in the first round, 9-3, cruised past Moon in the quarters, 9-4, then blanked Canon-McMillan in the semifinals, 4-0.
Quaker Valley shut out Greensburg Salem in the first round, 8-0, needed overtime to oust Chartiers Valley in the quarters, 3-2, and then edged Mars in the semis, 3-1.
The Quakers and Antelopes did not play each other in the regular season.
Tuesday on Trib HSSN
There are five broadcasts you can watch or listen to at TribHSSN.TribLive.com on the 17th day of March.
PIAA Girls Basketball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 5A Semifinals: Peters Township vs. South Fayette at 7 p.m. on WJPA-FM 95.3 at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
PIHL Hockey Penguins Cup Playoffs Video Stream – Class 3A Championship: Seneca Valley vs. Peters Township at 6:15 p.m. on Tenband TV at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
PIHL Hockey Penguins Cup Playoffs Video Stream – Class A Championship: Avonworth vs. Quaker Valley at 8:45 p.m. on Tenband TV at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Girls Flag Football Video Stream – Propel Andrew at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at 4:30 p.m. on the OLSH Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Boys Lacrosse Audio Stream – Mt. Lebanon at North Allegheny at 7 p.m. on the North Allegheny Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com