Nothing compares to championships
The Dribbler turned on his television Sunday night to watch some commercials, and a certain football game happened to be on instead.
That got the Dribbler thinking: What’s so super about the Super Bowl? Is it as great of an event as the WPIAL or City League basketball championships? The Dribbler doesn’t think so.
As The Dribbler contemplated this, his friend came over with his dog. It’s a Great Dane. Really? Great? I mean, they are pretty cool dogs and all, but how about Pretty Good Dane? That’s more appropriate and less arrogant.
Speaking of dogs, who are your underdog picks to win WPIAL titles? Here are a couple to think about: Trinity, Seneca Valley and Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic.
The Dribbler hoped the Steelers would play in the big game this year, and if they would have, he would have been waving his Terrible Towel. But why is it so terrible? It’s an iconic symbol for Steelers fans across the world. Myron Cope would have been better off calling it the Terrific Towel.
When this column started years ago, someone suggested it be called Brilliant Basketball Prognosticator. Nah, The Dribbler sounds much better.
Here are his thoughts on this week’s top games:
Boys
Seneca Valley at Butler, 7:30 p.m. Friday — The Dribbler saw Seneca Valley’s Marcus Might play a few weeks back, and realized his name was appropriate. Might is 6 feet 6 and plays with power down low, so he qualifies as being mighty in The Dribbler’s book. The Dribbler admits that it would have been funny if Might was actually a scrawny, 5-6 guard. Might might help Seneca Valley win this one against red-hot Butler. Then again, Might might not. Winner: Butler.
Latrobe at Penn Hills, 8 p.m. Friday — When these two met on Jan. 16, the game was delayed 30 minutes after Penn Hills arrived late due to being stuck in traffic. Then, after holding the halftime lead, the Penn Hills offense got stuck in quicksand and saw Latrobe rally for an 80-66 win. Will Latrobe arrive late to the rematch? Luckily for Latrobe, this is an 8 p.m. start. Time won’t matter, though. Penn Hills will score more points regardless. Winner: Penn Hills.
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at Sewickley Academy, 7 p.m. Friday — Looking for a good game to go to Friday? You’re in luck. This might be the best one in the entire state, and that includes the 76ers against the Pelicans. The Dribbler believes that either Sewickley or OLSH will win the state title. He just doesn’t know which one. Sewickley did it last year. Is it OLSH’s turn? This is for the section title. The next meeting might be for the WPIAL title. Winner: Sewickley Academy.
Vincentian at Cornell, 7:30 p.m. Friday — It says here that Vincentian will win the WPIAL Class 1A title. The Royals have lost to only one 1A team (Union), and own wins against that same Union team, Monessen and Cornell. Those could very well be the four best teams in the class. The Royals played 4A No. 1 Quaker Valley on Saturday, and trailed by only four points after three quarters. Cornell is very talented, but the Raiders aren’t Vincentian. Winner: Vincentian.
Monessen at Washington, 3:30 p.m. Saturday — This is a solid, non-section matchup between teams The Dribbler doesn’t know a lot about. Neither has gotten much hype, this despite winning section titles (Washington in 3A and Monessen in 1A). Even without having seen either play, The Dribbler knows each will be in the WPIAL title hunt. Why? Coaching. Washington has Ron Faust and Monessen has Joe Salvino. Two of the very best. Winner: Washington.
Girls
Hempfield at Norwin, 6 p.m. Friday — Norwin began the season 1-5. Beat Hempfield on Friday, and the Knights will claim the outright 6A Section 2 title. That’s a pretty nice turnaround. Norwin coach Brian Brozeski has built a strong program, and the Knights could make a lengthy run in the postseason. Hempfield is also headed to the playoffs. The Spartans have dropped nine consecutive meetings with the Knights, including a six-point loss last month. Winner: Norwin.
Leechburg at East Allegheny, 7:30 p.m. Friday — Two of the WPIAL’s top scorers going head to head? Yes, please. East Allegheny’s Amani Johnson ranks second in the area in scoring and Mikayla Lovelace of Leechburg is third. The two may play on different teams and in different classes, but they know each other well — they’re AAU teammates on the Western Pa. Bruins. With a win, East Allegheny would finish the regular season unbeaten for the second season in a row. Winner: East Allegheny.
Trinity at South Fayette, 2:30 p.m. Saturday — Two excellent 5A teams get together for this non-section fray. The previous time Trinity dropped a game, the calendar read 2017. The Hillers have lost just once against a WPIAL team, and that was against 6A title contender Peters Township. South Fayette had been on a roll before losing to West Allegheny last Friday, a win that gave West Allegheny the Section 1 title. Trinity is the Section 3 champion. Winner: Trinity.