Butler-Latrobe an intriguing matchup
At first glance, ButlerLatrobe appears to be one of the best first-round matchups in the entire WPIAL playoffs.
Butler coach Matt Clement just doesn’t see it that way.
“With this year’s bracket, I don’t think there is a great first-round matchup for anybody,” said Clement, speaking to the quality of depth of the Class 6A bracket.
But the Butler-Latrobe showdown Saturday at Fox Chapel has the makings of being an outstanding game. A big reason for that is terrific guard play on both sides. Butler (18-4), the No. 8 seed, is led by star sophomore Ethan Morton (24 points per game) and also features senior Luke Michalek. Latrobe (15-7), the No. 9 seed, is paced by juniors Reed Fenton (23.3) and Bryce Butler (20.9).
“With Ethan at over 20 a game, it’s the first time I’ve had someone average 20 a game,” Clement said. “I can’t imagine having two over 20 a game. Two on one team is an advantage they have. It will be interesting. To compare all of these guards, some are longer, some shoot better, some are better inside. It’s probably going to be a game that’s pretty entertaining.”
These teams met in last year’s WPIAL quarterfinals when Butler seized a 70-64 win.
Scoring record
Mars’ Robby Carmody leads the WPIAL in scoring with 33.6 points per game, but he’s considered a long shot to break the WPIAL tournament scoring record of 147 points set by Penn Hills’ Drew Schifino in 2000. The reason? Because Mars plays in Class 5A and is the No. 1 seed, Carmody will play three games at the most. Schifino played in four when he set the mark.
“If I could set that record in three games, we’re going to win a lot of games,” Carmody said, smiling. “It’s kind of different now with all the new classifications. It’s not something I think about. I’m more worried about winning. I don’t care how many points I score, as long as we win.”
One player with an outside chance of breaking the record is Laurel Highlands’ Bryce Laskey, who ranks second in the WPIAL with 33.3 points a game. Laurel Highlands is the No. 10 seed in 5A, meaning if the Mustangs reach the final, it would be their fourth game.
As for Carmody, he said he is focused on helping Mars win its first WPIAL title in this his final season before heading off to Notre Dame. The Planets have never reached the WPIAL final, but did advance to the PIAA title game in Carmody’s sophomore season.
“It would be huge, not only just for me as a person, but Mars as a community,” Carmody said. “We get that first one and it’s just going to keep rolling. Youth kids are going to keep coming up. They’re going to see us. They’re going to want to do the same thing. They’re going to work really hard. I think that’s the thing that will keep us near the top for a really long time.”
Fort Cherry
Fort Cherry will compete in the playoffs after tying for second place in its section, but the Rangers won’t have the services of high-scoring senior Ryhan Culberson.
Culberson was dismissed from the team late last month because of what coach Dwayne Canton called “disciplinary actions.” Culberson had been averaging 23.1 points per game, which ranked first among all 2A players.
Fort Cherry, the No. 9 seed, plays No. 8 Leechburg in a first-round game Tuesday. The Rangers have struggled without Culberson, going 1-6. However, hope is not lost. Last Friday, the Rangers lost at Section 2 champion Chartiers-Houston by just three points.
“I think it depends on what team comes to play,” Canton said. “When we played Jefferson-Morgan [a five-point loss], we weren’t ready to play and it showed. We played Chartiers-Houston and played excellent. We should have won, but we were 12 of 24 from the freethrow line. Defensively, I think we can play with anybody.”
Old and new
Monessen is in the playoffs for a WPIAL-record 37th consecutive season. Holy Family Academy, which is in its first season in the WPIAL, and Propel Andrew Street, which is in its second season, are making their WPIAL playoff debuts. Holy Family Academy and Propel Andrew Street meet in a Class 1A first-round game Friday. Albert Gallatin has qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2007. That season, the Colonials lost to Bethel Park in the WPIAL Class 4A championship.