Starting playoffs on a high note
A few days before The Dribbler stapled together his WPIAL playoff brackets, he was at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to watch the Grammy Awards.
How did he get a ticket? Let’s just say he knows a Guy … Guy Fieri.
The Dribbler himself has two grammys. He has two grandpas, too. None of them were musically gifted and neither is The Dribbler, but he does love to listen to good music of all genres.
Childish Gambino and Kacey Musgraves were among the big winners Sunday, but so was The Dribbler, who got to meet Drake and Lady Gaga. The Dribbler hoped to run into Jay-Z again after chatting with him at the Pitt-Duke game last month, but he must have had other plans.
What did Jay-Z call his wife before they got married? Feyonce.
Balloons dropped from the ceiling at the conclusion of the show. Do you know what kind of music balloons are afraid of? Pop.
The Dribbler is back in town and his most-played song this week has been Pink’s “Get the Party Started.”
It’s playoff time!
The Dribbler went 6-1 last week to finish the regular season with a record of 52-16 (.764).
Here are his thoughts on this week’s top games:
Boys
South Side Beaver vs. Brentwood, 1 p.m. Saturday at Peters Township — If you’re looking for a “sleeper” team in Class 2A, look no further than South Side Beaver, which has won nine of its past 11 games and beat two-time defending champion Sewickley Academy. The Rams are also the only WPIAL team to win a game at famed Hoosier Gym in Indiana. It wouldn’t be a Hickory Huskers-like surprise, but look for the Rams to make a deep run. Winner: South Side Beaver.
Neshannock vs. McGuffey, 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Sewickley Academy — The Dribbler might make a trip to McCormick & Schmick’s for steak and seafood Saturday night. Of course, that’s after he watches this matchup between McCormick and Cole. Neshannock’s Jake McCormick and McGuffey’s C.J. Cole are two of the best players in Class 3A. These teams have both been playing well, so this could be one of the better opening-round games. Winner: Neshannock.
Shaler vs. McKeesport, 8 p.m. Monday at Fox Chapel — Welcome back to the playoffs, Shaler! It has been awhile since Shaler has been part of the postseason. Seven years to be exact. It reached the WPIAL semifinals and PIAA quarterfinals in 2012. Remember those Titans? It’s unlikely they will reach similar destinations this season. Still, this is a talented bunch that The Dribbler thinks has enough to get by an athletic McKeesport team. Winner: Shaler.
Canon-McMillan vs. North Allegheny, 8 p.m. Tuesday at West Allegheny — No one is talking about Canon-McMillan in Class 6A, but this is a team to keep an eye on. CanonMcMillan has won five games in a row — four against playoff teams — and is one of only three teams to beat Upper St. Clair. These aren’t the type of Big Macs that give The Dribbler indigestion. North Allegheny enters the playoffs riding a four-game winning streak. Winner: Canon-McMillan.
Girls
Laurel vs. ChartiersHouston, 6:30 p.m. Friday at Mt. Lebanon — Shout out to Laurel, which can call itself section champion for the first time in program history. Winners of 12 in a row, the Spartans have not dropped a game since Jan. 3. Chartiers-Houston played for a WPIAL title just a season ago, but was hit hard by graduation. Props to the Bucs for getting back to the playoffs, but as the No. 14 seed, advancing any further will be an uphill battle. Winner: Laurel.
McKeesport vs. Greensburg Salem, 6:30 p.m. Monday at Fox Chapel — McKeesport great Swin Cash led the WPIAL in scoring in 1998. Twenty-one years later, her alma mater opens the playoffs against the WPIAL scoring champion. Greensburg Salem’s Megan Kallock averages 24.9 points per game and has scored more than 1,800 in her career. It says here that Kallock will go for 30-plus in this game … it just won’t be enough to get the win. Winner: McKeesport.
Freeport vs. Quaker Valley, 6:30 p.m. Monday at North Allegheny —A season ago, Coletrane Washington led the Quaker Valley boys to the WPIAL final. Can sister Corinne lead the girls there this season? Washington is a talented sophomore with a bright future. Still, she and the Quakers upsetting No. 4 seed Freeport is unlikely to happen. Top seed North Catholic is the only Class 4A team to defeat the Yellowjackets this season. Winner: Freeport.
Penn-Trafford vs. Trinity, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Mt. Lebanon — Even with its star player sidelined all season, Trinity was a playoff team. Riley DeRubbo returned recently from a knee injury suffered last summer, which makes the Hillers one of the more intriguing teams in this year’s playoffs. With DeRubbo back, the Hillers might be able to make some noise. They’ll start by beating Penn-Trafford in this Class 5A first-round game. Winner: Trinity.