Long time no see for those in quarters
Rare appearances for some teams
If there would be a theme for WPIAL teams in the PIAA boys basketball quarterfinals, it might be “welcome newcomers.”
Fourteen WPIAL teams have made it to the state quarterfinals in the six classifications. For a number of those teams, playing in the elite eight of the state playoffs is an uncommon occurrence. For six of the teams, they have been to the quarterfinals three or fewer times. For a few other teams, it has been about two decades since they have been this far.
So, say hello to these new guys:
• Carlynton is in the PIAA quarterfinals for only the third time. The last time was 1992, about two months after Carlynton graduate Bill Cowher was named new coach of the Steelers. That year, Cowher came to the WPIAL Class 2A championship game at Duquesne University’s Palumbo Center and watched an undefeated Carlynton team lose to Sto-Rox.
• Peters Township, which played for a WPIAL championship for only the second time, has made the PIAA quarterfinals for only the second time. The other was in 1997.
• This is only the fourth time that Deer Lakes has been in the PIAA playoffs and only the second time the Lancers have made the quarterfinals. The other was in 2019.
• This is the second consecutive year Laurel Highlands has made the quarterfinals, but only the third time in school history. The other was 1968.
• Neshannock is in the quarterfinals for only the third time. The others were 1993 and 2010.
• Uniontown used to be a perennial power, making at least the PIAA quarterfinals seven times from 1962-87. But this is the Raiders’ first quarterfinal appearance since 2002.
• This is the second consecutive season Union has made the quarterfinals. But the Scotties made the quarterfinals only three times before that.
• Imani Christian started playing in the WPIAL in only the 2012-13 season, and this is the second consecutive year the Saints made the quarterfinals.
While the aforementioned teams haven’t dipped their toes into the quarterfinal waters much, a few of them could win and have a historic season by making it to the semifinals. Of the 14 WPIAL teams in the quarterfinals, four have never made it to the semifinals.
Dynamic duos meet
One of the most anticipated PIAA quarterfinal games involving at least one WPIAL team has to be the Class 4A matchup between Lincoln Park and Laurel Highlands, which will be Friday at Norwin. The main reason for the anticipation is the star twosomes on both teams.
Lincoln Park features junior Brandin Cummings, who is a Pitt recruit, and Meleek Thomas, rated by some scouting services as one of the top 10 sophomores in the country. Meanwhile, Laurel Highlands has senior guard Rodney Gallagher, a West Virginia University football recruit who scored his 2,000th career point in the second round. His scoring partner is senior Keondre DeShields, a Saint Francis football recruit.
All four players average more than 20 points a game, and you’ll have trouble finding many PIAA quarterfinal games ever that had two WPIAL teams with two players averaging more than 20. It’s funny how the averages of the duos are so alike. Thomas averages 23.9 points and Cummings 23.3. Gallagher averages 22.3 and DeShields 22.0.
“It will be their two against our two, although we both have other guys, too,” Lincoln Park coach Mike Bariski said. “I’d like to see a game where we just get up and down, something like 120-100.”
The two teams met in December. Lincoln Park won, 70-66, as Cummings scored 23 and Thomas 20. Gallagher had 35 for Laurel Highlands and DeShields, bothered by foul trouble, had 19.
“I remember doing an interview after that game and I said we’d probably see them again at the end of the season,” Cummings said. “The first game was probably very entertaining to watch, but the stakes are a lot higher this time.”
Canes vs. Rodriguez
New Castle is in the quarterfinals for the 10th time in
the past 11 seasons. But for the Red Hurricanes to get to the semifinals for the first time since 2014, they will have to get past a strong Reading team that has one of the top players in eastern Pennsylvania.
Reading is 29-1 and has senior guard Ruben Rodriguez, who has 1,953 career points. Rodriguez has signed with Rider.
It was only six years ago that Reading defeated PineRichland for the Class 6A state title. That Reading team had Lonnie Walker, who now plays in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Check this out
• Imhotep Charter of Philadelphia is a heavy favorite to win the 5A championship. The team is ranked No. 5 in the county by MaxPreps.com and features Kentucky recruit Justin Edwards, ranked the No. 4 senior in the country by Rivals.com. Here’s proof of how strong Imhotep is: The team won its first two playoff games by scores of 85-33 and 68-32.
• While Edwards is highly touted, Gatorade announced its Pennsylvania Player of the Year this week — and it
wasn’t him. The award went to Robert Wright, a junior guard from NeumannGoretti in Philadelphia. Neumann-Goretti is one of the best teams in the Class 4A field.
• Neumann-Goretti has nine state titles since 2010. If Neumann-Goretti makes it back to the state title game, it will definitely face a WPIAL team. All four teams in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A western bracket are from the WPIAL — Uniontown, North Catholic, Lincoln Park and Laurel Highlands.
• The career of Steel Valley scoring sensation Makhai Valentine ended Wednesday with a secondround loss to Penn Cambria. Valentine, a 6-3 guard who averaged 37 points, said he will now turn his attention toward recruiting. He plans to visit South Alabama and Sam Houston State, who offered scholarships before the season. Valentine said he also might visit Boise State, which started recruiting Valentine only a few weeks ago.