STORYLINES ABOUND IN PIAA PLAYOFFS
There will be no WPIAL championship hangover this season.
The Dribbler made sure of it by drinking nothing but juice boxes and bottled water last weekend.
Oh, those dreaded hangovers. WPIAL championship coaches have been warning their players about them since the PIAA began crowning champions in 1920. It’s no coincidence that Prohibition began that same winter.
Bellevue was the first to suffer from that hangover, also known as the championship letdown, after beating McKeesport to win the WPIAL Class 3A title that year. One minute Bellevue felt like it was on top of the world. The next it was losing to Harrisburg Technical in the PIAA playoffs.
This particular hangover is known to run through the system quickly. In and out in 32 minutes. Feel like a champion at jump ball. Feel like a deflated ball at the final buzzer.
With the tournament field being condensed this year, Hershey chocolate and PIAA gold appear to be at arm’s length already. Not so fast! Even if a team runs out to a big lead in their first game, it could very easily just be fool’s gold.
To all of the WPIAL teams playing this weekend: Be careful!
The Dribbler went 7-5 in his WPIAL championship picks, moving him to 47-26 overall this season.
Here are his thoughts on this weekend’s PIAA quarterfinals:
Boys
Cathedral Prep at New Castle, 6:30 p.m. Friday — If only we weren’t in the middle of a pandemic and there were no restrictions on fans. This side of the state (and maybe even the entire state), New Castle might have the most passionate fans and Cathedral Prep might have the wildest student section. They met in the playoffs when Malik Hooker was at New Castle, and the scene in Erie was electric. But even at a reduced capacity, this should still be a terrific atmosphere. New Castle will have the edge in the stands and on the court. Winner: New Castle. Clearfield at Lincoln
Park, 6:30 p.m. Friday — What did the buffalo say to his kid when he dropped him off at school? Bye, son. This fantastic 4A fray pits the Clearfield Bison against the Lincoln Park Leopards. Did you know that Clearfield’s mascot is nicknamed “Benny the Bison?” Sure is. The Dribbler likes bison. He also likes that old Elton John song. B-BB-Bennie and the Jets. Well, this is Benny and the Bison, or something like that. Bedford could put a real life bison into the game, and Lincoln Park still might have a size advantage. Winner: Lincoln Park.
Berlin Brothersvalley at Bishop Canevin, 7 p.m. Friday — Oh brother. It’s Berlin Brothersvalley. The last time The Dribbler saw the Mountaineers, they ended what
Vincentian was hoping to be a storybook final season. If that game was a book, Berlin took on the role of the Big Bad Wolf. Canevin is really good. The Crusaders beat Rochester in the WPIAL final despite scoring just 10 points in the first half. They will need two really strong halves to beat Berlin, and even that might not be enough. Winner: Berlin Brothersvalley.
Girls
McDowell at North Allegheny, 6:30 p.m. Friday — Spencer Lee. Cole Spencer. Spencer Stefko. The WPIAL has had quite a few really successful Spencers in recent years. The Dribbler just doesn’t think the NA coach would have any shot on the mat wrestling either of the others. There was no wrestling going on in The Dribbler’s head as to whether or not the Tigers would win the WPIAL title. When Stefko coaches a team, they usually do. But the Tigers have never won a PIAA title. They will be two wins away after this one. Winner: North Allegheny.
Punxsutawney at Mohawk, 7 p.m. Friday — Why is it so annoying to watch TV with Punxsutawney Phil? Because he always hogs the remote. The Dribbler has always believed that Punxsutawney’s nickname should be Fightin’ Phils. It’s actually Chucks, which is cool, but it could be so much better. You can’t get any better than Punxsutawney, which is undefeated. The Dribbler might actually put some bucks on the Chucks if it wasn’t for the fact that Mohawk just knocked off mighty North Catholic. Hard to go against the Warriors here. Winner: Mohawk.
Windber at Neshannock, 6:30 p.m. Friday — Each and every time The Dribbler reads or hears the name Windber, he gets cold. Chills run down his spine. He begins to shiver. He doesn’t know which is worse, the “wind” or the “brrr?” Regardless, he would like to see Windber go into hibernation until next season. He has nothing against the school or team, it’s just the name. Spring is almost here. We need sun, not gray skies. We need gentle breezes, not wind gusts. So, Neshannock, please, pretty please, do what you have to do. Winner: Neshannock.
Warren at Chartiers Valley, Noon Saturday — Which of these four people is the city of Warren named after: business tycoon Warren Buffet, rapper Warren G, Revolutionary War general Joseph Warren, or football player Warren Moon? Obvious, right? Yes, Warren is named after Warren G, whose song “Regulate” with Nate Dogg is considered by some to be a hip hop classic. Warren is a big underdog in this one. The Colts thumped the Dragons in last year’s playoffs. A year later, it will happen again. Winner: Chartiers Valley.