By: Don Rebel

Wednesday, March 15, 2023 | 12:33 AM

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Evaluation

Central Catholic’s Randy Wilkerson celebrates soon after scoring against New Castle for the duration of the WPIAL Class 6A championship game March four at Petersen Events Center.

The Road to Hershey continues Wednesday with additional PIAA second-round basketball action.

Class 6A district champions collide at Central Cambria as WPIAL winner Central Catholic (17-9) goes up against District six champ State College (24-two) at six p.m.

The Small Lions have won ten consecutive games considering that losing to District three energy Harrisburg on Jan. 20. Their only other loss was to Erie McDowell in mid-December.

In the opening round, State College crushed Upper St. Clair, 72-42. Senior Braeden Shrewsberry had 20 points for the Small Lions, who outscored the Panthers 46-17 in the second and third quarters combined.

The other 6A second-round game involving a District 7 group pits WPIAL runner-up New Castle (23-three) against Downingtown West (20-7) from District 1 at Bald Eagle at five:30 p.m.

Defending champs face great Knights

Two-time defending state champion Our Lady of the Sacred Heart necessary overtime to beat Westmont-Hilltop in the opening round of the PIAA 3A playoffs. Now the Chargers face the challenge of the District ten champions.

Franklin has won 17 consecutive games and hasn’t lost considering that December. The Knights jumped out to a 23-point halftime lead and cruised previous Shady Side Academy in the initially round, 75-43.

In Round 1, the Chargers beat the Hilltoppers, 71-69, behind 16 points each and every from seniors Bryson Kirschner and Rocco Coladonato.

The final time OLSH lost a PIAA playoff game was March 19, 2019 when it fell to Bishop Guilfoyle in the Class 2A semifinals, 62-61.

Right here are the other 3 3A boys second round games Wednesday involving WPIAL teams:

• Brookville (23-two) vs. Neshannock (19-7) at Clarion University at 7:30 p.m.

• Loyalsock Township (16-11) vs. Deer Lakes (18-eight) at Altoona at 7 p.m.

• Steel Valley (16-ten) vs. Penn Cambria (22-five) at North Allegheny at 7:30 p.m.

Rough start out for champions

5 district champions from the western side of the state took to the court Saturday best open up the PIAA Class 2A boys basketball playoffs.

Only two have been winners.

On a rough day to be a best seed out of a district, only WPIAL champion Aliquippa and District ten winner Erie Initial Christian survived to the second round. The Quips crushed Karns City by 32 points though the Eagles beat Clairton by 20 points.

Conemaugh Township (District five), United (D-six) and Clarion-Limestone (D-9) all lost to WPIAL teams.

Eden Christian Academy beat Conemaugh Township by eight, Serra Catholic shocked United by 13 points and Bishop Canevin eliminated Clairion-Limstone by 3 points.

Right here is the lineup for 2A boys second-round games Wednesday involving WPIAL teams:

• Serra Catholic (16-11) vs. Otto-Eldred (24-two) at DuBois at five:30 p.m.

• Northgate (20-7) vs. Erie Initial Christian (15-ten) at Sharon at six p.m.

• Bishop Canevin (21-six) vs. Mercer (21-five) at Hampton at 7 p.m.

• West Branch (20-eight) vs. Aliquippa (21-six) at Armstrong at six p.m.

• Eden Christian Academy (20-six) vs. Lancaster Mennonite (17-eight) at Hollidaysburg at six p.m.

Third time a charm?

They met twice in the frequent season as Section three-5A rivals and McKeesport beat Penn-Trafford each instances by 24 and 15 points.

Now their paths will cross once more in the PIAA playoffs as the Tigers battle the Warriors once more, this time on the neutral floor at Norwin at 7:30 p.m.

Each teams have been impressive on their Road to Hershey debuts Saturday.

McKeesport (22-five) trailed early but outscored Northern York 35-15 in the second half to win, 54-40. Junior Rachel Manfredo had a game higher 19 points for the Tigers.

Penn-Trafford (18-9) raised some eyebrows when it traveled to District three champion Greencastle-Antrim and handed the Blue Devils only their third loss in 26 games. Lilly Palladino scored 12 points and Lauren Marton added 11 points as the Warriors prevailed, 40-39.

Right here are the other 3 5A girls second-round games Wednesday involving WPIAL teams.

• South Fayette (25-two) vs. Mechanicsburg (20-7) at Altoona at five:30 p.m.

• Mars (18-eight) vs. Cathedral Prep (22-1) at Sharon at 7:30 p.m.

• Hollidaysburg (24-) vs. Oakland Catholic (23-four) at Armstrong at 7:30 p.m.

2022 WPIAL championship rematch

A postseason rivalry continues Wednesday in Class 4A girls basketball as Blackhawk requires on Knoch for a third straight year in the playoffs.

In 2021, Blackhawk defeated Knoch in the WPIAL quarterfinals, 51-45.

Final winter, the Cougars and Knights met once more, this time in the 2022 WPIAL 4A championship game. Blackhawk won once more, 55-35.

Now the two teams collide in the PIAA playoffs.

Each teams have been impressive on defense in the initially round, each and every limiting their opponent to single-digit points in 3 of the 4 quarters.

Blackhawk defeated Warren, 51-32, though Knoch stunned Punxsutawney, 53-44.

The game Wednesday is at Hampton at five:30 p.m.

The only other 4A girls game involving a district group has WPIAL champion North Catholic facing Harbor Creek at Westminster College at six p.m.

Only two

The 2023 WPIAL Class A girls basketball finalists are the only two District 7 teams to survive the PIAA opening round.

WPIAL champion Union opened the state playoffs with a dominant win more than Clarion, 47-9.

The Scotties face an additional District 9 group in Elk County Catholic on Wednesday at Clarion University at six p.m.

WPIAL runner-up Aquinas Academy was impressive as effectively, defeating Juniata Valley, 59-45 on Saturday.

The Crusaders face Berlin-Brothersvalley at Norwin at six p.m.

Pens Cup A semifinals

Final year, Norwin defeated Westmont-Hilltop, Fox Chapel and Erie McDowell to win the PIHL Penguins Cup A championship.

It was the Knights’ initially higher college hockey title.

Now they face the very same group they beat in the semifinals a year ago in Fox Chapel in the initially of two Class A final 4 games Wednesday at the RMU Island Sports Center on Neville Island.

There are a lot of new faces vying for the Single-A cup this year as the other 3 semifinalists have under no circumstances won a PIHL Penguins Cup championship.

Right here are the two semifinals games, each of which can be viewed right here on Trib HSSN.

• Fox Chapel (19-two-) vs. Norwin (17-four-1) at RMU Island Sports Center on Neville Island at 7 p.m.

• Greensburg Salem (18-three-) vs. Kiski Region (17-five-) at RMU Island Sports Center on Neville Island at 9 p.m.

Going state splashing

Wednesday marks the initially of 4 days of the 2023 PIAA swimming and diving championships at Bucknell University.

The initially day will consist of six preliminary races beginning at eight:ten a.m. for the 2A girls and ten:45 a.m. for the 2A boys.

The consolations and finals in these events will take spot at three:25 p.m. for the girls and six:05 p.m. for the boys.

The girls 2A diving championships are scheduled for 12:35 p.m.