What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Dec. 11, 2024: Girls basketball powers to clash | Trib HSSN

By: Don Rebel


Wednesday, December 11, 2024 | 12:34 AM

We hit midweek with a highly anticipated WPIAL girls basketball section opener between two schools that have combined for nearly 30 district championships.

North Catholic has won, by far, the most WPIAL girls hoops titles with 23, including one in each of the last three seasons.

Oakland Catholic has won six crowns, which is tied for the fifth-most in district girls basketball history.

The two powers have played each other often in nonsection games in recent years, but for the first time, they square off in a section clash.

With Oakland Catholic dropping to Class 4A over the next two-year cycle, the Eagles and Trojans will lock horns twice this season in Section 1-4A.

The first contest has Oakland Catholic visiting North Catholic at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

With new head coach, Henry Schechter, at the helm, the Eagles are 1-1 with a victory over District 12 Imhotep Charter and a loss to District 3 York Suburban in the Play 4 Mae Tournament at Woodland Hills.

The young Trojans are in search of their first victory of the season following losses to Greensburg Central Catholic and Mt. Lebanon in the North Allegheny Tipoff Tournament.

Still hope in the valley

Thirty-five years ago, the Steel Valley girls basketball team defeated North Catholic to win the 1990 WPIAL Class 3A championship, the program’s first and only title, 58-41.

Three and a half decades later, they are just searching for a victory.

The Ironmen have lost 27 consecutive games going back to the 2023 season. That includes an 0-22 campaign last winter and a 0-3 start this season with only 42 points combined in the three losses.

On Wednesday, Steel Valley travels to Beaver County to face Central Valley. The Warriors enter the nonsection contest with a mark of 1-1 overall.

Perhaps the girls team will be inspired by the boys Ironmen squad.

The Steel Valley boys just ended their own 27-game losing skid over three seasons Monday when they won at Waynesburg in overtime, 62-60.

The Ironmen will be hard-pressed to make it two in a row, though, as they host Jeannette on Wednesday.

The Jayhawks are off to a 3-0 start this season, including a victory over the Ironmen in the Jeannette Tipoff Tournament, 75-29.

Boys wrestling section openers

While defending WPIAL boys team wrestling champions Connellsville in 3A and Burrell in 2A will wait to open up their section duels schedule, most others who are part of a five-team section open up Wednesday.

Class 3A will have matches in Section 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9.

Class 2A has matches schedules in Sections 2, 3, 4, 7 and 9.

The only three 3A matches involving playoff teams from last season include semifinalist Bethel Park hosting Peters Township in Section 3 and Hampton visiting Fox Chapel and Kiski Area at Indiana in Section 5.

Both the Talbots and Little Indians were a 2A playoff teams last season.

Speaking of that classification, the only 2A match pitting playoff teams from a year ago is Frazier at Bentworth in Section 3.