WJPA Sports

Late in a back-and-forth first half, Canon-McMillan regained the lead on Seneca Valley and never gave it up as the Big Macs earned their first-ever trip to the WPIAL Basketball Finals. Madison Clair led Canon-Mac with 15 points in the win including six straight fourth-quarter fouls shot to help clinch the victory. Canon-McMillan will face Section 2 foe Norwin in Saturday’s championship game. The teams split their regular season series.  In 2A girls semifinals, Chartiers-Houston fell to Winchester Thurston and will play for third place. The Bucs erased a 10-point deficit in the third, but couldn’t hold the lead.

Wednesday, Burgettstown girls host Laurel Wednesday with a PIAA 2A playoff spot going to the winner. We’ll have the game on WJPA-AM (1450) and online, and we’ll produce the NFHS video as well Throughout the WPIAL playoffs, our audio coverage is available free on-air and online. Video coverage for WPIAL/PIAA playoff games is accessible through the NFHS Network. Here’s a daily schedule of games for Washington/Greene County teams. WPIAL Brackets

Washington / Greene PIAA Qualifiers
GIRLS:  Canon-McMillan (6A), Chartiers-Houston (2A), Fort Cherry (2A), Peters Township (5A), Trinity (5A)
BOYS: Ringgold (5A), Jeff-Morgan (2A)
ALIVE: Burgettstown girls (2A)

Tuesday, Feb. 24
Semifinals
6A Girls #1 Canon-McMillan > #5 Seneca Valley, 47-42  Watch/Listen
2A Girls #2 Winchester Thurston > #3 Chartiers-Houston, 51-36 Listen
5A Boys #3 Thomas Jefferson > #10 Hampton, 61-48 Watch/Listen

Consolation Round 2
3rd Place 5A Girls Penn-Trafford > Peters Township, 54-51 (both have qualified for PIAA)
7th Place 5A Girls Trinity > Fox Chapel, 68-45 (both have qualified for PIAA)

Wednesday, Feb. 25
Consolation Round 2
2A Girls 7th Place #9 Laurel at #7 Burgettstown, 6:45 pm, WJPA-AM (1450) Watch/Listen (winner clinches PIAA berth, loser is eliminated)
2A Girls 5th Place #6 Aliquippa at #4 Fort Cherry, 7 pm (both have clinched PIAA berths)
5A Boys 7th Place #15 Ringgold at #9 Shaler, 7 pm (both have clnched PIAA berths)
2A Boys 5th Place #9 Eden Christian at #6 Jeff-Morgan,  7 pm (both have clinched PIAA berths)

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Pirates top prospect Konnor Griffin produced his first two big swings of spring training in a 16-7 win over the Boston Red Sox. The 19-year-old shortstop went deep twice on Tuesday. Griffin hit a two-run shot off new Red Sox pitcher Ranger Suarez in the second inning. He went deep again in the fourth with a 440-foot blast off Seth Martinez. Griffin, considered the top prospect in baseball, could have a shot at making the Pirates’ opening day roster.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Penguins have traded defenseman Brett Kulak to the Colorado Avalanche in return for defenseman Samuel Girard and a second-round pick in the 2028 draft. The deal marks the second time Kulak has been traded this season. Pittsburgh initially picked him up last fall in the trade that sent Tristan Jarry to Edmonton. Kulak has one goal and eight assists in 56 combined games. The 27-year-old Girard has three goals and nine assists this season for the Avalanche.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tiger Woods has a few big decisions facing him next month. Getting most of the attention is whether he will play in the Masters. But he also is facing what has been described to The Associated Press as a soft deadline to be Ryder Cup captain. He’s the top choice. But the PGA of America is hopeful of getting an answer sooner rather than later so it doesn’t wait to long like it did last time. Key to these decisions is what occupies most of Woods’ time. He’s the chief architect in the biggest overhaul of the PGA Tour schedule.