WJPA Sports

We don’t need a groundhog to tell us there’s only one week left in the high school basketball season. All WPIAL teams have to complete their section games by the end of the Saturday. Then, the League’s basketball committee will meet and set the pairing for the 12 playoff brackets. There are several key match-ups on the Monday schedule, including a first-place showdown in 6A Girls as Canon-McMillan visits Norwin. The Big Macs are looking to avenge their only section loss and clinch a share of the Section 2 title. Ringgold hosts Laurel Highlands, the Rams clinching a 4A Section 3 playoff spot with a win. Wash High’s 3A Section 3 post-season hopes can take a step forward as the Little Prexies host McGuffey, the Highlanders having already clinched a berth.  On the boys side, Ringgold hosts 5A Section 3 leader Thomas Jefferson, looking to hand the Jags their first loss while improving their own playoff resume. Bentworth hosts Greensburg Central Catholic, the Bearcats trying to put some distance between themselves and the Centurions, holders of the final playoff berth out of 2A Section 1. Here’s the Monday section schedule:

Girls
6A Canon-McMillan at Norwin
5A Trinity at Albert Gallatin
5A Peters Township at Uniontown
4A Laurel Highland at Ringgold
3A McGuffey at Wash High
3A Keystone Oaks at Waynesburg
3A Charleroi at Brownsville
2A-2 Fort Cherry at Northgate
2A-2 Brentwood at Burgettstown
2A-3 Carmichaels at Chartiers-Houston
2A-3 California at Jeff-Morgan
2A-3 Bentworth at Beth-Center
1A West Greene at Serra Catholic
1A Clairton at Mapletown
1A Bishop Canevin at Avella

Boys
5A Thomas Jefferson at Ringgold
3A-3 Waynesburg at Charleroi
2A-1 Greensburg Central Catholic at Bentworth

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals hired Mike LaFleur as head coach, turning to a division rival’s offensive coordinator to try to pull the franchise out of the bottom of the NFC West. The Cardinals made the announcement on Sunday, bringing an end to the nearly four-week process. The 38-year-old Los Angeles Rams assistant replaces Jonathan Gannon, who was fired on Jan. 5 after a 15-36 record over three seasons, including 3-14 this past season. LaFleur — who is the younger brother of Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur — has been the Rams’ offensive coordinator for the past three seasons.

The Las Vegas Raiders are working toward finalizing an agreement to make Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak their head coach. That’s according to a person with knowledge of the discussions who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no contract was in place. The Raiders would not be allowed to announce a deal with Kubiak until after next Sunday’s Super Bowl between the Seahawks and New England Patriots. The 38-year-old Kubiak would be the third coach in three seasons for the Raiders and the fifth full-time leader since they moved to Las Vegas in 2020.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Justin Rose is the first wire-to-wire winner at Torrey Pines in 71 years. Rose finished with a 70 to break the tournament scoring record last set by Tiger Woods in 1999. He finished at 23-under 265. The Farmers Insurance Open has some of the best weather ever. What it didn’t have was drama. Rose started with a six-shot lead and never let anyone get any closer, winning by seven. Tommy Bolt in 1955 was the last player to win this tournament from start to finish without ties. Rose now moves to No. 3 in the world at age 45. He is not slowing.