February 7, 2025 1:01 am
A total of 21 high school basketball teams from Washington & Greene Counties will be in the playoff brackets come Monday afternoon. With one night left in the section schedules for boys teams in the area, playoff positioning is all that’s left to be decided. Ten boys teams, 11 on the girls side, have playoff invitations secured. Chartiers-Houston boys & girls, Fort Cherry & Peters Township girls teams will all enter the tournaments as section champions. On the other end of the spectrum, Carmichaels girls forced their way in with a final-seconds game-winning basket to tie for the 4th and final spot in 2A Section 3. The WPIAL Basketball Committee will release the brackets for all 12 tournaments Monday afternoon. As soon as they’re available, we’ll post the brackets and opening-round match-ups for the 21 teams in the two-county area.
Boys playoff status
Clinched (10): 5A Peters Township, 3A Charleroi, 3A McGuffey, 3A Waynesburg, 2A Bentworth, 2A Beth-Center, 2A Chartiers-Houston, 2A Fort Cherry, 2A Jeff-Morgan, 2A West Greene
Eliminated: 6A Canon-McMillan, 5A Ringgold, 5A Trinity, 3A Wash High, 2A Burgettstown, 2A California, 2A Carmichaels, 2A Mapletown, 1A Avella
Girls playoff status
Clinched (11): 6A Canon-McMillan, 5A Peters Township, 3A McGuffey, 2A Bentworth, 2A Beth-Center, 2A Burgettstown, 2A California, 2A Chartiers-Houston, 2A Fort Cherry, 2A Carmichaels, 1A West Greene
Eliminated: 5A Trinity, 4A Ringgold, 3A Charleroi, 3A Wash High, 3A Waynesburg, 2A Jeff-Morgan, 1A Avella, 1A Mapletown
Friday, Feb. 5 Girls
5A Peters Township 44, Bethel Park 40–Indians 12-0 in Section 4
2A Chartiers-Houston 50, Jeff-Morgan 10–Bucs 10-0 in Section 3
Boys
6A Canon-McMillan 61, Connellsville 59
5A Peters Township 54, Bethel Park 42–Indians share 2nd place in Section 3
5A Ringgold 68, Trinity 67–Rams first section win of season
3A McGuffey 59, Wash High 36
3A Ligonier Valley 65, Charleroi 48
3A Waynesburg 70, Mt. Pleasant 60–Raiders share 2nd in Section 4
2A Bentworth 58, Frazier 44
2A Riverview 65, California 28
2A Chartiers-Houston 49, Jeff-Morgan 36–Bucs win Section 3 by 3 games over Fort Cherry, Jeff-Morgan & West Greene
2A West Greene 64, Beth-Center 39–Pioneers share 2nd in Section 3
2A Fort Cherry 73, Carmichaels 32–Rangers share 2nd in Section 3
2A Burgettstown 71, Mapletown 47
1A Avella 59, Beaver County Christian 40–Eagles miss playoffs by one game
Saturday, Feb. 6 Boys
2A Jeannette 71, Bentworth 25
February 7, 2025 4:28 am
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Antonio Gates, Jared Allen, Eric Allen and Sterling Sharpe have been voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the smallest induction class in 20 years following offseason rule changes meant to make it harder to get inducted. Sharpe got in as a seniors candidate and will join younger brother Shannon as the first siblings ever inducted into the Hall. Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning fell short and won’t join older brother Peyton in Canton. The induction ceremony will be held Aug. 2.
February 7, 2025 4:26 am
Josh Allen beat out two-time winner Lamar Jackson for the Most Valuable Player award in the closest race since Matt Ryan beat out Tom Brady in 2016. Allen, who led Buffalo to a fifth straight AFC East title, got 27 first-place votes to Jackson’s 23 and finished with 383 points. He received 22 second-place votes and one third. Jackson, who led the Ravens to a second straight AFC North championship, got 26 second-place votes and one fourth for a total of 362 points.
February 7, 2025 5:45 am
The NCAA has changed its participation policy for transgender athletes, limiting competition in women’s sports to athletes assigned female at birth. The change came on day after President Donald Trump signed an executive order intended to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports. The NCAA’s revised policy permits athletes assigned male at birth to practice with women’s teams and receive benefits such as medical care while practicing. The policy is effective immediately and applies to all athletes regardless of previous eligibility reviews.
February 6, 2025 2:30 am
Carmichaels girls scored a basket with six seconds to play to top Jeff-Morgan and clinch a 2A playoff spot, the 11th earned by teams in Washington/Greene Counties. Ten boys teams from the two-county have also qualified. The WPIAL playoff brackets will be announced Monday afternoon.
Boys playoff status
Clinched (10): 5A Peters Township, 3A Charleroi, 3A McGuffey, 3A Waynesburg, 2A Bentworth, 2A Beth-Center, 2A Chartiers-Houston, 2A Fort Cherry, 2A Jeff-Morgan, 2A West Greene
Eliminated: 6A Canon-McMillan, 5A Ringgold, 5A Trinity, 3A Wash High, 2A Burgettstown, 2A California, 2A Carmichaels, 2A Mapletown, 1A Avella
Girls playoff status
Clinched (11): 6A Canon-McMillan, 5A Peters Township, 3A McGuffey, 2A Bentworth, 2A Beth-Center, 2A Burgettstown, 2A California, 2A Chartiers-Houston, 2A Fort Cherry, 2A Carmichaels, 1A West Greene
Eliminated: 5A Trinity, 4A Ringgold, 3A Charleroi, 3A Wash High, 3A Waynesburg, 2A Jeff-Morgan, 1A Avella, 1A Mapletown
Thursday, Feb. 6, Girls
6A Canon-McMillan 62, Connellsville 32
5A Trinity 51, Uniontown 25
4A Mt. Pleasant 35, Ringgold 29
3A Keystone Oaks 44, Wash High 29–Little Prexies eliminated
3A Seton-La Salle 60, McGuffey 28
3A Waynesburg 44, Charleroi 26
2A South Side Beaver 45, Fort Cherry 44
2A Burgettstown 54, Carlynton 18
2A California 56, Beth-Center 47
2A Carmichaels 34, Jeff-Morgan 33–Mikes clinch playoff spot
1A West Greene 55, Avella 53 OT–Eagles eliminated
1A Bishop Canevin 57, Mapletown 20
Wednesday, Feb. 5, Girls
4A Belle Vernon 45, Ringgold 19
2A Chartiers-Houston 57, Bentworth 14
1A West Greene 43, Bishop Canevin 41
Boys
2A Fort Cherry 73, Mapletown 12
February 7, 2025 4:30 am
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — The former interpreter for Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani has been sentenced to four years and nine months in prison. Ippei Mizuhara pleaded guilty last year to bank and tax fraud. He was accused of stealing nearly $17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player’s bank account to cover his gambling bets and debts. Mizuhara was supposed to bridge the gap between Ohtani and his English-speaking teammates and fans. Prosecutors said Mizuhara never bet on baseball, and Ohtani was an unknowing victim of the scheme. The case stemmed from a broader probe of illegal sports bookmaking organizations in Southern California.
February 6, 2025 10:45 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to terms with veteran outfielder Tommy Pham on a one-year deal worth $4.025 million. The deal is pending Pham, who turns 37 next month, passing a physical. The signing is the most notable free agent acquisition by the Pirates, who have been relatively quiet during the offseason. Pittsburgh re-signed designated hitter Andrew McCutchen in December and signed second baseman/outfielder Adam Frazier in late January. The well-traveled Pham gives the Pirates another potential option to join Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz in the outfield. Pittsburgh is Pham’s 10th stop during his 11-year career.
February 6, 2025 4:36 am
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby did not participate in the team’s practice at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex Wednesday and is being evaluated for an unspecified upper-body injury. Coach Mike Sullivan said “I don’t have any more specifics.” Crosby missed roughly half of the third period in the Penguins’ 3-2 shootout loss to New Jersey at PPG Paints Arena Tuesday evening after being involved in a multi-player collision. The Penguins visit the Rangers Friday night and the Flyers on Saturday before the two-week break for the Four Nations Faceoff.
February 6, 2025 4:28 am
NEW YORK (AP) — A person familiar with the deal tells The Associated Press that first baseman Pete Alonso is staying with the New York Mets, agreeing to a $54 million, two-year contract. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a successful physical. Alonso gets a $10 million signing bonus and gets salaries of $20 million this year and $24 million in 2026. He can opt out after the 2025 season to become a free agent again. New York also offered a $71 million, three-year deal with salaries of $27 million in 2025 and $22 million in each of the following two seasons, with the ability to opt out after each of the first two years, the person said.
February 4, 2025 12:01 am
Bentworth, Beth-Center, Charleroi and McGuffey boys teams clinched WPIAL playoff spots with wins Tuesday night. Avella, Carmichaels, Trinity and Wash High boys teams playoff hopes ended with losses. All boys playoff races in Washington/Greene Counties are now settled. Avella, Carmichaels and Wash High girls are still alive for post-season invitations. Chartiers-Houston boys and Peters Township girls claim outright section titles Tuesday night.
Playoff chase:
Girls clinched–Canon-McMillan (6A), Peters Township (5A), McGuffey (3A), Bentworth (2A), Beth-Center (2A), Burgettstown (2A), California (2A), Chartiers-Houston (2A), Fort Cherry (2A), West Greene (1A)
Girls eliminated: Trinity (5A), Ringgold (4A), Charleroi (3A), Waynesburg (3A), Jeff-Morgan (2A), Mapletown (1A)
Boys clinched–Peters Township (5A), Charleroi (3A), McGuffey (3A), Waynesburg (3A), Bentworth (2A), Beth-Center (2A), Chartiers-Houston (2A), Fort Cherry (2A), Jeff-Morgan (2A), West Greene (2A)
Boys eliminated: Canon-McMillan (6A), Ringgold (5A), Trinity (5A), Wash High (3A), Burgettstown (2A), California (2A), Carmichaels (2A), Mapletown (2A), Avella (1A)
Tuesday, Feb. 3, Girls
6A Norwin 32, Canon-McMillan 30
5A Peters Township 63, Uniontown 19–Indians win outright section title
Boys
6A Norwin 55, Canon-McMillan 51
5A Peters Township77, Ringgold 45
5A South Fayette 53, Trinity 34–Hillers eliminated from playoff race
3A McGuffey 63, Sto-Rox 42–Highlanders clinch playoff berth
3A Carlynton 61, Wash High 48–Little Prexies eliminated
3A Charleroi 54, Brownsville 29–Cougars clinch playoff berth
3A Ligonier Valley 47, Waynesburg 39
2A Bentworth 74, California 57–Bearcats clinch playoff berth
2A Beth-Center 50, Burgettstown 40–Bulldogs clinch playoff berth
2A Fort Cherry 62, West Greene 61
2A Chartiers-Houston 79, Mapletown 18–Bucs win outright section title
2A Jeff-Morgan 51, Carmichaels 28–Mikes eliminated
1A Aquinas Academy 82, Avella 57–Eagles eliminated
Monday, Feb. 3, Girls
5A Peters Township 58, Thomas Jefferson 49–Peters clinches share of section title
5A Trinity 61, Albert Gallatin 36
4A Laurel Highland 73, Ringgold 25
3A Brownsville 59, Charleroi 24
3A McGuffey 48, Wash High 40
3A Keystone Oaks 54, Waynesburg 24–Waynesburg eliminated from playoff race
2A Brentwood 41, Burgettstown 30–despite loss, Burgettstown clinches playoff spot
2A Fort Cherry 74, Northgate 12–Fort Cherry clinches share of section title
2A Beth-Center 45, Bentworth 28–despite loss, Bentworth clinches playoff spot
2A California 54, Jeff-Morgan 26
2A Chartiers-Houston 59, Carmichaels 20–CHHS clinches share of section title
1A Avella 45, Bishop Canevin 39
1A West Greene 67, Serra Catholic 61 OT
1A Clairton 74, Mapletown 24
Boys
5A Thomas Jefferson 73, Ringgold 59
2A Springdale 80, California 54
