February 6, 2020 3:45 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi has no plans to head back to Michigan State. Narduzzi dismissed speculation he is interested in coaching the Spartans following longtime Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio’s retirement. Narduzzi spent eight years as an assistant under Dantonio before taking over at Pitt in December 2014. Narduzzi says taking himself out of the running to be Dantonio’s successor wasn’t easy but he believes the Panthers are heading in the right direction. Narduzzi is 36-29 in five seasons at Pitt. The Panthers went 8-5 in 2019, finishing with the program’s first bowl win since 2013.
February 5, 2020 2:43 am
Chartiers-Houston boys basketball team beat Bentworth, keeping the Bucs’ playoff hopes alive heading into the final night of the regular season. To make the playoffs, CHHS (4-7) has to win against Carmichaels (2-9) and winless Bentworth must beat California (5-6).
Trinity lost to West Allegheny for the second time this year, keeping the Hillers from clinching a playoff berth. Now, the Hillers (7-6) travel to South Fayette (8-5) needing to win to make the playoffs. West Allegheny (7-6) hosts section champion Chartiers Valley (12-1) while Montour (6-7) hosts Montour.
McGuffey topped Charleroi Tuesday night, keeping the Cougars from clinching a share of the championship. McGuffey (8-3) hosts Washington (9-1) Thursday night, one day after the Little Prexies host Southmoreland. Charleroi (10-2) has finished section play and needs help from McGuffey and/or Southmoreland now to share the section crown.
CHHS and Trinity are trying to join six other Washington County boys teams in the WPIAL playoffs: California, Charleroi, McGuffey, Peters Township, Ringgold and Wash High. West Greene has also qualified for the boys playoffs that will be announced next Tuesday night. we’ll have the WPIAL Playoff Pairing Show on WJPA-AM (1450).
February 4, 2020 3:44 am
UNDATED (AP) – Officially, the Super Bowl partying in Kansas City will continue on Wednesday, with a downtown parade for the Chiefs. A parade through downtown is set for 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, followed by a rally at Union Station. Several schools in the area canceled Wednesday’s classes, and the Kansas Legislature canceled that day’s session. Officials announced the celebration Sunday night, shortly after the Chiefs defeated San Francisco 31-20.
February 3, 2020 2:07 am
MIAMI (AP) — He grew his hair so long, it flowed out of his helmet and obscured the name on the back of his jersey. Didn’t matter. Everyone knew where to find Troy Polamalu on Sundays. The Steelers great earned a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame along with another hard-hitting safety, Steve Atwater of Denver. Also voted in Saturday were receiver Isaac Bruce, running back Edgerrin James and guard Steve Hutchinson. Polamalu said he went six or seven years, maybe longer, without cutting his hair during the prime of a career that lasted from 2003-14. But as much as for the hair, he earned the nickname “Tasmanian Devil” for how he changed the way people thought about the safety position. Compact and fleet of foot at 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, Polamalu bolted around the field, and made plays from practically anywhere. No quarterback, runner or receiver was safe. Selected in his first year of eligibility, Polamalu was a four-time All-Pro, was voted to eight Pro Bowls and finished with two Super Bowl rings in three trips.
January 31, 2020 3:44 pm
Due to a maintenance issue at Washington High School, the Little Prexies’ boys basketball game against Southmoreland tonight has been postponed. The game has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 5 at Wash High–JV at 6:00 pm, Varsity at 7:30 pm with Senior Recognition ceremonies before the varsity game.
January 31, 2020 3:49 am
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) – Wyndham Clark beat darkness – and everyone else Thursday at TPC Scottsdale. Playing in the second-to-last group off the 10th tee, Clark shot a career-best 10-under 61 to take the first-round lead in the Waste Management Phoenix Open. He had eight birdies in a 10-hole stretch from No. 12 to No. 3, added two more on Nos. 7 and 8 and putted out for par on No. 9 just after sunset. Clark was a stroke off the course record of 60 set by Grant Waite in 1996 and matched by Mark Calcavecchia in 2001 and Phil Mickelson in 2005 and 2013. Billy Horschel was second, holing nearly 200 feet of putts in an afternoon 63. Horschel had an eagle and six birdies. J.B. Holmes was another stroke back after a roller-coaster start, highlighted by a hole-in-one.
January 31, 2020 3:44 am
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) – Josh Williams had 21 points as Robert Morris defeated Bryant 64-54. Williams hit 5 of 6 3-pointers. AJ Bramah had 14 points and 16 rebounds for Robert Morris (11-11, 7-2 Northeast Conference). Dante Treacy added 10 points. Jon Williams had six assists. The Bulldogs’ 28.8 field goal percentage represented the worst mark by a Robert Morris opponent this season. Michael Green III had 12 points for the Bulldogs (10-11, 2-6).
January 29, 2020 3:39 am
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) – Vernon Carey Jr. scored 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as No. 9 Duke beat Pittsburgh 79-67 on a night when both teams honored Kobe Bryant during a pregame ceremony at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The somber opening gave way to a testy battle on the court that included an eruption by Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski – in the direction of his own fans. The Hall of Fame coach was angered by the Cameron Crazies directing a playful chant at Pittsburgh coach Jeff Capel. Krzyzewski came across the court to scold the fans for chanting at the opposing coach.
January 29, 2020 2:51 am
With just three play dates remaining in the regular season, the number of open playoff spots is dwindling quickly. The top four teams in each of the WPIAL’s 17 sections qualify for post-season play, plus unbreakable ties for the final spots. Section play is scheduled to end on Feb. 7 with the Basketball Steering Committee meeting on Feb. 10. The brackets will be released by the League the following night.
Class 6A–defending WPIAL/PIAA champion Peters Township is still alive, but barely. At the moment, the Indians are three games back of the final spot with three games to play. Peters Township must win out, Baldwin lose out and Connellsville must lose at least once. Canon-McMillan is already eliminated.
Class 5A–Trinity has clinched a playoff spot and can wrap up second place in Section 1 with a win Thursday at Moon.
Class 4A–Ringgold (2-9) cannot reach the playoffs.
Class 3A–Charleroi (7-4), Brownsville (6-5) and Beth-Center (4-6) are all alive for the final two spots in Section 2. McGuffey, Washington and Waynesburg have been eliminated.
Class 2A–Burgettstown (7-2) and Chartiers-Houston (7-2) have clinched playoff berths and will meet Monday at Burgettstown, likely with second place on the line. Fort Cherry (4-6) is tied with Frazier and is still alive for the fourth spot but the Rangers lost both regular season meetings with the Commodores. FC plays Bishop Canevin (10-0) and Burgettstown while Frazier takes on Carmichaels (1-8) and Bentworth (0-9). If the teams finished tied, Frazer is in, Fort Cherry out. Camichaels and Bentworth have been eliminated.
Class 1A–West Greene, Avella and Monessen have clinched playoff spots. California (5-5), Jeff-Morgan (3-6) and Mapletown (1-7) are still alive for the fourth spot in Section 2. The Trojans will take the final spot unless they lose both remaining games (Monessen, Jeff-Morgan). Even with that, if the Rockets don’t also beat Avella and Monessen, California would qualify. Mapletown’s road is long and complicated and anything shy of winning four straight plus lots of help above them will eliminate the Maples.
January 28, 2020 9:44 am
The Frontier League All Star game is coming back to Washington. The league announced Monday that the game will be played July 15 at Wild Things Park. The All Star week celebration will begin July 13. Commissioner Bill Lee says that “given the addition of new teams, it becomes imperative that the premier event of the league be first class. We selected Washington, PA and the Washington Wild Things because we know, from experience, they will create an extraordinary event.” It will the third time that Washington has hosted the event but will be the first following the league’s merger with the Can-Am League. The Frontier League now includes teams from Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Ontario and Quebec.
