The PIAA Basketball playoffs opened Friday night with wins by Canon-McMillan girls and Peters Township boys. The Chartiers-Houston and Fort Cherry girls found the end of the road with opening-round losses. Action continues Saturday afternoon with Peters Township girls and Chartiers-Houston boys in first round match-up. We’ll have the Peters Township/Conrad Weister game on WJPA-FM and online. The PIAA finals are set for the Giant Center, March 27-29. Click for PIAA Brackets
Saturday, March 8
5A Girls Peters Township 58, Conrad Weiser 25
2A Boys Lakeview 49, Chartiers-Houston 45
Natalie Wetzel had game honors with 16 points, 10 of them in a decisive second quarter, as Peters Township rolled past Conrad Weiser. Leading just 9-5, the host Indians scored 21 points in the first 4:07 of the second quarter and never looked back. Ninety seconds into the third period, PT had triggered the running clock. Bri Morreale had 11 points, Jordyn Welsh add 10 for the winners.
First Round
Friday, March 7
5A Boys Peters Township 64, Spring Grove 54
6A Girls Canon-McMillan 48, Allderdice 44
2A Girls Aliquippa 56, Chartiers-Houston 42
2A Girls Kennedy Catholic 75, Fort Cherry 49
Three Peters Township boys scored in double figures as the WPIAL runners-up knocked off Spring Grove to advance to the second round. Nick McCullough led the way with 19 points. Dylan Donovan added 17. Jake Wetzel scored a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds.
Canon-McMillan girls nearly lost all of a late 9-point lead but held off Allderdice, setting up a third meeting with Section 2 foe, and WPIAL champion, Upper St. Clair. Madison Clair led the Big Macs with 23 points including a lay-up off a steal in the game’s final 13 seconds.
WPIAL 2A girls champion Aliquippa nearly doubled up Chartiers-Houston in the first half, leading the Bucs 28-15 at the break. The Quips were able to maintain that arms-length lead to advance. Alli Wingard led CHHS with 17 points.
Brooke Cornali had 26 points for Fort Cherry girls, Olivia Kemp added 11 more, but it wasn’t nearly enough for the Rangers against District 10 champion Kennedy Catholic. The hosts led 67-30 at the half.