Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) hosted its final championship games of the 2024-25 winter season last Thursday through Saturday with the WPIAL/UPMC Sports Medicine Girls’ Basketball Championships presented by Piada Italian Street Food. Held at the Petersen Events Center on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh, the weekend saw two schools defend their titles, one join the multi-winner club, and three schools end extended droughts as Aliquippa (Class 2A), Greensburg Central Catholic (Class 3A), Oakland Catholic (Class 4A), Peters Township (Class 5A), Union (Class 1A), and Upper St. Clair (Class 6A) emerged as WPIAL champions.
Upper St. Clair was one of three schools to win its seventh WPIAL girls’ basketball title, pulling into a tie for sixth all-time. The Panthers were champions in 1973, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2003, 2008, and now 2025.
Oakland Catholic joined the seven-time champion club with a victory at Class 4A, ending a 19-year drought. The Eagles were champions in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, and now 2025.
Greensburg Central Catholic moved up in classification but defended its 2024 WPIAL girls’ basketball championship, earning its seventh overall. The Centurions were champions in 1991, 1997, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2024, and now 2025.
Aliquippa saw its 35-year wait end with a triumph at Class 2A, garnering its fifth WPIAL girls’ basketball title, which brings it into a tie for 14th all-time. The Quips were victorious in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, and now 2025.
Union completed a three-peat of WPIAL Class 1A girls’ basketball championships, and climbed into a tie for 22nd all-time with its third title.
Peters Township became the 38th different school to win multiple WPIAL girls’ basketball titles with its win at Class 5A. The Indians previously won in 2019.
The top three schools in Class 6A, top six schools in Class 1A, Class 3A, and Class 4A, top seven schools in Class 2A, and top eight schools in Class 5A have qualified for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Girls’ Basketball Championships, which begin with first round games on March 7-8 and conclude with championship games from March 27-29 at the GIANT Center in Hershey.
CLASS 6A RECAP
Second-seeded Upper St. Clair made five of its seven three-pointers in the first half to return to the WPIAL mountaintop for the first time in 17 seasons, as it defeated Section II rival and top-seeded Norwin, 45-40, for the Class 6A title in the fourth of five games this past Saturday.
Upper St. Clair (19-6, 8-2 Section II) outscored Norwin (15-8, 9-1 Section II) in the first half, 23-15, and led for nearly 30 of the game’s 32 minutes. The Knights gained a slight three-point advantage with 2:33 remaining in regulation at 40-37, only for the Panthers to finish on an eight-point run.
Senior guard Rylee Kalocay paced Upper St. Clair with 13 points, five assists, and four rebounds, while junior Ryan Prunzik provided 11 points, four caroms, three helpers, and three steals. Kalocay, Prunzik, and senior guard Meredith Huzjak converted six of the team’s seven three-pointers.
Norwin was guided offensively by junior guard Ava Christopher, who compiled 11 points and five rebounds. Senior forward Kendall Burger tallied six points and a game-high six rebounds.
Upper St. Clair reached the championship game with wins over seventh-seeded Pine-Richland (43-22) and sixth-seeded Mt. Lebanon (55-39), while Norwin defeated eighth-seeded North Allegheny (52-30) and fourth-seeded Canon-McMillan (42-26).
In the third-place consolation game, Canon-McMillan was a 36-34 winner over Mt. Lebanon to claim the final PIAA qualifier spot.
Upper St. Clair begins the PIAA Championships by hosting District III eighth-place Manheim Township, while Norwin and Canon-McMillan are on the road to District VI champion Altoona and District VIII champion Allderdice, respectively.
Upper St. Clair is the lone WPIAL school from the field to previously with a PIAA championship, doing so in 1999 at Class 4A.
CLASS 5A RECAP
Trailing 24-17 at halftime, second-seeded Peters Township put on a defensive clinic in the second half of the Class 5A championship game, holding top-seeded South Fayette to just 12 points – with only three in the fourth quarter – as it defeated the Lions, 40-36, in the third of four games last Friday.
Peters Township (23-3, 12-0 Section IV) limited South Fayette (24-2, 12-0 Section III) to 28.9 percent (13-45) shooting for the game and outrebounded the Lions, 31-24. The Indians trailed by as many as 11 points with 6:59 remaining in the third quarter before finishing the game on a 23-8 run.
Senior forward Natalie Wetzel led Peters Township with 13 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks. Freshman guard Taylor McCullough contributed nine points, five assists, and two steals, while senior center Daniela Radulovich tallied eight points, a game-high eight rebounds, and two blocks.
Lions junior guard Haylie Lamonde scored a game-high 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting and added four steals. Junior forward Juliette Leroux provided six points, a game-leading five steals, and four rebounds.
Peters Township made it to the final with victories over 15th-seeded Fox Chapel (66-58), seventh-seeded Indiana (51-32), and sixth-seeded Thomas Jefferson (46-43). Three-time reigning champion South Fayette topped 16th-seeded Greensburg Salem (57-30), ninth-seeded Baldwin (67-31), and 13th-seeded Mars (67-32) to make the championship game.
In the consolation finals, Thomas Jefferson was a 59-47 winner over Mars for third, Penn-Trafford defeated Baldwin in overtime, 70-69, for fifth, and Indiana topped Bethel Park for seventh, 50-37.
Peters Township, South Fayette, and Thomas Jefferson will begin their PIAA journeys at home, as the Indians host District III eighth-place Conrad Weiser, the Lions face District III seventh-place Lower Dauphin, and the Jaguars take on District III sixth-place Susquehannock. Mars travels to District III third-place West York, Penn-Trafford is on the road to District III runner-up Middletown, Baldwin heads to District X champion Cathedral Prep, Indiana makes the trip to District VI champion Hollidaysburg, and Bethel Park faces District III champion York Suburban.
Mars and Peters Township enter the field as former PIAA champions, with the Fightin’ Planets winning the Class 5A title in 2018 and the Indians taking home Class 6A in 2019.
CLASS 4A RECAP
With six seconds remaining, Oakland Catholic senior guard Alayla Bivins converted a driving layup to lift the second-seeded Eagles over top-seeded Blackhawk, 52-50, in the Class 4A championship game, which was the third of five games played last Saturday.
Oakland Catholic (23-3, 13-1 Section I) was outshot by Blackhawk (23-3, 12-0 Section II) by a 51.4 percent to 39.1 percent margin, but forced 15 turnovers defensively to the nine it committed. The Eagles held a 13-8 edge in points off turnovers and 9-3 difference in second chance points.
Senior forward London Creach paced Oakland Catholic in scoring with 12 points, adding six rebounds and two blocks. Sophomore guard Madi Pullen collected 11 points, three steals, and two assists, while Bivins tallied 10 points, six rebounds, two helpers, and a steal. Junior forward Josie Fontana blocked three shots to lead all players.
Cougars junior forward Aubree Hupp led all players with 20 points (8-13 FG, 4-4 FT) and eight rebounds, adding two blocks and a steal defensively. Senior guard Andrea Kinger chipped in with 10 points and five rebounds.
Oakland Catholic made it to the Petersen Events Center after defeating 15th-seeded Hampton (65-14), seventh-seeded Central Valley (66-29), and third-seeded North Catholic (57-29). Blackhawk topped 16th-seeded Yough (60-12), eighth-seeded Laurel Highlands (59-32), and fourth-seeded Elizabeth Forward (57-51) to qualify for its fourth consecutive championship game.
In the two consolation finals, North Catholic took third with a 53-48 win over Elizabeth Forward, while Laurel Highlands earned fifth with a 55-38 victory over South Park.
Oakland Catholic hosts District X fourth-place Slippery Rock to begin the PIAA Championships, while Blackhawk welcomes District X third-place Franklin and North Catholic has a home game versus District VI runner-up Penn Cambria. Elizabeth Forward, Laurel Highlands, and South Park all play road contests in the first round, with the Warriors facing District X runner-up Fairview, the Mustangs taking on District IX champion Clearfield, and the Eagles squaring off against District X champion Harbor Creek.
The WPIAL representatives in the Class 4A field have a rich PIAA history, with Blackhawk, North Catholic, Oakland Catholic, and South Park all previously winning titles. The Cougars are a five-time champion and the reigning Class 4A winner, adding 1999, 2000, 2014, and 2015 to their trophy case. The Eagles won PIAA gold four times in 1993, 2001, 2003, and 2005, and the Trojans are the league leader in PIAA titles with eight (1980, 1983, 1984, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2016). The Eagles won their lone PIAA championship in 2013.
CLASS 3A RECAP
Second-seeded Greensburg Central Catholic outscored Section II rival and top-seeded Shady Side Academy in the second half, 38-23, to emerge victorious in the Class 3A championship game, as the Centurions defeated the Bulldogs, 56-51, in the second game of three last Thursday.
Greensburg Central Catholic (21-5, 12-2 Section II) trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half before a terrific second half that saw it force 11 turnovers from Shady Side Academy (24-1, 14-0 Section II), shoot 50.0 percent (12-24) from the floor, and convert 91.7 percent (11-12) of its free-throw attempts. The Centurions owned a 21-8 advantage on points from turnovers, as well as edges in rebounds (23-16) and assists (10-4).
Junior guard Erica Gribble was the lead scorer across all 12 WPIAL championship games – boys or girls – with 31 points, scoring 24 of those in the second half. Gribble was 12-of-24 from the field and 5-of-5 at the stripe, adding a game-high five steals defensively. Classmate Jayla Peterson provided 16 points (4-10 FG, 2-4 3PT, 6-7 FT) and two steals.
Shady Side Academy converted 72.0 percent (18-25) of its field goal attempts and went 4-for-5 from three. Junior guard Karis Thomas paced the team with 24 points (8-10 FG, 8-9 FT), while senior guard Cameron Capel provided 12 points on 4-of-5 from three and a team-high eight rebounds.
Greensburg Central Catholic began its WPIAL playoff run with a win over 15th-seeded Brownsville (66-31), then defeated seventh-seeded Quaker Valley (56-47) and third-seeded Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (41-18). Shady Side Academy entered as the defending champion and returned to the Petersen Events Center with victories against eighth-seeded Riverside (55-20) and 12th-seeded Ellwood City (69-33) following a first-round bye.
Greensburg Central Catholic will host District VI third-place Cambria Heights at Southmoreland HS, Shady Side Academy takes on District IX runner-up Cranberry at Fox Chapel HS, and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart will face District X runner-up Seneca at Sewickley Academy. The remainder of the WPIAL qualifiers will open on the road – Ellwood City faces District IX champion Karns City at Moniteau HS, Avonworth travels to District X champion Northwestern, and Keystone Oaks plays District VI champion Central Cambria.
Greensburg Central Catholic is the only WPIAL qualifier to win a PIAA title previously, doing so in 1997 at Class 2A.
CLASS 2A RECAP
Second-seeded Aliquippa built a 15-point lead over top-seeded Neshannock in the second quarter of the Class 2A championship game, and withstood a furious second-half comeback as the Quips won their first WPIAL title since 1990 with a 54-51 triumph versus the Lancers in the first game of five last Saturday.
Aliquippa (21-4, 9-1 Section I) never trailed in the contest, with only 1:16 showing a deadlock between it and Section I rival Neshannock (23-3, 9-1 Section I). The Quips converted 42.0 percent (21-50) of their field goal attempts, outrebounded the Lancers, 43-33, and owned significant edges in points in the paint (38-28) and fast-break points (24-6).
Aliquippa had four players reach double-figures scoring and two with double-doubles. Senior forward Aunesty Johnson provided 17 points (8-9 FG), 11 rebounds, and two blocks, while classmate Yaree Carter had a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double with two blocks. Sophomore guard Demin Odom scored 14 points to go with five rebounds and three assists, and senior guard Carla Brown provided 13 points and four helpers.
Neshannock was led by sophomore guard Peyton Newman, who led all players with 20 points (10-21 FG) and 14 rebounds. Junior guard Jaidon Nogay added 12 points and four rebounds, and classmate Nina Medure scored 11 points (3-8 3PT) and contributed three steals. Sophomore guard Sophia Bonner dished out eight assists.
Aliquippa’s path to the Petersen Events Center included wins over 15th-seeded Carmichaels (79-6), 10th-seeded Rochester (56-25), and third-seeded Winchester Thurston (50-43). Neshannock defeated 16th-seeded Apollo-Ridge (58-18), eighth-seeded Laurel (66-40), and fourth-seeded South Side (55-50) in its playoff run.
In the consolation finals, Winchester Thurston took third with a 64-43 win over South Side, Rochester placed fifth with a 59-45 victory against Fort Cherry, and Chartiers-Houston claimed the seventh and final PIAA spot with a 60-27 triumph over Laurel.
Aliquippa and Neshannock begin their PIAA journeys at home, with the Quips hosting WPIAL seventh-place Chartiers-Houston and the Lancers taking on District V runner-up Everett. Winchester Thurston faces District IX runner-up Port Allegheny on the road, South Side travels to District X runner-up Lakeview, Rochester is on the road to District IX champion Redbank Valley, and Fort Cherry heads to District X champion Kennedy Catholic.
Aliquippa and Neshannock are both former PIAA champions. The Lancers are the more recent winner of the two, doing so in 2022 at Class 2A, while the Quips went back-to-back in 1989 and 1990.
CLASS 1A RECAP
Top-seeded Union made it three consecutive WPIAL titles in the Class 1A championship game, outscoring third-seeded Clairton in the second half, 32-21, to come away with a 51-40 victory in the first game of four played this past Friday.
Union (25-0, 14-0 Section I) and Clairton (19-5, 12-2 Section II) exchanged the lead seven times and were deadlocked twice. The Scotties rattled off a 16-0 run between the second and third quarters after the Bears had a 12-5 lead through the first stanza.
Senior guard Kylie Fruehstorfer had a team-high 12 points for Union while contributing five assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Classmate Hayden Strickler provided 10 points (3-4 FG, 4-4 FT) and seven rebounds, and another senior, Mia Preuhs, compiled five points, eight rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
Clairton senior guard Iyanna Wade led all players with 22 points and five steals, adding three assists and two rebounds. Junior guard Jamiya Childs provided 12 points, four rebounds, three steals, and two helpers, and sophomore forward Karma Fuqua pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds go with six points.
Union had a first-round bye to open the WPIAL playoffs, then defeated ninth-seeded Bishop Canevin (38-16) and fifth-seeded Aquinas Academy (47-45, OT) to return to the championship game. Clairton bested sixth-seeded Saint Joseph (71-44) and second-seeded Geibel Catholic (52-32) after a first-round bye during its playoff run.
In the consolation finals, Aquinas Academy won 65-56 over Geibel Catholic to take third, and Saint Joseph was a 56-45 victor versus Bishop Canevin to earn fifth.
Union starts the PIAA Championships by hosting District VI fourth-place Williamsburg, Clairton welcomes District VI third-place Saint Joseph’s Academy, and Aquinas Academy plays District V runner-up Fannett-Metal at Peters Township HS. Geibel Catholic, Saint Joseph, and Bishop Canevin all open on the road – the Gators play District IX runner-up Otto-Eldred, the Spartans face District X champion Farrell, and the Crusaders take on District IX champion DuBois Central Catholic.
Bishop Canevin and Union enter the field as former PIAA champions. The Scotties won the Class 1A title in 2023, while the Crusaders were Class 2A champions in 2013.
PIAA PREVIEW
Start Dates: March 7-8
Championship Dates & Location: March 27-29 at GIANT Center (Hershey, Pa.)
Total Champions from WPIAL: 50 (2 in Class 6A, 2 in Class 5A, 13 in Class 4A, 15 in Class 3A, 11 in Class 2A, 7 in Class 1A)
- Previous Champions: North Catholic (8), Blackhawk (5), Oakland Catholic (4), Mt. Lebanon (3),
Seton LaSalle (3), Vincentian Academy (3), Aliquippa (2), Hopewell (2),
Beaver Falls (1), Bishop Canevin (1), Brentwood (1), Chartiers Valley (1),
Deer Lakes (1), Franklin Regional (1), Greensburg Central Catholic (1),
Mars (1), Monessen (1), Mt. Alvernia (1), Neshannock (1), North Allegheny (1),
Penn Hills (1), Peters Township (1), Sacred Heart (1), Serra Catholic (1),
Shaler (1), South Park (1), Union (1), Upper St. Clair (1)
Last Class 6A Champion from WPIAL: North Allegheny (2021)
Last Class 5A Champion from WPIAL: Chartiers Valley (2019)
Last Class 4A Champion from WPIAL: Blackhawk (2024)
Last Class 3A Champion from WPIAL: Blackhawk (2015)
Last Class 2A Champion from WPIAL: Neshannock (2022)
Last Class 1A Champion from WPIAL: Union (2023)
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