By: Don Insurgent
Friday, March 17, 2023 | 11:54 PM
Andrew Palla | For the Tribune-Assessment
New Fort’s Jonathan Anderson (12) scores throughout a PIAA playoff sport towards Erie on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at New Fort Excessive College.
Two state boys basketball powers will collide for the primary time within the PIAA postseason Saturday afternoon when New Fort takes on District 3 champion Studying.
The Purple Hurricane are in search of their fiftieth all-time state playoff victory (49-24) once they meet the Purple Knights at Altoona at 2 p.m.
With all their wins, New Fort solely has one PIAA match victory towards a District 3 opponent.
That got here final yr when the ‘Canes defeated Northeastern York within the first spherical, 63-50.
New Fort had been 0-2 towards D-3 groups within the postseason earlier than that win.
They misplaced to Harrisburg within the 1998 Class 4A state championship sport, 69-53 and fell to Bishop McDevitt within the 2016 quarterfinals, 77-68.
Co-champs collide
One was a co-champion in Part 1-3A, the opposite shared a title in Part 3-3A.
Now they collide, one step away from the PIAA last 4.
Neshannock (20-7) loved successful streaks of six and 7 video games this season. After falling to defending district champion Our Girl of the Sacred Coronary heart within the WPIAL semifinals, 53-50, the Lancers have received their first two state playoffs video games by a mixed six factors over Oil Metropolis and Brookville.
Deer Lakes (19-8) defeated OLSH to win its first WPIAL championship two weeks in the past and has eradicated Seneca and Loyalsock Township to increase its postseason successful streak to 6 video games.
The groups meet at North Allegheny at midday within the PIAA 3A quarterfinals.
Lastly they meet
When the WPIAL playoff brackets had been introduced in mid-February, Aliquippa was the highest seed and defending champion Bishop Canevin was the No. 2 seed.
A showdown between Part 1-2A and Part 2-2A champions by no means materialized within the district playoffs, although, as BC misplaced to Northgate within the semifinals, 63-54.
Nonetheless, after two wins within the state playoffs, we lastly get the showdown between the Quips and the Crusaders at Peters Township at 1:30 p.m.
Eagles vs. Tigers: Take 4
The McKeesport women basketball program has loved an unimaginable season, successful 23 of 28 video games.
Nonetheless, the Tigers don’t have any district gold and no part crown to point out for all their success thanks to at least one group, Part 3-5A foe Oakland Catholic (24-4).
The Tigers misplaced each of their part video games to the Eagles and completed two video games behind them within the standings.
The third time was no allure for McKeesport, once they misplaced to Oakland Catholic once more within the WPIAL semifinals, 58-51.
The fourth assembly of the yr between the 2 5A powerhouses takes place at Peters Township at midday.
Within the different women 5A state quarterfinals sport on the “western” facet of the bracket Saturday, WPIAL champion South Fayette (26-2) will battle District 10 champion Erie Cathedral Prep at Sharon at 1 p.m.
WPIAL finalists vs. district champs
The 2 finalists within the WPIAL 4A women basketball playoffs are nonetheless alive heading into the state quarterfinals.
Now they go up towards a pair of district champions.
District 7 winner North Catholic (24-3) will take an 18-game successful streak right into a sport Saturday towards District 3 champion Wyomissing (28-2) at Bald Eagle at 2 p.m.
WPIAL runner-up Blackhawk (23-4) squares off with District 10 champion Fairview (21-8) at Sharon at 2:30 p.m.
Blackhawk and Camp Hill Trinity are the one groups left in 4A that didn’t win their district championship.
District champs survive
Solely district champions are left on the western facet of the state bracket within the Class A women basketball playoffs.
It will likely be WPIAL vs. District 6 and District 5 towards District 9.
Union (20-6) is the lone District 7 group left within the bracket. The WPIAL champs have defeated a pair of District 9 groups in Clarion and Elk County Catholic.
The Scotties have been defensive, solely allowed a mixed 44 factors within the two wins.
They may face a Williamsburg (28-1) group that beat St. Joseph from the WPIAL within the first spherical by 46 factors.
The sport takes place at Armstrong at 1 p.m.
The opposite sport has Berlin-Brothersvalley out of D-5 towards Otto-Eldred from D-9.
Ultimate swim
Saturday marks the ultimate day of the 2023 PIAA Class 3A swimming and diving championships at Bucknell College.
Saturday will start with 5 preliminary races beginning at 8:10 a.m. for the 3A women and 10:45 a.m. for the 3A boys.
The consolations and finals in these occasions will happen at 3:25 p.m. for the ladies and 6:05 p.m. for the boys.
The boys 3A diving championships are scheduled for 12:35 p.m.