Pittsburgh Games To Follow This Week
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The season has begun and we’re in the midst of a host of non divisional games in the runup to Christmas break and tournaments. Today we focus on some early season games to watch and the players to follow in…
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Continue ReadingThe season has begun and we’re in the midst of a host of non divisional games in the runup to Christmas break and tournaments. Today we focus on some early season games to watch and the players to follow in them.
Tuesday
Allderdice at Gateway: Devin Crummie is taking on a very tough slate outside the City. His charges dominated North Allegheny to open the season and bounce back with a tough one against Gateway. A balanced ‘Dice side is led by junior guard Logan Golle Logan Golle 6'1" | PG Taylor Allderdice | 2024 State PA , senior guard Ethan Anish Ethan Anish 6'1" | CG Taylor Allderdice | 2023 State PA , senior forwards Sam Kelly Sam Kelly 6'5" | PF Allderdice | 2023 State PA , a versatile 6’5″ wing and Antwaun Ward-Thurman, a 6’5″ bruiser. They’ll see their next star prospect in strong 6’4″ junior wing Major Rainey Major Rainey 6'3" | SG Allderdice | 2024 State PA .
Brashear at Our Lady Of The Sacred Heart: Brashear gave Canevin a run, sparked by guard Titus Gillett and will look to do the same vs OLSH. OLSH counters with Rocco Spadafora Rocco Spadafora 6'0" | SG OLSH | 2023 State PA , Bryson Kirschner Bryson Kirschner 6'4" | PF OLSH | 2023 State PA and others.
North Allegheny at Mount Lebanon: NA took it on the chin against Allderdice. NA will look to get their bigs involved frequently, with 6’5″ Joey Dopirak Joey Dopirak 6'5" | SF North Allegheny | 2024 State PA and 6’11” Ty Iwanonkiw Ty Iwanonkiw 6'10" | C Central Catholic | 2024 State PA leading the way. Lebo will rely on its tough defending and look to senior Michael Pfeuffer Michael Pfeuffer 6'2" | CG Mt. Lebanon | 2023 State PA to drive the bus.
Wednesday
Seneca Valley at North Catholic: North Catholic is coming off two impressive performances in their own tip off tournament. They’ll be led by junior guard Max Hurray Max Hurray 6'2" | SG North Catholic | 2024 State PA and seniors Andrew Maddalon Andrew Maddalon 6'2" | SG North Catholic | 2023 State PA and Max Rottman Max Rottman 6'0" | SG North Catholic | 2023 State PA . Seneca has a trio of 3 year starters in Luke Lawson Luke Lawson 6'3" | SF Seneca Valley | 2023 State PA , Aiden Lyczek and Connor Oros.
Latrobe at Giebel Catholic: Another “small school” vs “big school” game sees Geibel’s electric Jaydis Kennedy Jaydis Kennedy 6'3" | CG Geibel | 2023 State PA go against Latrobe’s Landon Butler Landon Butler 6'2" | CG Latrobe | 2023 State PA in a battle of two of the top players in the WestmorelandFayette region of the WPIAL.
Serra Catholic at Seton LaSalle: Serra will compete at their level but the question of the night will be, “How many does Connor Spratt Connor Spratt 6'3" | PG Seton LaSalle | 2023 State PA score?” He has 81 points in two games, divided nearly in half, torching Upper Saint Clair and Pine-Richland in close defeats. 6’1″ senior Joey DeMoss leads Serra.
Thursday
Upper Saint Clair at Montour: USC brings Nick Sukernek, Devin Hall Devin Hall 6'2" | SF Upper St. Clair | 2024 State PA and Matt Gaither to the table in the backcourt. They topped Seton LaSalle and were taken down by a surprising Fox Chapel side on the weekend. Montour battled Lincoln Park and will be coming in off a test against South Fayete, who’s 2-0 with some decent margins.
Erie High at Shady Side Academy: In spite of losing Peter Kramer Peter Kramer 6'4" | SG Hampton | 2024 State PA to Hampton, SSA has rolled out to a 2-0 start. Eli Teslovich Eli Teslovich 6'1" | CG Shady Side Academy | 2024 State PA is the player to watch in this one. Erie is pretty big in the front court, with a host of players 6’4″ or taller, and is 2-0 as of Tuesday afternoon. It’s a marquee matchup for SSA.
Friday
Gateway at Central Catholic: Our first look at the Vikings is against the always tough Gators. We’ll get our first chance to see Dante DePante Dante DePante 6'3" | PG Central Catholic | 2023 State PA , Debaba Tshiebwe Debaba Tshiebwe 6'6" | PF Central Catholic | 2023 State PA , Tommy Kristian Tommy Kristian 6'0" | SG Pittsburgh Central Catholic | 2023 State PA , Randy Wilkerson Randy Wilkerson 6'0" | CG Central Catholic | 2023 State PA and Payton Wehner. PCC are the favorites to win 6A.
Imani Christian at Allderdice: Both teams are not ducking anyone this year and it’ll be a battle on Squirrel Hill on Friday Night. We covered ‘Dice earlier in the piece, but Imani brings its own solid five with Dame Givner Dame Givner 6'1" | PG Imani Christian Academy | 2025 State PA , RJ Sledge RJ Sledge 5'11" | PG Imani Christian Academy | 2025 State PA , Virgil Hall, Bez Abdul Bez Abdul 6'0" | CG Imani Christian Academy | 2024 State PA and elite recruit Alier Maluk Alier Maluk 7'0" | PF Long Island Lutheran | 2025 State #62 Nation NY . Imani comes off two strong performances in the North Catholic Tip-Off Tournament.
Carlynton at Franklin Regional: New head coach Jake Trombetta takes the now Class A Cougars and their four returning starters: Chase Jones, Jaiden McClure, Austin Milliner Austin Milliner 5'11" | PG Carlynton | 2023 State PA and Simon Shriver, out to Monroeville to take on 2-0 Franklin Regional.
Laurel Highlands at McKeesport: The Mustangs come in led by Keondre DeShields Keondre DeShields 6'3" | CG Laurel Highlands | 2023 State PA and WVU Football commit Rodney Gallagher Rodney Gallagher 6'0" | CG Laurel Highlands | 2023 State #176 Nation PA . McKeesport counters with 6’5″ forward Travarese Rowe Travarese Rowe 6'3" | PF McKeesport | 2023 State PA as their key player. Laurel has come out the gate with wins over Lebo and Erie McDowell, while McKeesport split their first two and takes on Woodland Hills before this marquee tilt.
Saturday
Penn Hills at Central Catholic: Their second test in two days sees the Vikings welcome Quinnipiac commit Daemar Kelly Daemar Kelly 6'3" | SF Penn Hills | 2023 State PA and an athletic Penn Hills team to The Castle.