Chartiers Valley returns to WPIAL finals
Colts knock off Moon, Shaler
Chartiers Valley head coach Cory Dotchin predicted the road to “The Pete” would be a hard one, but if the Colts took it one game at a time they would return to defend their WPIAL championship. He was correct.
Entering the Class 5A playoffs as the top seed, the Colts defeated Montour, 61-48, at home in the opener.
Traveling next to Peters Township to play in the AHN Arena, the Colts posted thrilling victories against Shaler, 69-66, on Feb. 20 in the quarterfinals and against Moon, 39-37, on Feb. 24 in the semifinals to advance to the Class 5A finals played Feb. 28 at the Petersen Events Center on the University of Pittsburgh campus. Each win was of the come-from-behind variety.
“Just happy. Ecstatic,” Dotchin said about how he felt about going back to the finals.
Last year, in his first season at the helm, he guided Chartiers Valley to its first WPIAL crown since 2015. The Colts defeated Peters Township, 73-66, in the 2025 championship contest.
“We’re happy for the opportunity but we know the work’s not done.”
CV finished the job against Moon at the charity stripe. The Colts were 10 of 12 from the line including 8 of 10 in the final frame. Moon was 10 of 18 in the game but made only 4 of 8 free throws in the fourth quarter.
“Honestly, I thought the game came down to free throws,” Dotchin said.
“When you’re playing a team as well coached and as well prepared and who know each other as well as they do, then it was going to come down to those little things. We continually stress to these guys, making little plays are gonna add up at the end.”
Luca Federico made the plays for the Colts, who were playing the Tigers for the third time this season. The teams split section decisions during the regular season. Both were three-point differentials.
A 6-foot-5 sophomore, Federico led all scorers with 13 points. His two free throws with 44 seconds to play extended CV’s lead to 38-35. He also had a key layup with 2:42 remaining that highlighted CV’s rally from a 29-25 deficit at the end of the third quarter.
“Luca’s such a weapon for us, especially with his length and using those long arms and getting to the basket,” Dotchin said. “He’s got those God gifts and we just try to use them and work on those things.
“He’s a basketball kid. He works 24/7, 365 on it,” Dotchin continued. “He’s been making plays all season for us and in those places we kind of expect him to do that.”
As a senior, Julian Semplice is expected to step up and he did so in helping the Colts recover from a 12-point deficit to defeat Shaler.
Semplice, who scored eight points against Moon, including the final free throw, exploded for 29 points against the Titans. Federico and Julius Best followed with 15 and 11 markers respectively.
Several weeks ago, Semplice dislocated his left shoulder. He has been playing with a brace throughout the post season.
“He’s been a warrior. Actually, he’s been a warrior since I first walked through the door here,” Dotchin said. “He has this mentality of I’m not losing, not letting my senior year end this way. He’s a difference maker.”
Experience has proven the difference for the Colts.
In addition to Semplice, seniors Julius Best, Logan Helfrick, Danny Slizik, Jake Lewis, Evan Roy and Kaden Cook have helped guide Char Valley toward its second straight championship appearance.
The Colts captured a section banner with an 11-1 record and rolled to a 22-2 overall record in reaching the WPIAL finals.
“We have a senior-led team. An experienced group,” Dotchin said. “They continue to fight. They have a good mentality and they make a lot of plays down the stretch when they need to and in the end they close it out.”