March Madness
By Eleanor Bailey/Almanac Sports Editor/ebailey@thealmanac.net
Morgan Merdian leaps for joy and the rest of the Peters Township bench erupts as the Indians overtake North Allegheny in the WPIAL Class 6A championship game. The Indians defeated the Tigers, 43-40, in overtime.
Eleanor Bailey/the almanac
A jubilant Michael Palmer rushes into the arms of his teammates as Mt. Lebanon celebrates after beating Butler, 62-57, for the WPIAL Class 6A boys’ title. Palmer fired in 11 points in the win.
Eleanor Bailey/the almanac
A touching moment between daughter and father is shared by Megan and Tim McConnell after Chartiers Valley’s 64-48 win against Thomas Jefferson. Megan scored 18 points in the game to secure her second WPIAL title while Tim picked up his sixth crown, but first as Lady Colts’ skipper.
The WPIAL’s equivalent to the NCAA’s March Madness culminated with the crowning of three area champions at the University of Pittsburgh’s Petersen Events Center.
With a dramatic overtime win against North Allegheny, 43-40, Peters Township (25-0) captured the Class 6A girls’ title. The Tigers (23-2) were two-time defending champions.
In the Class 6A boys’ final, Mt. Lebanon (22-3) knocked off Butler, 62-57, and claimed its first title since 2010.
The McConnell family added to its gold-medal collection when Chartiers Valley (25-0) ran away with the Class 5A crown, dispatching Thomas Jefferson, 64-48. The banner was the second for junior Megan McConnell but sixth for her father, Tim, who guided the boys to the previous championships before adding this year’s WPIAL ring as girls’ head coach.
For the full stories and more photos turn inside to the sports section.