Basketball Brilliance
Upper St. Clair, Chartiers Valley and South Fayette flexed their muscles during the WPIAL championships held Feb. 27-28 at the Petersen Events Center on the University of Pittsburgh campus. By slipping past New Castle, 52-51, the Panthers became the first WPIAL team to win three championships in a row in the highest classification. In helping USC win its sixth district banner overall, Ryan Robbins led the way with 18 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots. Luke Marchinsky and Jake Foster followed, pitching in 14 and 11 tallies. Those three team captains (1) from left Marchinsky, Foster and Robbins hoisted the championship trophy after the victory. South Fayette’s starting five (2) from left Ella Vierra, Haylie Lamonde, Juliette Leroux, Lailah Wright and Ryan Oldaker jump for joy after dispatching Thomas Jefferson, 57-38, as the buzzer sounds in the WPIAL Class 5A girls final. Lamonde led the way with 19 points followed by 14 tallies each by Leroux and Wright. Oldaker, who finished with nine points, led in rebounding with eight boards. Evan Rou (left) and Silas Verzich (right) (3) react to the wow moment provided by Luca Feredico’s dunk (4) during Chartiers Valley’s triumph over Thomas Jefferson, 63-37, in the Class 5A boys final. Feredico exploded for 31 points, 8 rebounds and three steals in the Colts’ victory. Julian Semplice pitched in 15 tallies for CV. Jake Foster (5) sums up the emotions of all the champions who participated in the madness that is the WPIAL basketball championships. All three teams embarked on quests for PIAA titles March 6-7. The Lady Lions are the defending Class 5A state champions while USC and CV both reached the semifinals in 2025.