Breaking News
Basketball

PIAA basketball playoff preview capsules — Class 4A, 1A girls; 3A boys

By Michael Boytim 8 min read

SATURDAY

GIRLS

PIAA CLASS 4A QUARTERFINALS

Teams: 7-1 Oakland Catholic Eagles (23-2) vs. 6-1 Penn Cambria Lady Panthers (21-5)

Site, time: Armstrong H.S., Kittanning, 3 p.m.

The coaches: Oakland Catholic -- Henry Schechter. Penn Cambria -- Josh Himmer.

Playoff path: Oakland Catholic -- def. South Park, 46-12, in WPIAL quarterfinals; def. North Catholic, 46-29, in semifinals; def. Blackhawk, 51-44, in WPIAL championship; def. Corry, 64-26, in PIAA first round; def. Slippery Rock, 63-36, in second round. Penn Cambria -- def. Westmont Hilltop, 56-40, in District 6 semifinals; def. Forest Hills, 59-46, in District 6 championship; def. Lewisburg Area, 51-40, in PIAA first round; def. Delone Catholic, 38-32, in second round.

Probable starting lineups: Oakland Catholic -- G Zephaniah Troxler-Scott, sr.; G Savanna Daye, sr.; G Madi Pullen, jr.; G Luci LaMendola, so.; F Josie Fontana, sr. Penn Cambria -- PG Reagan Ronan, sr.; G Makenna McCoy, sr.; G Rachel Fisher, so.; G Avayah LeMaster so.; F Sophia Beard, so.

Key reserves: Oakland Catholic -- G Brooklyn Rozier, fr.; G Ellie Junker, sr. Penn Cambria -- F Meghan Andersen, sr.; G Avery LeMaster, jr.; G Peyton Rabatin, so.

Who they get: The winner plays either WPIAL runner-up Blackhawk or WPIAL third-place finisher North Catholic in the PIAA semifinals on Tuesday.

Notable: Oakland Catholic played Bishop Guilfoyle Academy this regular season and defeated the Lady Marauders, 52-49. ... The Lady Eagles eliminated Hollidaysburg in the Class 5A PIAA playoffs, 48-47, in 2023. ... Oakland Catholic had a rivalry with Altoona over the last 21 years and went 6-5 in those games, including a win over Altoona in the 2005 PIAA semifinals on the way to a state title. ... Oakland Catholic is tied with Altoona for ninth all-time in girls basketball state titles with four. ... The Eagles dropped down to 4A last season and lost to Lansdale Catholic in the PIAA quarterfinals. ... Oakland Catholic is now 66-23 all-time in the PIAA tournament. ... Penn Cambria improved to 5-7 all-time in the PIAA tournament after its win over Delone Catholic. ... This is the first time in school history that Penn Cambria has won more than one state playoff game in a season.

PIAA CLASS 1A QUARTERFINALS

Teams: 6-1 Bishop Guilfoyle Academy Lady Marauders (26-2) vs. 6-3 Saint Joseph's Academy Lady Wolves (26-3)

Site, time: Claysburg-Kimmel H.S., Claysburg, 1 p.m.

The coaches: Bishop Guilfoyle -- Kristi Kaack. Saint Joseph's -- Bethany Irwin

Playoff path: Bishop Guilfoyle -- received bye in the District 6 quarterfinals; def. Williamsburg, 61-31, in the semifinals; def. Bishop Carroll Catholic, 63-46, in District 6 championship; def. Otto-Eldred, 71-30, in PIAA first round; def. Aquinas Academy, 65-32, in second round. Saint Joseph's -- def. Juniata Valley, 71-35, in District 6 quarterfinals; lost to Bishop Carroll, 62-61, in semifinals; def. Williamsburg, 75-73, in consolation; def. Geibel Catholic, 91-35, in PIAA first round; def. Clarion-Limestone, 70-37, in second round

Probable starting lineups: Bishop Guilfoyle -- G Morgan Ruggery, jr.; G Layona Williams, so.; G-F Mary Haigh, so.; F Anberlyn Petrecca, jr.; C Stella Yeskey, sr. Saint Joseph's -- G Naomi Crispin, sr.; G Lauren Himes, sr.; G Alexia Luckovich, jr.; F Jacee Cunningham, sr.; C Aubrey Yartz, sr.

Key reserves: Bishop Guilfoyle -- G Gia Adams, sr.; G-F Hannah Homan, jr. Saint Joseph's -- G-F Layla Fetzer, so.

Who they get: The winner plays either District 6 runner-up Bishop Carroll Catholic or District 6 fourth-place finisher Williamsburg in the PIAA semifinals on Tuesday.

Notable: This game is a rematch of last year's PIAA quarterfinal won by Bishop Guilfoyle Academy, 66-48. The Lady Marauders began that game on a 28-2 run. ... Prior to last season, Saint Joseph's had never won a PIAA playoff game. ... The Lady Marauders are 115-34 overall in the PIAA playoffs, tied for the most wins of any girls team with North Catholic. They also are tied for the most state championships with nine, and they have missed the PIAA playoffs only four times since 1978. ... The Lady Wolves and Lady Marauders have not met this season and did not meet in the regular season or District 6 playoffs last year. ... Saint Joseph's coach Bethany Irwin won her 500th career game this season. Irwin previously coached the State College girls.

Teams: 6-2 Bishop Carroll Catholic Lady Huskies (25-4) vs. 6-4 Williamsburg Lady Blue Pirates (24-5)

Site, time: Altoona Area High School Fieldhouse, Altoona, 1 p.m.

The coaches: Bishop Carroll Catholic -- Nick Smith. Williamsburg -- Angela Detwiler

Playoff path: Bishop Carroll Catholic -- def. Purchase Line, 40-17, in the quarterfinals; def. Saint Joseph's Academy, 62-61, in the semifinals; lost to Bishop Guilfoyle Academy, 63-46, in District 6 championship; def. DuBois Central Catholic, 47-30, in PIAA first round; def. Farrell, 53-44, in second round. Williamsburg -- def. Blacklick Valley, 74-36, in District 6 quarterfinals; lost to Bishop Guilfoyle Academy, 61-31, in semifinals; lost to Saint Joseph's Academy, 75-73, in consolation; def. Serra Catholic, 60-36, in PIAA first round; def. Elk County Catholic, 56-28, in second round

Probable starting lineups: BIshop Carroll -- G Madison Delauter, sr.; G Sarah Miller, sr.; G Adelyn Myers, jr.; G-F Ava Pablic, jr.; F Emily Lucko, so. Williamsburg -- PG LeeAnna Royer, sr.; G Regan Prough, sr.; G Bella Royer, fr.; G Brynn Lower, fr.; C Levada Gorsuch, jr.

Key reserves: Bishop Carroll Catholic -- G Avery Myers, jr.; G Aiyana Saxion, fr. Williamsburg -- G Grace Colbert, jr.; G Raina Alexander, jr.; G Faith Detwiler, fr.

Who they get: The winner plays either District 6 champion Bishop Guilfoyle Academy or District 6 third-place finisher Saint Joseph's Academy in the PIAA semifinals on Tuesday.

Notable: This is also a rematch of last year's PIAA quarterfinal game which was won by Bishop Carroll, 60-47. That game, also at the AAHS Fieldhouse, did not include Williamsburg's LeeAnna Royer, who was held out of the game. ... The Lady Blue Pirates have had their last two seasons end at the AAHS Fieldhouse, last year against Bishop Carroll and in 2024 in the PIAA semifinals against Bishop Guilfoyle. ... Bishop Carroll is 64-29 all-time in the PIAA tournament. ... The Lady Huskies are 9-10 all-time in the PIAA quarterfinals and made that round last year for the first time since 2018. ... Bishop Carroll has won three state championships -- 1987, 2002 and 2003. ... The Lady Blue Pirates are 8-4 in the quarterfinal round and have lost two of their last three in that round but went from 1985-2023 without losing one. ... Williamsburg won state championships in 1995 and 1997.

BOYS

PIAA CLASS 3A QUARTERFINALS

Teams: 6-3 Westmont Hilltop Hilltoppers (21-6) vs. 6-1 Bishop Guilfoyle Academy Marauders (25-4)

Site, time: Claysburg-Kimmel H.S., Claysburg, 2:30 p.m.

The coaches: Westmont Hilltop -- Dave Roman Jr. Bishop Guilfoyle -- Ryan Lestochi

Playoff path: Westmont Hilltop -- def. Tyrone, 45-34, in District 6 quarterfinals; lost to Forest Hills, 44-41, in semifinals; def. River Valley, 75-59, in consolation; def. South Allegheny, 58-51, in PIAA first round; def. Seton LaSalle, 46-35, in second round. Bishop Guilfoyle -- def. Southern Huntingdon, 77-44, in District 6 quarterfinals; def. River Valley, 60-43, in the semifinals; def. Forest Hills, 74-54, in District 6 championship; def. Ligonier Valley, 62-43, in PIAA first round; def. South Park, 59-52, in second round

Probable starting lineups: Westmont Hilltop -- G Grant Craig, jr.; G Jack Wesner, sr.; G Landen Valente, jr.; F Brock Bowles, jr.; F Joziah Jashienski, so. Bishop Guilfoyle -- PG Tyson Lestochi, sr.; G Taurean Consiglio, sr.; G Troy Ruggery, jr.; G Alex Krimmel, so.; F Jake Kissell, sr.

Key reserves: Westmont Hilltop -- G Derek Gartner, so.; G Luke Wesner, so. Bishop Guilfoyle -- F Grant Okonak, jr.; F Connor Okonak, jr.; F Tyler Lightner, so.

Who they get: The winner plays either District 3 champion Trinity or District 6 runner-up Forest Hills in the PIAA semifinals on Tuesday.

Notable: Bishop Guilfoyle won the regular-season game at Pleasant Valley gymnasium in a heated contest, 66-57. ... The Marauders fell behind 17-9 after one quarter, and Grant Craig scored 22 points for Westmont. Troy Ruggery scored 19 points for BG. BG senior guard Tyson Lestochi did not play in that game. ... District 6 has three of the four quarterfinal spots on this side of the bracket with Forest Hills playing Trinity in the other quarterfinal. ... Bishop Guilfoyle is 13-7 in its last 20 games against the Hilltoppers but prior to this year's win had lost the last two meetings in 2024 and 2023. ... Bishop Guilfoyle is 33-35 all-time in the PIAA tournament. ... The Marauders are 3-4 all-time in the PIAA quarterfinals. ... Westmont Hilltop is 6-18 all-time in the PIAA tournament with two of those wins coming this season. This is the first time the Hilltoppers have ever won more than one game in the PIAA tournament in a season.

-- Compiled by Michael Boytim

Starting at /week.