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Basketball

Strategy helps Lady Mustangs into next round

By Nate Ritchey nritchey@altoonamirror.com PORTAGE — The Portage girls basketball team had a slightly different look to its game plan Friday against Aliquippa. The Lady Mustangs stuck to their patented full-court press off an inbounds or made basket. However, the wrinkle came when they dropped back into a zone in the front court — something Portage rarely does. According to coach Lance Hudak, the plan worked to perfection as Portage used a huge turnover-forced opening quarter to set the tone in earning a 53-41 victory over Aliquippa in PIAA Class 2A first-round ...

Lady Blue Devils run into WPIAL power in loss

By Dave Mackall For the Mirror GREENSBURG — Bellwood-Antis has been here in girls basketball before. The Blue Devils, with Kyley Longo serving as an assistant coach, won back-to-back PIAA titles in 2018 and ‘19 and reached the semifinals in 2022, losing to Neshannock. Reappearing in the state tournament Friday night, their storyline this season included a simple ending — they were no match for Pennsylvania’s second-ranked Class 2A team. Erica Gribble scored 20 points and Mya Morgan added 16 to lead Greensburg Central Catholic to a 59-27 rout of Bellwood-Antis and into ...

PIAA Basketball Capsules

FRIDAY GIRLS PIAA CLASS 2A FIRST ROUND PLAYOFFS Teams: 6-4 Bellwood-Antis Lady Blue Devils (15-10) vs. 7-1 Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions (20-6) Site, time: Greensburg Central Catholic High School, 7 p.m. The coaches: Bellwood-Antis—Kyley Longo; Greensburg Central Catholic—Chris Skatell Playoff path: Bellwood-Antis—def. Penns Manor, 38-25, in District 6 Class 2A quarterfinals; lost to Portage, 56-45, in semifinals; lost to Bishop McCort, 61-49, in consolation game. Greensburg Central Catholic—def. Northgate, 77-10, in WPIAL first round; def. Rochester, 63-41, ...

11 area basketball teams in action starting with Friday PIAA slate

By Michael Boytim mboytim@altoonamirror.com The PIAA boys and girls basketball playoffs begin Friday and Saturday for 11 teams in the Mirror’s core coverage area and several other regional teams that will hope to have state championship medals around their necks by the end of March. No ...

Lady Lions’ rout assures more favorable path

By John Hartsock jhartsock@altoonamirror.com HOLLIDAYSBURG — Whether they had won or lost their District 6-8-10 subregional playoff game Saturday afternoon, both the Altoona and Erie High School girls basketball teams were guaranteed to play at least one game in the PIAA Class 6A state ...

Altoona hosting doubleheader

From Mirror reports Altoona Area High School will be hosting a doubleheader to kick off Friday’s portion of the PIAA playoffs. The District 6 Class 1A runner-up Williamsburg boys play District 9 third-place finisher Cameron County at 6 p.m., and that game will be followed by the Altoona girls hosting WPIAL fourth-place finisher Chartiers Valley at 7:30 p.m. in a 6A game. Those are just two of the 11 teams from the Mirror’s core coverage area with games this weekend. Five will be played Friday and six are scheduled for Saturday. In addition to the Altoona girls, the Bishop ...