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Six things to watch for the week of Jan. 7-12 * Two of the WPIAL’s top three girls basketball teams in Class 4A will square off Monday with sole possession of first place in Section 2 on the line. No. 2 Blackhawk (8-2, 3-0) will host the game and is likely the favorite, but it’s No. 3 Central Valley (9-0, 3-0) which enters with the better overall record. The two split a pair of meetings last season. Another matchup of ranked teams will take place in Class 3A Section 3 when No. 3 Shady Side Academy (8-1, 4-0) hosts No. 5 Carlynton (8-1, 3-1). Shady Side is three wins of away from matching its win total from last season. * Talk about turnarounds. The Ringgold boys basketball team is off to a 9-1 start. A season ago, the Rams went just 3-19. Tuesday, Ringgold hosts Class 4A No. 5 Uniontown (5-3) in a key Section 3 game. The two sit atop the section standings with 2-0 records. Moon (10-0, 3-0) is the only unbeaten team in Class 5A, but the second-ranked Tigers could have their hands full Tuesday when they travel to play Chartiers Valley (7-1, 4-0). Other top games Tuesday include Butler at Pine-Richland, Bethel Park at Mt. Lebanon, and Canon-McMillan at Upper St. Clair. * It will be a heavyweight fight between WPIAL Class 4A girls basketball powers Thursday when No. 4 Penn Hills (8-3, 4-0) travels to No. 3 Oakland Catholic (9-1, 4-0) for a big Section 3 clash. Oakland Catholic’s only loss was to a team from Texas in a Florida tournament. The Eagles give up only 35.2 points per game, fewest of any Class 6A or 5A school. North Allegheny stands at the top of Class 6A Section 1, but that section has quite a few other good teams. Two of them, Fox Chapel (8-2, 3-1) and Seneca Valley (8-2, 2-2), square off Thursday at Seneca Valley. * Nazareth Prep, which used to be known as Holy Family Academy, has one of the top boys basketball teams in Class 1A this season. Friday, the No. 3-ranked Saints (6-1, 3-1) face a major test when they host No. 1 Union (10-1, 4-0). Union is in first place in Section 1, while Nazareth Prep is one of four teams with one loss. There are three teams with undefeated section records in Class 5A Section 1, and two of them meet Friday when McKeesport (6-5, 3-0) plays host to No. 4 Penn Hills (8-2, 3-0). Another big game that night is Franklin Regional at Shaler. * There are a couple of intriguing non-section basketball games Saturday. One of them is a rematch of last season’s WPIAL Class 5A girls championship. Gateway edged Oakland Catholic, 29-27, in the game, but Oakland Catholic will get a chance to get a little revenge when the two play Saturday at Gateway. The Gators (8-2) are ranked No. 5 in Class 5A, while Oakland Catholic (9-1) is No. 3. On the boys side, Franklin Regional travels to play District 10 power Kennedy Catholic. The Golden Eagles are led by 6-9 senior forward and West Virginia recruit Oscar Tshiewbe. * In wrestling, the Burgettstown Tournament is the top local tournament. South Side Beaver and Valley are each holding a dual tournament. Trinity and West Allegheny are heading to Ohio's Top Gun Tournament. Seneca Valley is heading to the Reynolds Duals. Connellsville, Canon-McMillan, and Frazier are entered in the Escape the Rock Tournament at Council Rock South. |