The regular season winds down this week with conference championships for the Laurel Highlands and WestPAC set for Saturday and district playoffs to follow.
The Northern Cambria boys (17-4) heading into Monday’s 80-47 loss to Tyrone, have already wrapped up the Heritage Conference title. The Colts and Golden Eagles are the unofficial top seeds in their respective classes in District 6, Class A for Northern Cambria and Class AA for Tyrone.
In the WestPAC, the Conemaugh Township girls will represent the North Section while Berlin Brothersvalley once again is the South winner. The Indians will face the Mountaineers in the title game at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Pitt-Johnstown Sports Center. Township won the regular-season meeting of the two teams, 61-43 back in December.
In the WestPAC boys title game, Shanksville-Stonycreek has nailed down the South Section title, but the North spot is between Conemaugh Township and Conemaugh Valley. The Indians have the upper hand and could take the spot if they defeat Windber on Wednesday.
In the Laurel Highlands, the boys from Penn Cambria and Greater Johnstown have earned their spots in the title game. The championship will mark a rematch of the Trojans and Panthers thriller won on a winning 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the game by Johnstown, 68-67 in early January.
In the LHAC girls championship, Westmont Hilltop has its ticket stamped and is awaiting the Section 1 winner, either Forest Hills or Bishop Guilfoyle. The Rangers, who lost to Bishop Guilfoyle at home, made the section race interesting by handing the Marauders their first LHAC loss in their Pleasant Valley gym since they joined the conference in the 2007-08 season. Forest Hills defeated Penn Cambria on Friday and faces Cambria Heights this week. If the Lady Rangers win that one, they will play in their first LHAC final.
The Hilltoppers have an interesting history with both Guilfoyle and Forest Hills so that championship matchup should also be an intriguing one.
Grand occasions: Conemaugh Valley’s Dalton Uncapher has been the lone 1,000-point scorer in the area for the longest time, but the list of others who have achieved the milestone is now growing by leaps and bounds and is up to 11 players including five within the last week.
Penn Cambria junior A.J. Leahey was followed by Bishop McCort senior Jill Kegg, Ligonier Valley senior Kristen Gabelt, Salisbury-Elk Lick senior Brandon Miller and Shade senior Becca Muha.
The earlier players to reach the milestone include: Junior Kayla Stockenus of Shanksville-Stonycreek; senior Becky Bard of Forest Hills; Salisbury senior Alex Beiler; Meyersdale senior Justin Donaldson; and Blacklick Valley junior Dalton Cesarz.
Cory Isenberg is a sports writer for The Tribune-Democrat.
Cory Isenberg
Cory Isenberg | Crunch time for area hoop teams
- Cory Isenberg
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CORY ISENBERG| District playoffs command spotlight
District 5 gets set to jump into the baseball and softball playoffs this week.
Class A softball opens with four games on Wednesday, all set for 4:30 p.m. -
CORY ISENBERG| Stakes rise as schedules shrink
There are fewer events on the daily high school sports schedules, but the stakes are going up for area athletes as the spring season heads into its final weeks.
In track and field, the three area conferences will hold their championship meets this week.
In Portage today, the WestPAC athletes will gather for their championships while the Laurel Highlands and Heritage meets will be on Tuesday at Somerset and United, respectively. -
CORY ISENBERG | Area athletes shine at NBC meet
The Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference track and field league-leading Bedford boys and Forest Hills girls were the big team winners at Friday’s Northern Bedford Invitational.
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CORY ISENBERG| Leechburg may join Heritage Conference
According to the Heritage Conference website, Leechburg is getting closer to joining the league in July 2014.
The Blue Devils, who are currently part of District 7, received permission in a unanimous vote from the WPIAL Board of Control to allow them to move to District 6. -
CORY ISENBERG | The Price was right in Meadville
After an outstanding 23-year coaching career at Meadville High School, former Ferndale basketball player Norm Price is stepping down as the Bulldogs boys’ basketball coach - again.
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CORY ISENBERG | Nine area basketball teams still alive in PIAA playoffs
Following the opening weekend of the PIAA basketball playoffs, nine area teams - six boys and three girls squads - remain in the march toward Hershey.
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Fourteen area teams headed to states
District basketball champions have been crowned and there are 14 area squads that move ahead into the week’s PIAA playoffs.
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CORY ISENBERG | District basketball moves into Week 2
The first week of the district basketball playoffs was filled with excitement and its share of surprises in District 6.
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CORY ISENBERG | District basketball playoffs set to tip
With the conference championships in our rear-view mirrors, the district basketball playoffs in 5 and 6 get underway this week.
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CORY ISENBERG| No love lost in hoops rivalries
Valentine’s Day is this Thursday. I received my gift last month when my sweetheart bought me new front tires for my car so I can get around on the area roads to cover sports events.
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CORY ISENBERG| District playoffs command spotlight
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