What to watch for in WPIAL sports on March 7, 2026: Allderdice-Central Catholic matchup highlights Day 2 of PIAA 1st-round action

By: Don Rebel


Saturday, March 7, 2026 | 12:20 AM

The PIAA basketball first spherical concludes Saturday in boys Class 6A, 3A and 2A together with women Class 5A, 4A and Class A.

Allderdice has performed in 45 PIAA boys basketball postseason video games and have practically cut up with 23 wins and 22 losses all-time.

The Dragons’ final 10 video games in the state playoffs courting to 2016 have all been in opposition to WPIAL opponents.

They are 5-5 in these video games, together with a 2022 first-round battle at house in opposition to Central Catholic.

The Dragons beat the Vikings in extra time, 45-43, thanks to back-to-back 3-pointers in extra time from Mike Quigley.

On Saturday, City League runner-up Allderdice will as soon as once more host the No. 3 seed from the WPIAL in Central Catholic at 1 p.m.

The Dragons are 18-8 and gained two state subregional video games over Erie and State College since shedding to Obama Academy in the City League title sport in extra time, 64-58.

The Vikings have had an impressive season, profitable 12 straight video games at one level.

They are 22-3 and coming off a WPIAL comfort spherical rout of Seneca Valley, 66-46, after falling to New Castle in the 6A district semifinals, 52-49.

This is the second assembly of the season between the 2 close by basketball powers.

Central Catholic raced out to a 20-6 lead after one quarter at Allderdice and cruised to victory, 61-44.

Enzo Khalil led the Vikings with 22 factors whereas Jack Stoessel added 20 factors.

Keith Taylor was the lone Dragons participant to attain double-digit scoring with 10 factors.

This is the third all-time assembly in the state playoffs between Allderdice and Central Catholic.

They first meet on the Road to Hershey practically 40 years in the past when the Vikings downed the Dragons in the 1988 quarterfinals, 38-28.

Central Catholic went on to play in the PIAA championship sport that 12 months, falling to Carlisle.

Here are the opposite three state first-round video games involving WPIAL boys 6A groups.

• Cedar Crest (14-12) at Upper St. Clair (24-1) at 1 p.m.

• Seneca Valley (14-11) at Red Lion (22-4) at 2 p.m.

• West Lawn Wilson (17-9) at New Castle (23-2) at 2 p.m.

Reset

It has been a tricky two weeks for the Mohawk program after it turned the one boys basketball high seed to not attain the WPIAL championship sport.

In reality, the Warriors didn’t even attain the Class 3A ultimate 4.

After shedding its season opener by 4 factors to Class 6A energy Central Catholic, Mohawk ripped off 21 consecutive victories, together with two wins by 11 and 22 factors over the No. 2 seed and eventual champion Aliquippa.

However, the Warriors have been surprised in the district quarterfinals by 2025 champion South Allegheny, 64-63.

The crew had had time to regroup, choosing up comfort spherical wins over Southmoreland and Seton LaSalle.

Now Mohawk tries to reset and shoot for state gold because it begins the PIAA 3A postseason with a visit to Bedford to face District 5 champion Everett at 1 p.m.

Everett, additionally nicknamed the Warriors, is 14-10 and is coming off wins over North Star in the District 5 finals, 67-44, and a regional seeding victory over Perry from the City League, 60-47.

This is the primary state playoff sport for Everett in 17 years. Its final playoff victory in the PIAA postseason was 31 years in the past when it defeated Richland in the 1995 first spherical.

The District 5 Warriors are 0-3 all-time in the state playoffs in opposition to WPIAL opponents.

The WPIAL Warriors have performed six of their 9 state playoff video games in the final 4 years.

Here are the opposite six state first-round video games involving WPIAL boys 3A groups.

• Cranberry (22-3) at Aliquippa (18-6) at 1 p.m.

• Shady Side Academy (10-16) at Forest Hills (23-4) at 1 p.m.

• Westmont-Hilltop (19-6) at South Allegheny (16-9) at 1 p.m.

• Seton LaSalle (19-7) at Eisenhower (21-3) at 1 p.m.

• Perry (4-20) at South Park (21-4) at 1 p.m.

• Ligonier Valley (14-12) at Bishop Guilfoyle (23-4) at 2:30 p.m.

Head east, younger males

Neshannock is the No. 7 seed out of the WPIAL because it prepares for the PIAA Class 2A boys basketball event.

If the Lancers have been to get scorching (they did share the Section 4-2A crown with OLSH) and win 4 video games to attain the PIAA title sport, they might play one other WPIAL crew in Hershey.

That is as a result of Neshannock is the one boys or women basketball crew from the WPIAL to be positioned in the “eastern” facet of the bracket, so some lengthy bus rides could possibly be looming.

So Saturday’s trek to IUP’s Memorial Fieldhouse doesn’t look as dangerous as Neshannock prepares to face undefeated District 6 winner United at 1 p.m.

The Lancers are 19-6 and had gained eight straight earlier than an everyday season finale loss to 5A West Allegheny.

Since then, they’ve gone 2-2.

Neshannock beat Fort Cherry in the primary spherical of the WPIAL playoffs then fell to Clairton in the quarterfinals.

In the comfort spherical, they misplaced to Eden Christian Academy earlier than regrouping and beating Winchester Thurston.

The Lions are an ideal 27-0.

United was the highest seed in the District 6 2A playoffs and knocked off Portage and Northern Cambria to attain the title sport, the place it upended Bishop McCort, 61-53.

Neshannock defeated Rocky Grove in the primary spherical of the 2025 PIAA playoffs earlier than falling to Greensburg Central Catholic in Round 2.

United didn’t qualify for the state playoffs a 12 months in the past.

Here are the seven different state first-round video games involving WPIAL boys Class 2A groups.

• Saegertown (21-4) at Sewickley Academy (25-1) at 1 p.m.

• Eden Christian Academy (18-7) at McConnellsburg (25-1) at 1 p.m.

• Clairton (18-5) at Cochranton (16-9) at 1 p.m.

• Jefferson-Morgan (23-3) at Redbank Valley (18-7) at 1 p.m.

• Northern Cambria (17-8) at Jeannette (22-2) at 1 p.m.

• Conemaugh Township (18-7) at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (21-5)

• Winchester Thurston (16-10) at Mercyhurst Prep (19-6) at 1 p.m.

Roar time once more

The South Fayette women basketball program performed its first PIAA playoff sport 37 years in the past, shedding to then Kennedy Christian in a Class A primary-round sport, 47-35.

Between then and 2017, the Lions have been 8-7 in state playoff video games, going so far as the semifinals as soon as in 2017.

In the final 4 years, this system is 11-3 in PIAA postseason contests.

Bringing a five-game state profitable streak into the 2026 Class 5A women basketball playoffs, South Fayette hosts Milton Hershey from District 3 Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Lions have been a dominant drive in the district this season, profitable 25 of their 26 video games.

Their solely loss was on a vacation journey to Florida once they fell by two factors to Miami Country Day.

Since then, South Fayette has gained 17 in a row, together with WPIAL playoff victories over Kiski Area, Trinity, Peters Township and Thomas Jefferson in the 5A finals, 57-38.

Milton Hershey is 17-9 and the No. 8 seed out of District 3.

The Spartans beat Greencastle-Antrim in the primary spherical of the D-3 playoffs, after which have been upset in the quarterfinals by visiting Cocalico, 46-39. They then misplaced comfort video games to West York and Manheim Central to fall to the ultimate qualifying spot out of District 3.

All-time in the PIAA playoffs, South Fayette is 6-0 in opposition to groups from District 3.

This solely the third state playoff sport for Milton Hershey. The Spartans cut up two video games 42 years in the past in the 1984 postseason.

Here are the seven different state first spherical video games involving WPIAL women 5A groups.

• West York (16-10) at Penn-Trafford (20-6) at 1 p.m.

• Indiana (21-5) vs. Cathedral Prep (20-3) at Hagerty Family Events Center in Erie at 1 p.m.

• Baldwin (21-5) at Middletown (24-1) at 2 p.m.

• Manheim Central (18-8) at Thomas Jefferson (23-2) at 1 p.m.

• Peters Township (15-11) at Susquehannock (20-6) at 1 p.m.

• Trinity (18-8) at Hollidaysburg (18-4) at 1 p.m.

• Fox Chapel (15-11) at York Suburban (22-2) at 4 p.m.

4A flying excessive

Last 12 months, the six Class 4A women basketball groups from the WPIAL have been a mixed 4-2 in the primary spherical and 3-1 in the second spherical of the PIAA playoffs.

One of the 2 District 7 groups that misplaced in the primary spherical was South Park.

However, South Park didn’t go quietly into the evening. The Eagles have been the No. 6 seed out of the WPIAL as they visited District 10 champion Harbor Creek.

The Eagles scratched and clawed and compelled extra time, solely to fall to the Huskies, 44-43.

The two are set to conflict once more Saturday as South Park visits Harbor Creek at 1 p.m.

It’s the identical website and the identical seeds as a 12 months in the past.

The Eagles are 16-10 this season and 2-2 in the postseason. They beat Freeport in the WPIAL first spherical after which misplaced to eventual champion Oakland Catholic in the quarterfinals.

In the comfort spherical, South Park defeated Beaver after which misplaced to part foe Belle Vernon in the battle for the fifth seed.

The Huskies are 21-4, the identical report they’d final 12 months at the moment.

In the District 10 playoffs, Harbor Creek knocked off Conneaut and Corry to attain the finals the place they defeated Slippery Rock, 49-46.

This is the fifth time these groups have performed in the PIAA postseason with the collection even, 2-2.

South Park gained the primary two video games, each opening-round contests in 2012 and 2013.

Harbor Creek gained in a 2014 second-round conflict and once more final 12 months.

Here are the opposite 5 different state first-round video games involving WPIAL women 4A groups.

• Corry (14-11) at Oakland Catholic (21-2) at 1 p.m.

• Elizabeth Forward (18-8) at Slippery Rock (19-5) at 6 p.m.

• Fairview (20-5) at Blackhawk (22-1) at 1 p.m.

• Belle Vernon (18-6) at Clearfield (18-6) at 1 p.m.

• Forest Hills (16-8) at North Catholic (20-6) at 1 p.m.

Champs shorthanded

It was 21 years in the past when Hall of Fame coach Bill Cleary led Serra Catholic previous Rockwood, Saegertown, Bishop Carroll, Kennedy Catholic and Marina Catholic to win the 2005 PIAA Class A women basketball crown.

Fresh off a newly minted WPIAL championship final week, the Eagles are set to start their quest for a second state title at house Saturday once they welcome Williamsburg at 1 p.m.

Serra Catholic edged Geibel Catholic in an emotional district Class A title sport, 47-46.

The Eagles are 18-6 this season and have gained 11 of their final 12 video games.

However, they enter the state playoffs down two starters.

Junior Mia Brush was not eligible for the 2026 postseason after transferring to Serra Catholic, and freshman Lexi Pierce is finished for the season after tearing her ACL in the third quarter of the WPIAL title sport.

Williamsburg is 22-5 and the No. 4 seed out of District 6.

The Blue Pirates defeated Blacklick Valley in the quarterfinals earlier than shedding to high seed and eventual champion Bishop Guilfoyle Academy in the D-6 semifinals, 61-31.

Williamsburg additionally misplaced to St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy in the comfort sport, 75-73.

Here are the opposite 5 state first-round video games involving WPIAL women Class A groups.

• Union (19-6) at Elk County Catholic (17-8) at 1 p.m.

• Sewickley Academy (16-10) at Farrell (11-12) at 1 p.m.

• St. Joseph (14-11) at Clarion-Limestone (19-7) at 1 p.m.

• St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy (24-3) at Geibel Catholic (23-2) at 1 p.m.

• Northern Bedford County (14-10) vs. Aquinas Academy (21-3) at South Park at 2:30 p.m.

Saturday on Trib HSSN

There are seven broadcasts you possibly can pay attention to at TribHSSN.TribDwell.com on the seventh day of March.

PIAA Boys Basketball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 6A First Round: West Lawn Wilson at New Castle at 2 p.m. at TribHSSN.TribDwell.com

PIAA Boys Basketball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 3A First Round: Mohawk vs. Everett at 1 p.m. at TribHSSN.TribDwell.com

PIAA Boys Basketball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 2A First Round: Neshannock vs. United at 1 p.m. at TribHSSN.TribDwell.com

PIAA Girls Basketball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 5A First Round: Peters Township at Susquehannock at 1 p.m. on WJPA at TribHSSN.TribDwell.com

PIAA Girls Basketball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 5A First Round: Trinity at Hollidaysburg at 1 p.m. on WJPA at TribHSSN.TribDwell.com

PIAA Girls Basketball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class A First Round: Union at Elk County Catholic at 1 p.m. at TribHSSN.TribDwell.com

PIAA Girls Basketball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class A First Round: St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy at Geibel Catholic 1 p.m. on WMBS-AM 590, WMBS-FM 101.1 at TribHSSN.TribDwell.com