By:
Wednesday January 29, 2025 | 12:03 p.m.
Andrew Palla | For the three
Mario Hutcherson from the Kiski region is fighting for a dominant position against Isaac Lacinski de Burrell in the 172 pound final of the Westmoreland County Coacing Tournament on January 11.
Wednesday is a busy evening of the Wpial boys’ team fighting for action in playoffs with matches in the first round and in the quarter -final on four sites in each classification.
So, what is the importance of home advantage with regard to the first two rounds of the district team qualifying series?
During this decade, it meant a golden ticket for the Final Four.
The wpial attributes the first four home games in the first round, and if they advance later in the same evening, in the quarter -final.
In class 3A playoffs this decade, not counting the 2021 qualifying series which were condensed due to the pandemic, the teams which won a home advantage in the first round and the quarter-finals are 15-1 to progress towards the semi-finals of the district.
The only school that organized and did not progress beyond the quarter-finals of class 3A was Butler, which lost in the second round at home against Hempfield in 2023, 32-31.
The formidable quartet hosting in 3A Wednesday is the defending champion Connellsville, Bethel Park, Thomas Jefferson and Franklin Régional.
Here is the list of matches for the first round of class 3A at 6 p.m. and the possible quarter -final matches that follow at 7:15 p.m.
• In Connellsville: Shaler in Connellsville and Latrobe vs Kiski with the meeting of winners in the quarterfinals
• In Bethel Park: Canon-McMillan against Norwin and Butler in Bethel Park with the meeting of winners in the quarterfinals
• To Thomas Jefferson: North Hills at Thomas Jefferson and West Allegheny against Trinity with the meeting of winners in the quarterfinals
• To Franklin Regional: Fox Chapel against North Allegheny and Moon to Franklin Regional with the meeting of winners in the quarterfinals
The semi-finals and championship matches are Saturday afternoon in the canton of Peters.
2A Mat range
Although this was close to schools that welcome the first two rounds of the fighting playoffs in this decade in 3A, class 2A teams were not so dominant.
The 16 teams that organized in 2A are a 13-3 combined by the WPIAL semi-finals.
The guest teams who were road warriors in 2A This decade were Mont Pleasant by beating the Beth-Center host in 2022, 37-28, Frazier overthrew the Highlands host in 2023, 45-30, and Visit MT. Pleasant again by beating Derry in 2024, 37-31.
The Fab Four which will be at home in the first two laps on Wednesday in 2A are the title champion Burrell, Quaker Valley, McGuffey and Derry.
Here is the list of matches for the first round of class 2A at 6 p.m. and the possible quarter -final matches that follow at 7:15 p.m.
• In Burrell: Greensburg Salem in Burrell and Jefferson-Morgan against Southmoreland with the meeting of winners in the quarterfinals
• in Quaker Valley: South Park vs Freedom and Elizabeth Attaw in Quaker Valley with the meeting of winners in the quarterfinals
• At McGuffey: Avonworth in McGuffey and Beth-Center against Laurel with the meeting of winners in the quarterfinals
• In Derry: Highlands against Burgetstown and Avella in Derry with the meeting of winners in the quarterfinals
Catholic court test
Combined, there are 18-1 in section 1-4A and 28-5 in total.
Visitors are classified n ° 1 in the last Trib HSSN survey; The hosts are classified n ° 3.
A force for the Crown of the section takes place in the middle of the week while North Catholic (15-2) Visit Oakland Catholic (13-3).
Trojan horses are 9-0 and are alone in first place now and can take a huge step towards a pure section title if they can win their 16th consecutive competition.
The Eagles are 9-1 and can force equality and perhaps a part of the section championship if they can win for the 13th time in their last 14 games.
When the two met at the cranberry on December 11, North Catholic beat Oakland Catholic, 42-34.
In this match, the first -year goalkeeper of Trojan Horses Sam Weir hit three 3 points and led all the scorers with 19 points.
North Catholic won 112 consecutive section games dating from the 2016 season.