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Thursday January 16, 2025 | 11:18 p.m.
Christopher Horner | TribLive
Fox Chapel’s Caden Kaiser hits a rebound past New Castle’s Jayden Shaffer Friday in New Castle.
We’re halfway through the regular season as the second half of sectional play begins for many of the district’s boys basketball teams on another frigid Friday.
The top teams compete in both Class 6A sections to get the ball rolling in the second half.
In Section 1-6A, there is a three-way tie for first place between New Castle (12-1), Fox Chapel (11-3) and Seneca Valley (9-6). All three have sectional records at the break of 5-1.
Fox Chapel visits the Seneca Valley on Friday.
In the first meeting between the two, the Foxes earned a double-digit home win over the Raiders in mid-December, 52-41.
The Red Hurricanes are also on the road Friday when they visit North Hills (3-4, 4-10).
The Indians are currently tied for fourth in the section with Pine-Richland.
In Section 2-6A, the top two teams at the midpoint meet Friday as defending champion Upper St. Clair (14-1) visits Central Catholic (9-4).
The Panthers are on a nine-game winning streak since suffering their only loss of the season against Montour on Dec. 14.
The Vikings are coming off a three-point triumph over Imani Christian on Tuesday and have won four straight and eight of their last 10 games since losing to USC last month, 46-31.
Three is a crowd
Section 1-6A isn’t the only boys basketball section with three teams tied for first place.
Traffic jams exist at the top of three other sections, all of which begin the second half on Friday.
• In Section 3-5A, Baldwin, Peters Township and South Fayette are all 5-1.
The Highlanders aren’t playing, but the Indians are home to Thomas Jefferson and the Lions are home to Ringgold.
• In Section 1-4A, Deer Lakes, Knoch and North Catholic are all 5-1 in the section.
The Lancers are in Freeport, the Knights are visiting Valley and North Catholic is not playing.
• In Section 3-4A, Belle Vernon (6-1), Elizabeth Forward (5-1) and Derry (5-1) all suffered a section loss.
While the Leopards and Warriors do not have a section game scheduled, the Trojans visit East Allegheny.
Two for 2-A
First place in two Class 2A boys basketball sections will be on the line Friday.
In Section 3-2A, Chartiers-Houston (12-2) enjoys a one-game lead in the loss column against Fort Cherry (7-6), Jefferson-Morgan (9-4) and West Greene (7 -6).
The top-ranked Buccaneers are 6-1 in the section as they prepare to open the second half schedule at home against the Rangers, who are 5-2 in the section.
In their first meeting, Chartiers-Houston won at Fort Cherry last month, 49-43.
Friday, the other two teams tied for second place are in action as the Rockets are on the road at Burgettstown (1-6, 4-10) and the Pioneers host Carmichaels (2-5, 3-9).
In Section 4-2A, the top teams face off when Neshannock (12-1) travels to take on Notre Dame du Sacre Coeur (10-4).
The Lancers currently sit in first place with a 7-0 record in the section, winners of five straight games.
The Chargers sit in second place with a 5-1 sectional record and are 6-3 overall since falling to Neshannock in December, 49-42.