The North Catholic girls basketball teams showed some might in the past week, knocking off two of the top three ranked teams in WPIAL Class 3A. The wins vaulted the Trojanettes back to the top spot.
North Catholic started the season at No. 1 but fell to No. 2 after en early-season loss to Mt. Lebanon. Then last Thursday, North Catholic knocked off No. 1 Mohawk, 54-38. Four days later, North Catholic beat third-ranked Laurel, 55-30. In between those two wins came an impressive, 51-42 non-section victory against Oakland Catholic.
North Catholic is now 10-1 and plays Ellwood City Thursday night. The Trojanettes have an interesting game against Class 6A Norwin on Saturday.
Elsewhere in the rankings, Upper St. Clair moved up from No. 3 in Class 6A to No. 2 after a victory against Bethel Park. Mt. Lebanon dropped from No. 2 to 3. Upper St. Clair and Mt. Lebanon play in the same section and a game between the two certainly would be interesting. But it won’t happen. Mt. Lebanon won’t play any opponent that doesn’t wear masks — and Upper St. Clair doesn’t wear masks.
In Class 2A, Neshannock jumped from No. 4 to 2. It’s been a good year for basketball at Neshannock. The boys are undefeated and ranked No. 3 in Class 3A, while the Lancer girls are 8-1.
Here are the WPIAL girls basketball rankings (City League teams begin play next week):
WPIAL Class 6A
1. North Allegheny 10-0
2. Upper St. Clair 7-1
3. Mt. Lebanon 8-2
4. Bethel Park 6-2
5. Penn-Trafford 7-2
WPIAL Class 5A
1. Trinity 9-1
2. Chartiers Valley 11-1
3. Armstrong 5-0
4. Latrobe 6-1
5. South Fayette 6-2
WPIAL Class 4A
1. Beaver 8-0
2. Knoch 5-0
3. Quaker Valley 6-3
4. Blackhawk 7-3
5. Southmoreland 7-2
WPIAL Class 3A
1. North Catholic 10-1
2. Mohawk 11-2
3. Laurel 9-2
4. Brentwood 9-0
5. South Park 6-1
WPIAL Class 2A
1. Winchester Thurston 5-3
2. Neshannock 8-1
3. Serra Catholic 6-0
4. O.L.S.H. 8-1
5. Burgettstown 8-2
WPIAL Class 1A
1. Rochester 6-3
2. West Greene 7-2
3. Aquinas Academy 8-2
4. Bishop Canevin 4-1
5. Clairton 5-1
Mike White: mwhite@post-gazette.com and Twitter @mwhiteburgh
First Published: February 4, 2021, 5:23 p.m.
