Quaker Valley has had its share of blowout games this season. The Quakers also have had a few close calls.
But the thing is that the Quakers have won them all — and that has now earned them a No. 1 ranking.
In the new Post-Gazette high school basketball rankings that were released Wednesday, Quaker Valley is the No. 1 team in Class 4A. The Quakers are undefeated at 12-0. They were ranked the No. 2 team since late December, but moved up to No. 1 this week after Belle Vernon, previously ranked No. 1, lost its first game of the season last week to Laurel Highlands.
Quaker Valley has been impressive, outscoring teams by an average of 72.6-45.7. The Quakers have had close wins against Lincoln Park and Montour.
Leading the way for Quaker Valley has been the terrific tandem of 6-foot-5 senior forward Markus Frank and 6-6 senior guard Adou Thiero. Frank is averaging 28 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.5 steals. He makes a living at drives and finishes around the rim, shooting a phenomenal 70% from the field.
Thiero is averaging 23.2 points, 8.7 rebounds an d 4.3 steals. He is shooting 54% from the field. Another key for Quaker Valley has been the play of senior point guard Jack Gardinier, who averages 8.5 points, 4.3 assists and 2.8 steals.
Quaker Valley is now one of only four undefeated teams left in the WPIAL. The others are North Hills (14-0), Laurel Highlands (14-0) and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (12-0).
In WPIAL girls basketball, five teams are still undefeated. They are North Allegheny (15-0), Mt. Lebanon (15-0), Blackhawk (14-0), Serra (13-0) and Union (14-0). Union is one of the biggest surprise teams in the WPIAL. The Scotties were 10-11 last season and didn’t win more than five games in the six previous seasons before that.
Here are the new Post-Gazette rankings for the WPIAL and City League:
BOYS
WPIAL CLASS 6A
1. North Hills 14-0
2. Fox Chapel 14-1
3. Central Catholic 12-3
4. Upper St. Clair 10-4
5. Mt. Lebanon 9-6
WPIAL CLASS 5A
1. Laurel Highlands 14-0
2. New Castle 12-1
3. Mars 13-1
4. Highlands 11-4
5. Penn Hills 12-2
WPIAL CLASS 4A
1. Quaker Valley 12-0
2. Belle Vernon 14-1
3. North Catholic 14-1
4. Lincoln Park 9-3
5. Montour 10-3
WPIAL CLASS 3A
1. Ellwood City 14-2
2. Seton LaSalle 12-2
3. Washington 10-1
4. Aliquippa 7-6
5. South Allegheny 12-3
WPIAL CLASS 2A
1. O.L.S.H. 12-0
2. Greensburg C.C. 10-1
3. Carlynton 13-1
4. Sto-Rox 7-3
5. Fort Cherry 14-2
WPIAL CLASS 1A
1. Bishop Canevin 8-4
2. Imani Christian 9-5
3. Union 14-2
4. Geibel 11-4
5. Leechburg 11-2
CITY LEAGUE
1. Allderdice 8-5
2. Obama 8-5
3. Carrick 5-8
GIRLS
WPIAL CLASS 6A
1. North Allegheny 15-0
2. Mt. Lebanon 15-0
3. Upper St. Clair 14-3
4. Norwin 11-4
5. Seneca Valley 10-5
WPIAL CLASS 5A
1. Chartiers Valley 14-1
2. Moon 14-2
3. Trinity 12-1
4. South Fayette 12-3
5. Latrobe 10-2
WPIAL CLASS 4A
1. Blackhawk 14-0
2. Southmoreland 12-2
3. Knoch 14-2
4. Elizabeth Forward 12-3
5. Belle Vernon 12-3
WPIAL CLASS 3A
1. North Catholic 9-4
2. Avonworth 12-1
3. South Park 11-3
4. Waynesburg 11-3
5. Freedom 10-4
WPIAL CLASS 2A
1. Neshannock 15-1
2. Serra Catholic 13-0
3. Greensburg Central Catholic 10-3
4. Burgettstown 12-1
5. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 11-4
WPIAL CLASS 1A
1. Union 14-0
2. Rochester 8-4
3. West Greene 13-3
4. Bishop Canevin 10-6
5. Aquinas Academy 6-5
CITY LEAGUE
1. Allderdice 4-3
2. Obama 6-5
3. Westinghouse 7-2
Mike White: mwhite@post-gazette.com and Twitter @mwhiteburgh
First Published: January 26, 2022, 4:36 p.m.
