The New Castle boys basketball team was bumped up to Class 6A this season because of the PIAA’s competitive-balance rule. But so far, New Castle has been much more than competitive in their new classification.
New Castle is off to a 4-0 start and takes over the No. 1 spot in this week’s Post-Gazette WPIAL Class 6A rankings. New Castle started the season No. 2, but moved up a spot this week after Central Catholic, previously ranked No. 1, lost to Gateway. Central Catholic is No. 2.
New Castle has won seven WPIAL titles under coach Ralph Blundo since 2012. The Red Hurricanes have been led this season by senior guards Jonathan Anderson and Isaiah Boice. Anderson is averaging 20.3 points and Boice 18.8.
Elsewhere in the boys rankings, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is the new No. 1 team in Class 3A. Like New Castle, OLSH was bumped up from Class 2A to 3A under the PIAA’s competitive-balance rule. And like New Castle, OLSH is still winning. The Chargers are 5-0 and they set the state record for longest winning streak earlier this season. That streak now stands at 73 games.
In the girls rankings, Upper St. Clair and North Allegheny switched spots again at the top of the Class 6A rankings. Upper St. Clair started the season No. 1, but was replaced by North Allegheny last week. Upper St. Clair takes over the top spot again this week after North Allegheny lost to Wheeling Park (W.Va.).
Also, Mt. Lebanon and Chartiers Valley dropped out of the Class 6A rankings and Peters Township and Baldwin moved into the No. 4 and 5 spots.
Here are the complete rankings:
BOYS
WPIAL CLASS 6A
1. New Castle 4-0
2. Central Catholic 1-1
3. Butler 4-1
4. Mt. Lebanon 2-1
5. Norwin 5-0
WPIAL CLASS 5A
1. Penn Hills 1-1
2. Mars 4-0
3. North Hills 3-1
4. Gateway 2-2
5. Fox Chapel 4-1
WPIAL CLASS 4A
1. Lincoln Park 3-0
2. Laurel Highlands 4-0
3. Highlands 4-0
4. Hampton 3-1
5. North Catholic 2-1
WPIAL CLASS 3A
1. O.L.S.H. 5-0
2. Steel Valley 0-4
3. Seton LaSalle 1-3
4. Shady Side Academy 4-1
5. Mohawk 5-0
WPIAL CLASS 2A
1. Aliquippa 0-0
2. Bishop Canevin 3-0
3. Fort Cherry 2-2
4. Greensburg C.C. 2-2
5. Jeannette 3-1
WPIAL CLASS 1A
1. Imani Christian 1-3
2. Union 2-0
3. Carlynton 2-2
4. Monessen 4-1
5. Neighborhood Academy 4-0
CITY LEAGUE
1. Allderdice 4-0
2. Obama 1-1
3. Brashear 1-3
GIRLS
WPIAL CLASS 6A
1. Upper St. Clair 3-1
2 North Allegheny 2-1
3. Norwin 5-0
4. Peters Township 4-1
5. Baldwin 3-2
WPIAL CLASS 5A
1. South Fayette 4-0
2. McKeesport 4-1
3. Trinity 3-1
4. Penn-Trafford 5-1
5. Shaler 5-1
WPIAL CLASS 4A
1. Blackhawk 4-0
2. North Catholic 3-2
3. Beaver 4-1
4. Greensburg Salem 4-1
5. Derry 4-2
WPIAL CLASS 3A
1. Avonworth 3-1
2. Neshannock 2-2
3. Shady Side Academy 4-1
4. OLSH 3-1
5. Laurel 3-1
WPIAL CLASS 2A
1. Freedom 5-0
2. Shenango 4-0
3. Greensburg CC 3-1
4. Burgettstown 3-1
5. Serra Catholic 3-0
WPIAL CLASS 1A
1. Aquinas Academy 5-0
2. Bishop Canevin 1-4
3. Union 0-2
4. St. Joseph 3-2
5. Monessen 2-1
CITY LEAGUE
1. Obama Academy 2-1
2. Westinghouse 0-4
4. Allderdice 1-5
First Published: December 14, 2022, 12:44 p.m.
