Norwin coach Brian Brozeski took a lot of positives out of his team’s 63-53 home loss to Upper St. Clair on Jan. 3.
What impressed him most was how his team was still chasing down every loose ball and playing high-pressure defense late in a game where the outcome had been largely decided at halftime.
That hustle is why the Knights won the WPIAL Class 6A title last year and also what led them to a 56-47 road victory against the Panthers on Monday in the rematch.
Norwin has had its peaks and pratfalls this season, but so has every team in Class 6A. There is not one team in the classification that does not have what, in other years, would be considered a “bad” loss.
Even so, the Knights, who have been ranked throughout the season, take over as the new No. 1 in the classification this week.
Also making a move back to No. 1 is Neshannock. The Lancers, who came into the season as the top team in Class 2A, dropped following an overtime upset loss at the hands of Aliquippa on Jan. 2. But coach Luann Grybowski had the team ready for the rematch as they pummeled the Quips by a 30-point mercy rule margin to re-establish themselves as the team to beat in the classification.
Here are the rest of the Post-Gazette girls basketball rankings:
WPIAL Class 6A
1. Norwin 10-6
2. Upper St. Clair 12-5
3. Seneca Valley 12-5
4. Mt. Lebanon 11-7
5. Canon-McMillan 10-7
WPIAL Class 5A
1. South Fayette 17-1
2. Peters Township 15-2
3. Penn-Trafford 18-0
4. Shaler 16-2
5. Thomas Jefferson 16-2
WPIAL Class 4A
1. North Catholic 15-2
2. Blackhawk 16-2
3. Oakland Catholic 13-3
4. Elizabeth Forward 13-3
5. Beaver 13-4
WPIAL Class 3A
1. Shady Side Academy 18-0
2. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 16-2
3. Greensburg Central Catholic 13-3
4. Keystone Oaks 14-1
5. Avonworth 9-6
WPIAL Class 2A
1. Neshannock 16-2
2. Fort Cherry 15-2
3. Winchester Thurston 14-2
4. Aliquippa 12-3
5. Chartiers-Houston 13-4
WPIAL CLASS 1A
1. Union 17-0
2. Geibel 18-1
3. Serra Catholic 11-6
3. Clairton 11-4
5. St. Joseph 12-5
City League
1. Allderdice 13-5
2. Obama Academy 6-8
3. Brashear 5-4
First Published: January 29, 2025, 11:08 a.m.