GIRLSClass AWho: Kennedy Catholic (24-1) vs. Vincentian Academy (27-1).What: PIAA Western Region sem...

1. PIAA PLAYOFF PREVIEWS: KC boys and girls, Farrell and
WM boys play on
GIRLS
Class A
Who: Kennedy Catholic (24-1) vs. Vincentian Academy (27-1).
What: PIAA Western Region semifinals.
When: 3 p.m. Saturday.
Where: North Allegheny High School
Top Players: Kennedy Catholic - April Bocian, 6-3 Jr., 11.5 ppg., Rebekah Kish, 5-8 Sr., 9.4; Tatum
Kress, 5-9 Sr., 7.1; Makayla Shannonhouse, 5-6 Soph., 6.6; McKayla Fusco, 5-2 Soph., 5.0; Kayla
Kurelko, 5-5 Sr., 4.9; Taylor Zacherl, 5-4 Jr., 4.5; Raygen Fischer, 5-5 Jr., 4.3. Vincentian Academy -
Brenna Wise, 6-1 Sr., 19.7; Caroline Elliott, 5-10 Fr., 13.0; Maia Joiner, 5-7 Jr., 12.0; Torrieonna
Cash, 5-9 Jr., 9.1; Lexi Griggs, 6-0 Jr., 8.6; Kiersten Elliott, 6-1 Jr., 8.3; Marissa Muth, 5-5 Jr., 5.7.
Bonus Shots: Coach Chris Mele's (2nd year) KC Lady Golden Eagles are ranked 2nd in the state
while coach Ron Moncrief's (9th year) VA Lady Royals are ranked No. 1. ... KC has won 5 straight
District 10 championships while VA has captured 4 straight WPIAL crowns. ... KC has won 22
District 10 titles and one state championship while VA has captured 5 WPIAL titles under Moncrief
and are the defending state champions. ... VA has ousted KC in the western region semifinals the
past 3 years - 56-29 last year, 68-51 in 2012-13 and 56-51 in 2011-12. ... In last year's 56-29 loss,
Kish led KC with 9 points while Wise scored 15. ... Wise had 20 in the 68-51 win and 18 in the 56-51
decision. ... Last year, VA beat Bishop Guilfoyle (60-45) in the western region final and then defeated
District 2 champ Old Forge (58-34) for the state title. ... VA also played in the state championship
game in 2012-13 and lost to Tri-Valley (59-42). ... In 2011-12, VA lost to North Catholic in the
western region finals. ... KC's only loss this season has come against Class AAAA Warren (43-34).
Warren lost in the D-10 semifinals to Gen. McLane and did not advance into the state playoffs. ...
VA's lone loss was to Seton-LaSalle (72-68) on Dec. 9. VA has since won 25 straight games. Seton-
LaSalle won their 2nd straight WPIAL Class AA title and is still alive in the state playoffs. ... KC is on
a 5-game winning streak. ... KC ousted Elk County Catholic (54-37) in the 1st round of the state
playoffs. Kish (15) and Bocian (12) scored in double digits. ... KC then beat Bishop Guilfoyle (61-50)
on Wednesday. Kish (18), Bocian (14), and Kurelko (11) led the way. ... Wise rifled in 35 points and
grabbed 15 rebounds as VA hammered North Catholic (74-35) for the WPIAL title. ... VA rolled over
Southern Fulton (82-25) in the 1st round of the state playoffs (Wise 22, 10 rebounds) and defeated
Bishop Carroll (56-25) on Wednesday (Wise 19, Cash 13, C. Elliott 13). ... Wise has 2,233 career
points and 1,049 rebounds. She was named the Class A Player of the Year last season by sports
writers across the state and has already signed to play for coach Suzie McConnell-Serio at Div. I Pitt.
... KC's lone state title came in 2000-01 with a 48-46 win over Nativity BVM when Father Rick
Tomasone guided the Lady Golden Eagles. ... KC competed in the 1983-84 state title game (coach
Mick Janusko), but lost to Marian Catholic (64-49). ... The winner advances to the western region
final to play the winner between D-6 champ Blairsville or North Catholic.
BOYS

2. CLASS A
Who: Farrell (22-4) v. Clarion-Limestone (25-3)
What: Western Regional semifinals.
When: Today, 7 p.m.
Where: Clarion University's Waldo Tippin Gymnasium.
Top players: Farrell-Malik Miller, 6-3 Jr. swingman (20.8 ppg.); Thomas Ripley, 6-4 Sr. forward
(13.4); Jamel Brown, 5-9 Sr. point guard (13.0); Terrance Holloway, 5-10 Jr. swingman (11.9); Leon
Lewis, 5-11 Jr. swingman (9.7); Marcus McCoy, 6-1 Jr. post; Malik Thomas, 6-0 Jr. post; Curtis Seay,
5-10 Sr. guard. Clarion-Limestone-R.J. Laugand, 5-11 Sr. (17.9); Kolton Stiglitz, 6-5 Sr. (13.4); Dan
Callen, 6-6 Soph. (12.2); Josh Kahle, 6-2 Sr. (9.8); Jesse Pezzuti, 5-9 Soph. (7.3); Noah Rankin, 6-0 Jr.
(6.5).
Bonus Shots: Farrell and Clarion-Limestone are the 3rd- and 10th-rated teams in the state,
according to the latest PennLive poll. ... The Lions, led by 9th-year Head Coach Joe Ferguson (139-
79) logged the program's 1st PIAA playoff win in a dozen years in the opening round against
Cardinal Wuerl-North Catholic (60-45), led by Stiglitz's 14-point, 10-rebound double-double,
Laugand's 13-point, 10-assist twin-killing, and Rankin's 14 points. The Lions also coerced 21
turnovers. Clarion-Limestone then outlasted Vincentian Academy (97-90) -- the program's second
2nd-round win (other occurred in 1976. C-L was led by Laugand's 20-point (12-for-12 from the free-
throw line), 21-assist outing, Stiglitz's 19-point, 12-rebound double-double, and Callen and Kahle,
who collected 22 and 19 points, respectively. Callen came back after missing most of the North
Catholic game (ankle), according to d9sports.com. The win established a school single-season record
(25, eclipsing the former mark set by the 1961 District 9 titlists, 24-4). ... In the District 9 playoffs
the 4th-seeded Lions mauled Coudersport (72-55), top-seeded Elk County Catholic (49-40) and
Cameron County (72-53) for the program's 1st D-9 crown in 54 years (1961, defeating Sheffield in
OT), according to d9sports.com. ... Limestone has lost only to Pittsburgh suburb Munhall-based
Propel Andrew Street (61-58 and 83-71) and Venango County's Cranberry (65-62). ... The Steelers of
12th-year skipper Roland Shannonhouse (221-86) - fabled Farrell's 2nd-winningest coach behind
legendary Eddie McCluskey (590-153, 7 PIAA Quad-A championships) have swept Jeannette (76-55)
and Elk County Catholic (79-49) on the statewide stage, improving the program's PIAA playoffs
record to 73-30, according to former AD Matt Vannoy's research. During the latter, Miller mustered
a milestone, reaching 1,000 career markers on the game's final play as time expired. Miller has
manufactured double figures in all but 1 game this season. The Steelers' consistent scoring also
includes double-digit dependables Brown (18), Holloway (17), Ripley (14) and Lewis (13). The latter
has scored in double figures in 9 of his last 10 games.
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Who: Kennedy Catholic (23-4) v. Monessen (22-6).
What: Western Regional semifinals.
When: Today, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Moon Twp. High.

3. Top players: Kennedy Catholic-Sagaba Konate, 6-8 Jr. post (16.5 ppg.); Drew Magestro, 6-0 Soph. 2-
guard (13.5); Nick Tantuo, 6-2 Sr. swing-guard (11.1); Mohammed Konate, 6-4 Soph. swingman
(9.5); 'Dre Campbell, 5-9 Sr. point guard (7.8); Channing Phillips, 6-1 Soph. swingman (5.1); Nolan
Cianci, 6-1 Sr. forward; Carmen Schuville, 5-9 Jr. point guard. Monessen-Lavelle Rush, 5-9 Jr. (17
ppg.); Jaden Altomore, 6-2 Soph. (13.2); Justice Rice, 6-2 Soph. (13.1); Noah Rullo, 5-9 Sr. (9.1);
Noah Yartin, 6-2 Sr. (6.2).
Bonus Shots: According to available archives at The Herald these programs have a PIAA playoffs
past. Kennedy Catholic captured conquests in 2001-02 (69-64, state semifinals); 1997-98 (61-31, 1st
round); '93-94 (63-47, 1st round), and 1986-87 (55-53, western regional finals, when the Golden
Eagles were en route to the 2nd of their back-to-back state championships led by Bryan Sastokas
and Eddie Yoursh)). In '88-89 Monessen mustered a semifinals success (58-48, despite Gary Douglas'
22 points) as the Greyhounds garnered the 2nd of their back-to-back crowns. ...In his 31st season as
Monessen's mentor, Coach Joe Salvino skippered the Greyhounds from season-opening setbacks to
host Upper St. Clair (77-55) and Chartiers Valley (110-70) in the former's tipoff tourney, and host
Franklin Regional (67-54) at its Mike Rettger Tourney. Other losses included North Allegheny (102-
63), reigning PIAA Quad-A champion New Castle (77-29) and current AA top-ranked Aliquippa (95-
71). After 11 consecutive conquests WPIAL Section 3-A champion (12-0) is ranked 2nd in the
statewide PennLive poll, while Kennedy Catholic is 5th. ... Monessen mustered PIAA playoffs wins
over Venango Catholic (76-41) led by the scoring of Rush 21, Yartin 15, Altomore 13 and Rice 12,
and Portage (69-49), as Rush recorded 27 points, followed by Altomore and Rice, with 15 points
apiece. Portage pounced to an early 10-0 lead. ... The Greyhounds garnered the program's 4th
WPIAL tournament championship game appearance in the last 5 years and earned wins over St.
Joseph's (76-47), California (73-38), Vincentian Academy (85-73) and Jeannette (73-57). According to
the (Pittsburgh) Post-Gazette it was Salvino's 5th WPIAL crown (1995, 2001-02, 2011, 2015) and the
program's 7th. A 34-year playoff skein includes back-to-back commonwealth crowns (1988-89). ...
Sixth-year KC Head Coach Rick Mancino (96-44) has guided the Golden Eagles to the program's
deepest PIAA playoffs run since when Kennedy Catholic competed for the commonwealth crown, but
bowed to Girard College (80-70) in the 2009 title tilt. ... KC's balanced scoring has been the product
of double figures forged by Sag Konate (21), Magestro (17), Tantuo (15), Mo Konate (11), and
Campbell (9).
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Who: West Middlesex (24-3) v. Greensburg Central Catholic (23-3).
What: Western Regional semifinals.
When: Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
Where: North Allegheny High.
Top players: West Middlesex-Trey Staunch, 6-4 Sr. post (23.6 ppg); Gino DeMonaco, 5-9 Soph.
shooting guard (11.3); Josh Porterfield, 6-6 Jr. post (8.8); Ryan Dogan, 6-3 Jr. swingman (8.7); Isaac
Williams, 6-0 Sr. point guard (8.5); Nicky Cannone, 6-1 Jr. swing-guard (4.9); Andrew Long, 5-7 Sr.
guard; Mike Bacchetti, 6-1 Sr. forward. Greensburg Central Catholic-Romano Sebastiani, 6-4 Sr.
(22.7); Domenic Rullo, 6-4 Jr. (11.5); Tyler White, 5-9 Jr. (9.3); Collin Liberatore, 6-4 Sr. (8.4); Sam
Nowicki, 5-9 Jr. (7.1); Cole Reese, 6-0 Sr. (6.6).
Bonus Shots: This is a rematch of last year's 2nd-round game, won by GCC (73-57), also at North
Allegheny. Staunch scored 20 for West Middlesex, while Williams went for 15 and Porterfield posted

4. 14; Sebastiani (9) and Liberatore (6) contributed for the Centurions. Ultimately, the Centurions
suffered a western regional finals setback to Seton LaSalle (46-44). ... Coach Greg Bisignani guided
GCC to the WPIAL Section 2-AA championship (11-1), and this is the Centurion's 6th straight PIAA
playoffs appearance. ... Greensburg Central Catholic has copped state playoff wins over District 5
champ Chestnut Ridge (65-34), led by Sebastiani's 19, White's 15 and Rullo's 12, and Neshannock
(74-58) as Sebastiani scored 31 (6 treys), Rullo recorded a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double, and
White and Liberatore lent 11 and 10 points. ... In the WPIAL postseason tourney GCC got by Laurel
(61-53) and beat Neshannock (59-49), but bowed to Aliquippa (85-61). Its other lone losses occurred
to Seneca Valley (63-56) and Shady Side Academy (68-64). ... Staunch has scored 2,086 career
points -- 638 this season. ... Middlesex mentor Chad Mild (281-140) mused following the Big Reds'
recent win over Seton LaSalle, "We play with that chip on our shoulder. ... We try to use any
motivation that we can get, that we don't get the respect, things like that. But I think at this point in
the game I don't think anybody's gonna overlook us. ... Our kids know how good we are. We have a
very good group of kids, great parents, great community support - I can't say enough about them -
and the coaches on our team are very demanding. (The players) take the constructive criticism well;
it just tells a lot about the character and the type of kids I'm coaching. I'm very fortunate to be here
at Middlesex.