Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 20

C2 PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1999 HIGH SCHOOLS SEMIFINALS AT A GLANCE Transfer squabble secondary as Montour faces Blackhawk BOYS A jj The games: New Castle (25-1) vs. McKeesport (20-5) at Duquesne University's Palumbo Center, 6:30 p.m. tomorrow; Penn Hills (20-5) vs. North Allegheny (17-7) at Palumbo Center, 8 p.m. tomorrow.

Top scorers: Drew Schifino, Penn Hills (27.6 ppg), David Young, New Castle (25.4), Steve Cherepko, McKeesport (17.9); Ed Pagley, New Castle (17.2); Pete Litterinl, North Allegheny (14.9). Notes: New Castle is trying to become the first team In WPIAL history to win three championships In a row in the largest classification. New Castle beat Central Catholic by only 63-57 in the quarterfinals. Central Catholic played a 1-3-1 zone and had success with it It will be interesting to see if McKeesport plays a zone. Pagley and Young both have more than 100 career 3-pointers.

Young already has signed a letter of intent with Xavier. North Allegheny's Litterini has averaged 21 points the past five games. This is the third time in four seasons that Penn Hills Coach Jim Rocco has guided the Indians to the semifinals. He lost his two other semifinal games. This is North Allegheny's first semifinal appearance since 1995.

Post-Gazette picks: New Castle by 14; North Allegheny by 1. KrsTS AiJV By Mike White Post-Gazette Sports Writer Six months ago, Montour boys' basketball Coach Rich Brennan accused Blackhawk of recruiting Daren Tielsch away from Montour. Now Blackhawk meets its accuser. Blackhawk (23-3) plays Montour (17-9) in the WPIAL Class AAA semifinals tonight at Duquesne University's Palumbo Center. The 8 p.m.

contest will be the second of a semifinal doubleheader. Chartiers Valley (20-6) plays South Park (16-8) in the first game at 6:30. Tielsch, a 6-foot-5 sophomore, transferred from Montour to Blackhawk shortly before the start of the school year. Brennan protested the move and the WPIAL ruled Tielsch ineligible, claiming he transferred for athletic intent. But the PIAA overturned the decision.

Blackhawk Coach John Miller will not comment on the subject and said Tielsch won't, either. Brennan said he doesn't want his team making Tielsch the focus of tonight's game. But he admits it's in his players' minds. "We're not trying to just keep Daren from scoring points or getting rebounds. The object is to win the basketball game," Brennan said.

"I think we all have the im- Eression that Daren left to go to a etter program, with a better coach and better players. If that helps motivate our kids, fine. But I'm not go-ingto motivate them that way." Tielsch was a part-time starter for Montour as a freshman. He comes off the bench for Blackhawk, but he is the team's third-leading scorer, averaging points a game. He is the top rebounder (5 a game) and shoots 55 percent from the field.

He had 22 points in Blackhawk's 76-42 quarterfinal victory over Waynesburg. "I believe, and will always believe, that Daren transferred to Blackhawk for athletic reasons," Brennan said. "Whether you can that or not is a different story, here was too much circumstantial evidence that went along with it and the bottom line was our school signed off on the transfer. "But I'm an adult and I think our kids are mature enough that we're looking past this. We don't have any regrets.

The chemistry on our team is good now." Montour was 3-6 at one point this season, but has won 14 of 17 since. Brennan said there are three main reasons for the turnaround. First off, he stopped practicing with the junior varsity. "This is the first year we did that," Brennan said. "Our JV benefited from it, but I think it held the varsity back a little." A second reason for the turn- The games: Chartiers Valley (20-6) vs.

South Park (16-8) at Palumbo Center, 6:30 p.m. today; Blackhawk (23-3) vs. Montour (17-9), at Palumbo Center, 8 p.m. today. Top scorers: James Pinkston, South Park (19.1); Gino Federico, Montour (17.7); Jason Brown, Chartiers Valley (17.2); Brandon Blackhawk (1 6.0); Reggie Wells South Park (1 5.1 Mark Franittj, Blackhawk (1 4.3).

Notes: Chartiers Valley beat South Park in the WPIAL championship last year and also in the PIAA semifinals. They split a pair of games this season, "I'm getting tired of seeing Chartiers Valley Coach Tim McConnell," said South Park Coach Reggie Wells Sr. Montour made the playoffs in 1995 and '97, and both times was knocked out by Blackhawk in the quarterfinals. Blackhawk shoots almost 50 percent from the field. Fuss-Cheatham averages three steals a game.

This is the 1 1 th season in a row that Blackhawk has made it to the semifinals. This is Montour's first semifinal appearance ever. Post-Gazette picks: South Park by Blackhawk by 5. cuss aa The games: Farrell (23-3) vs. Greensburg Central Catholic (17-8) at Butler, 8 p.m.

today; Quaker Valley (24-2) vs. Shady Side Academy (24-2), at Ambridge, 8 p.m. today. Leading scorers: Justin Shegog, Quaker Valley (21.5); Bates Szakos, Greensburg Central Catholic (17.6); Quincy Curry, Shady Side Academy (17.1); Mark Lovett, Shady Side Academy (14.7). Notes: Szakos is going to Akron on a football scholarship.

Farrell's Urbie Flint is a talented 6-foot-3 guard-forward worth watching. Farrell has won 12 games in a row. Farrell has won 13 WPIAL championships, the most of any school. This is the fourth year in a row that Shady Side has made the semifinals. Shady Side also has a talented point guard in Jarius Acie.

Shegog played a key role on Quaker Valley's team that won the WPIAL title two years ago. Quaker Valley is undefeated against Class AA teams, losing only to Class AAAA Central Catholic and Class AAA Pine-Richland. Post-Gazette picks: Farrell by Shady Side Academy by 1. CI CLASS A The games: Duquesne (20-5) vs. SL Joseph (20-4) at Butler, 6:30 p.m.

today; Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (1 5-8) vs. Summit Academy (1 2-9) at Ambridge, 6:30 p.m. today. Leading scorers: Chris Peyton, Summit Academy (23.4); Matt Beacom, St Joseph (20.8); Michael Ayers, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (20.7); Joe Boxley, Duquesne (18.6); Jaison Cook, Duquesne (15.4). Notes: Duquesne Coach Rich Moran will retire after the season.

He has won five WPIAL titles. Cook has a football scholarship to Northwestern. St Joseph is making its second semifinal appearance in school history. In 1992, Duquesne beat St Joseph in the semifinals. This is the first year in the WPIAL for Summit Academy.

The school is located between Freeport and Butler on the grounds of the old St Fidelis High School. Peyton is a 6-6 senior. This is OLSH's third semifinal appearance of the 1990s. Post-Gazette picks: Duquesne by Our Lady of the Sacred Heart by 2. Bob DonaldsonPost-Gazelte Blackhawk's Daren Tielsch, who shoots over Waynesburg's Alex Phillips in a playoff game last week, takes on Montour today.

CITY LEAGUE RESULTS, SCHEDULE MONDAY girls' basketball "playoffs cmr league SEMIFINALS Schsnlty Nsbody Psaborty 11 10 1T 1250 16 11 19 Hjnh scorers- (P) Samaka Suber LaKishs Jonas 1 5 (S) Carmen Bruce 26 WsstlnghouM 07, Brsl 40 (1240 Wtatlnghoustj ......21 22 14 1007 High scorers: (6) Kraten Qatluao 23. Vanessa Banal 10 (Wl Korri Hicks 16, Sjmeoia Priilya IS, Runnell La 11, Sidney Thomas 10 HOCKEY REGULAR SEASON 8HIML CLASS AA Peters Township 5 Canon-McMillan 3 South Park 9 Keystone Oaks 2 Thomas Jefferson 6 Charters Valley 4 8HIHLCLASS A ISetonUSalla 1 Hopewell 0 l-Forteit. WPIHL CLASS AA Deer Lakes 8..,. Quaker Valley 0 OTHERS Baldwin 4 Norwin 3 Central Catholic 3 Upper St. Clair 1 Erie McDowell 5 Harborcreek 2 Meadvilla 4 ML Lebanon 2 PLAYOFFS CLASS AA STATE QUALIFYING) First Round Fox Chapel 3 Indiana 2 Kittannmg 8 Franklin Regional 4 WPIHL CLASS AAA Championship Series Garnet North Allegheny 7 Hempfield 4 3 goals: Rich Caporal and Evan Neel, South Park: Dale Morgele.

Thomas Jeltarson. PLAYOFF SCHEDULE BOYS' BASKETBALL 't crnr league SEMIFINALS Tuesday Peabody (21-4) vs. Westinghouse (15-91 at Brashear. 3 Oliver (20-S) vs. Bras-hear (16-8) at Aliderdice, 3 p.m.

WPIAL CLASS AAAA SEMIFINALS Wednesday New Castle (25-1) vs. McK-eesport (20-5) at Duquesne University's Palum-bo Center, 6 30 p.m.; Penn Hills (20-5) vs. North Allegheny (17-7) at Duquesne University's Palumbo Center, 8 p.m. CHAMPIONSHIP Saturday at Duquesne University's Palumbo Center, 6 30 or 9 p.m. WPIAL CLASS AAA SEMIFINALS Tuesday Chartiers Valley (20-6) vs.

South Park (16-8) at Duquesne University's Palumbo Center. 6 30 p.m.; Blackhawk (23-3) vs. Montour (17-9) at Duquesne University Palumbo Center, 8 p.m. CHAMPIONSHIP Friday at Duquesne University's Palumbo Center, 9 p.m. V- WPIAL CLASS AA SEMIFINALS Tuesday Farrell (23-3) vs.

Greensburg Central Catholic (17-8) at Butler, 8 Quaker Valley (24-2) vs. Shady Side Academy (24-2) at Ambridge, 8 p.m. CHAMPIONSHIP Saturday at Duquesne University's Palumbo Center, 6.30 or 9 p.m. WPIAL CLABSA SEMIFINALS Tuesday Duquesne (20-5) vs. St.

Joseph (20-4) al Butler, 6.30pm.; Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (15-8) vs. Summit Academy (12-9) at Ambridge, 6:30 p.m. CHAMPIONSHIP Friday at Duquesne University's Palumbo Center, 6:30 p.m. GIRLS' BASKETBALL CITY LEAGUE 71 CHAMPIONSHIP Thursday Schenley (17-8) vs. Westinghouse (20-4) at Aliderdice, 6.30 p.m.

WPIAL CLASS AAAA SEMIFINALS Tuesday North Allegheny (23-3) vs. Mt. Lebanon (21-5) at Steel Valley. 8 p.m. Wednesday Oakland Catholic (24-2) vs.

Upper St. Clair (25-1) at Ringgold 8 p.m. CHAMPIONSHIP Saturday at Pitt's Fitzgerald Field House, 6:30 p.m. f-ymu. class am SEMIFINALS Wednesday West Mifflin (20-5) vs.

North Catholic (24-2) at Chartiers Valley, 6:30 p.m.; Blackhawk (24-1) vs. Steel Valley (16-8) at Charters Valley, 8 p.m. championship Saturday at Pitt's Fitzgerald Field House, 4:30 pm class SEMIFINALS Wednesday East Allegheny (23-2) vs. Aliquippa (14-9) at Montour, 6:30 p.m.; Seton-LaSalie (19-6) vs. Carlynton (21-5) at Montour, 6 pm, CHAMPIONSHIP Saturday at Pitt's Fitzgerald Field House, 2:30 p.m.

-t wpial class a. SEMIFINALS Yuesdsy-Vincentian (19-5) vs. Serra (18-3) at Sleel Valley, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Geibel (23-1) vs. Monessen (21-6) at Ringgold, 6:30 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP Saturday at Pitt's Fitzgerald Field House, 12:30 p.m. HOCKEY jj WPIHL CUSS MA STATE OUALIFYINQ Tuesday Shaler (12-10-3) vs. Plum (12-11-2) at Harmarville 9:15 p.m. Tuesday Penn Hills (14-7-4) vs. Aliderdice (10-13-2) at Golden Mile 7:30 p.m.

Thursday Shaler-Plum winner vs. Penn Hills-Aliderdice winner, site and time to be determined. WPIHL CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP Tuesday Game 1: Greensburg C.C. (17-4-2) vs. Hampton (16-3-4) or Pine-Richland (1 7-4-1) at Kittanning, 7:30 p.m.

STATE OUALIFYINQ Thursday Fox Chapel (17-4-3) vs. Franklin Regional (13-6-5), site and time to be determined. -1 I WPIHL CLASS A CHAMPIONSHIP Tuesday Game 1 Shady Side Academy (17- 4- 2) vs. Richland Cambria (17-1-1) at McKnight, 7:30 p.m. STATE OUALIFYINQ Tuesday Dner Lakes (12-5-2) or Mars (12-5-2) vs.

Bishop McCort (12-7-0) or Forest Hills (1 1- 5- 4), site and time to be determined. Tuesday Quigley (7-1 1 -1 vs. Bishop McCort (12-7-0) or Forest Hills (11-5-4), site and time to be determined. Thursday Deer LakesMars-Bishop McCort Foreal Hills winner vs. Quigley-Bishop McCortFor-est Hills winner, site and lime to be determined.

Ws, hopes to pass the Schifmo test around was putting 6-5 Gino Federico at center. Brennan had been playing him at guard-forward. "It might have been better for Gino as far as college goes to play on the outside," Brennan said. "But we told him he had to play underneath. That's where we needed him." Federico averages 17.7 points, but 20 over the past 15 games.

Brennan said another reason for the slow start was that Montour played some tough non-section opponents and he wasn't overly concerned about winning those games. 7tV 1 4" A fi'Jf "We played those games to learn how to play a fast-paced game if we have to," Brennan said. "We've slowed the tempo up since then, but we re able to run when we have to and slow it up when we have to." Blackhawk likes to play a fast-paced game, led by sophomore -Brandon Fuss-Cheatham, one of the best point guards in the WPIAL. "The thing about them is how do you stop all of their guys? Do you go into quote, junk defense?" Brennan said. "We'll have to throw some different things at them and see how they react." 'W -f.

(St sure if it will work the second time." North Allegheny's defense has worked most ofthe time this season. The Tigers have held inine opponents to 40 points or fewer. Only seven teams have scored more than 50. "I think Penn Hills may be the most talented team in the WPIAL, in terms of ability," Jula said. "I think will be a challenge to hold Schifino to reasonable numbers, but to also keep the whole team down." get rematch Westinghouse beat Schenley, 76-73, in overtime Dec.

22 and 62-59 in' the regular season finale two weeks ago. Bruce, who is averaging 19 points per game, scored 35 in the first game but was held to 15 two weeks ago. I Schenley beat Westinghouse, 69-53, in the championship game last year. This is the llth consecutive season Westinghouse will play for the City League championship. Westinghouse is 4-6 in those 10 title game appearances.

By Mike White Post-Gazette Sports Writer Drew Schifino's schtick is scoring. No one in the WPIAL does it better than the 6-foot-3 junior who led the league in scoring this season. North Allegheny plays a macho-style, in-your-chest defense. No one in the WPIAL does it better than the Tigers, who led the league in scoring defense this season. What would happen if the supreme scorer met the daring defenders? Duquesne University's Palumbo Center will be the site of the showdown tomorrow night.

And to add a little more, you can throw in a berth in the WPIAL Class AAAA championship game. Penn Hills (20-5) will meet North Allegheny (17-7) in the second game of a semifinal doubleheader at 8 p.m. New Castle (25-1) plays McKeesport (20-5) in the first game at 6:30. North Allegheny gives up only 43.1 points a game. But Schifino scored more than that in one game this season when he had 45.

For the year, Schifino averages 27.6 points, and he had 36 and 31 in Penn Hills' first two playoff games. "I think he's the best player in the WPIAL said North Allegheny Coach Mark Jula. "When you sit in the crowd, he does some things that you just go 'woo' over. He shoots the 3-pointer, he goes to the rim, he dunks, he hangs in the air. I don't know what he can't do.

Well, I haven't seen the hook shot from him yet. But that's about it." This is the second meeting this season between North Allegheny The games: Peabody (21-4) vs. Westinghouse (15-9) at Brashear, 3 p.m. today; Oliver (20-5) vs. Brashear (16-8) at Aliderdice, 3 p.m.

today. Leading scorers: Stan Grandy, Brashear (18.4); Edwin Biggs, Oliver (18.0); Anthony Rozier, Westinghouse (17.4); Mike Phenizee, Peabody (15.8); Darryl Haymon, Oliver (14.2). Notes: The City League will send four teams to the PIAA playoffs this season, which means all four semifinalists have qualified. Westinghouse will be in the Class AAA playoffs while Oliver, Brashear and Peabody will be in Class AAAA. Peabody's Phenizee is a 6-8 senior and combines with 6-5 Will Summers for a potent one-two punch on the inside.

A few Division I colleges have expressed interest in Phenizee. Peabody has defeated Westinghouse twice this season. Biggs missed Oliver's final game of the regular season with an injured wrist and Oliver lost to Brashear, 80-71 Biggs returned for the quarterfinals against South last Friday and scored 30 points. Brashear owns a 67-53 victory over North Allegheny, which has made it to the WPIAL Class AAAA semifinals. Post-Gazette picks: Peabody by Oliver by 2.

GIRLS 'S class AAAA i The games: North Allegheny (23-3) vs. Mt Lebanon (21-5) at Steel Valley, 8 tonight; Oakland Catholic (24-2) vs. Upper St Clair (25-1) at Ringgold, 8 p.m. tomorrow Leading scorers: Beth Friday, Upper St. Clair (22.0); Katie Bulger, Oakland Catholic (21.8); Ashlee Kelly, Mt Lebanon (19.5); Jessica Brungo, North Allegheny (15.2).

Notes: The key to the Mt Lebanon-North Allegheny game could be Mt Lebanon shooting guard Erin Marshall, who has scored 51 points in the Blue Devils' first two playoff victories. This could be a high-scoring game. Mt Lebanon has averaged 74 points in two playoff games while North Allegheny has averaged 71 North Allegheny is trying to make it to the title game for the third year in a row. The Oakland Catholic-Upper St Clair game features a showdown between two strong inside players Friday and Bulger. Friday already has signed with Duquesne University.

This is the seventh time in eight years that Upper St Clair has made it to the semifinals. Another key matchup is the point guards Oakland Catholic's Amy Kunich and Upper St. Clair's Teniece Johnson. Oakland Catholic Coach Suzie McConnell Serio lives in Upper St Clair. Post-Gazette picks: Mt Lebanon by Oakland Catholic by 1.

77 CLASS AAA 7. I The games: West Mifflin (20-5) vs. North Catholic (24-2) at Chartiers Valley, 6:30 p.m. tomorrow; Blackhawk (24-1) vs. Steel Valley (16-8) at Chartiers Valley, 8 p.m.

tomorrow. Leading scorers: Jess Strom, Steel Valley Tanlsha Wright, West Mifflin (22.3); Lisa Miller, Blackhawk (16.6). Notes: North Catholic has held seven of Its past eight opponents to 40 points or less. But the Trojanettes will have to slow Wright, who has scored 35 and 29 in two playoff games. West Mifflin met North Catholic in the semifinals in 1996 and '97.

North Catholic won in 1996 and West Mifflin won in '97. All season, Blackhawk has been a prohibitive favorite to win the title. The Cougars won WPIAL titles in 1996 and '97. Dori Anderson Is in her first year as Black-hawk's coach. Steel Valley's Strom has an injured knee but is expected to play.

Post-Gazette picks: North Catholic by 1 Blackhawk by 10. 'clfleg The games: East Allegheny (23-2) vs. Aliquippa (1 4-9) at Montour, 6:30 p.m. tomorrow; Seton-LaSalle vs. Carlynton (21-5) at Montour, 8 p.m.

tomorrow. Leading scorers: Brooke Stewart, East Allegheny (31.6); Charissa Greene, Aliquippa (23.5); Kacy O'Brien, Carlynton (20.7). Notes: Stewart led the WPIAL in scoring this season and is the second-reading scorer all-time with more than 3,000 points. East Allegheny has won 19 in a row. Seton-LaSalle is coached by Jerry Conboy, who coached the Point Park men for 20 years.

Cartynton Coach Mike McConnell is a Seton-LaSalle graduate. O'Brien has scored more than 1 ,000 career points and is only a sophomore. Post-Gazette picks: East Allegheny by Carlynton by 2. 7 -r The games: Vincentian (19-5) vs. Serra (18-3) at Steel Valley, 6:30 tonight; Geibel (23-1) vs.

Monessen (21-5) at Ringgold, 6:30 p.m. tomorrow. Leading scorers: Latrtia Williams, Monessen (1 7.8); Erica Hogan, Geibel (17.0); Jessica Opyrchal, Serra (16.0). Notes: Vincentian and Serra split two games this season. Vincentian starts two freshman Renee Robinson and Shaunna Ambrose.

This is the fourth year in a row that Serra has made it to the semifinals. Geibel defeated Monessen twice this season by scores of 56-38 and 53-48. Monessen's Williams and Carla Howard are 6 feet, but Monessen's guards could be the key against Geibel. This is the eighth year in a row that Geibel has made it to the semifinals. The previous seven times were In Class AA.

Post-Gazette picks: Serra by Geibel by 8. I fir" John HellerPost-Gaette Penn Hills with star Drew Schifino, who led the WPIAL in scoring this season, faces North Allegheny in a WPIAL semifinal game today. Westinghouse, Schenley and Schifino. Penn Hills beat North Allegheny, 48-42, in overtime on the second night of the season. Schifino had only 17 in the game, one of only two games that he didn't score 20 or more.

"We played some triangle-and-two defense on him and Jamar Hubbard," Jula said. "But that was the second game of the year and I think we caught them off guard a little. This is three months later. What we did the first time, I'm not so CITY LEAGUE G11ILS PLAYOFFS Hicks had 16, Sameera Philyaw 15, Runnell Lee 11 and Sidney Thomas 10. Westinghouse has not lost to a City League team all season.

Schenley beat Peabody, 56-50, in the other semifinal. Schenley was trailing, 38-37, at the end of the third quarter, but rallied behind 5-foot-10 freshman Carmen Bruce, who scored a game-high 26 points. From local dispatches The City League girls' championship will have a familiar look to it Thursday afternoon. It will be a rematch of last year's title game. Westinghouse (20-4) and Schenley (17-8) will play for the title again after winning semifinal games yesterday.

The final will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Aliderdice Westinghouse beat Brashear, 67-40. Four Westinghouse players scored in double figures. Korri.