WPIAL girls pairings
Albert Gallatin seeded fourth GREEN TREE – Albert Gallatin finally seemed to earn a bit of respect from the WPIAL, according to the girls basketball playoff pairings which were unveiled on Tuesday at the Green Tree Radisson.
The Section 2 champion Lady Colonials (20-4, 14-0), led by WPIAL scoring leader Loui Hall, were seeded fourth in Class AAAA and will play 13th-seeded Mount Lebanon in the first round at 8 p.m. on Tuesday at Penn-Trafford.
The team that came within a hair of beating Albert Gallatin twice this season didn’t get nearly as good a draw, however.
Laurel Highlands (15-8, 10-4), which finished second to AG in Section 2, was made the 12th seed and will be matched up against fifth-seeded Hempfield (20-4, 14-0), the Section 1 champion, in the first round. That game tips off at 6:30 p.m. on Monday at Ringgold.
Fillies coach Rick Hauger was surprised by his team’s low seed, though.
“I would say it’s probably pretty close to what we expected,” Hauger said. “We thought we’d play either Hempfield, Butler or Chartiers Valley, which are all bigger and stronger teams that we are, so we’d be in about the same situation with any one of those.”
Chartiers Valley and Butler were seeded No. 6 and No. 7, respectively.
“We knew we’d be matched up against a very good team, and that’s what Hempfield is. Hopefully, they’ll bring out the best in us, because that’s what we’ll need to win.
“I’m just happy to be in the playoffs. We’re looking forward to lining up and taking our best shot.”
Ironically, if the Fillies win they might get a third shot at Albert Gallatin, since the winners of those games would play in the quarterfinals.
Albert Gallatin was probably boosted by its schedule. In non-section action, the Lady Colonials lost to McKeesport twice, including without Hall on Monday when the star senior was forced to serve a one-game suspension by the WPIAL for an incident in the Jan. 4 game against Latrobe. Albert Gallatin also lost to top-seeded Oakland Catholic, which is ranked No. 1 in the state, and Class AAA power North Catholic.
Albert Gallatin won at Hempfield and also posted wins against Class AAA West Mifflin and Beaver, and Class A Sto-Rox, all of whom made the playoffs.
Oakland Catholic was seeded No. 1 in Class AAAA, followed by Upper St. Clair and North Allegheny.
In Class A, Section 2 champion Carmichaels (20-2, 14-0) was tabbed as the fourth seed, but drew a tough Duquesne squad nonetheless. They will play at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Monessen. The 13th-seeded Lady Dukes (13-9, 5-5) finished tied for third in rugged Section 3 behind co-champions Monessen and Clairton, who are the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds, respectively.
The matchup was expected by Lady Mikes coach Jim Lane, who said before the meeting began he felt his team would get Duquesne.
“They’re young and very, quick and very athletic,” Lane said of the Lady Dukes. “It’ll definitely be a challenge. They come out of a tough section so they’re very battle tested.”
Lane took great pride in accepting the section plaque his team earned, the first in the school’s girls basketball history.
“It was wonderful to go up there and get that,” Lane said. “It’s a tribute to these kids. They’ve been a fantastic bunch.”
Geibel Catholic (15-8, 11-3), which finished tied for second with Avella behind the Lady Mikes, was made the eighth seed and will take on ninth-seeded Farrell (14-7, 10-4), which tied for second in Section 1. That game will be played at 6:30 p.m. on Monday at Upper St. Clair.
The Lady Gators are back in the playoffs after a two-year absence.
“It’s nice to be back,” said Geibel coach George Bortz, who sat out last year while recovering from injuries suffered in an automobile accident. “I miss it.
“I thought we might be around seventh or eighth. I knew it would be around the middle of the pack somewhere. I think it’s pretty fair. After the top couple seeds, there are a bunch of teams that are all bunched together. I don’t know much about Farrell, but I think we’ll be competitive.”
Serra was the top seed.
The top four seeds in Class AAA are North Catholic, Blackhawk, Moon and Valley.
The top four seeds in Class AA are Greensburg Central Catholic, Washington, Carlynton and Avonworth.