Uniontown, LH move to tougher section
There was plenty of movement among area basketball teams in the recently released WPIAL realignment, but none more noticeable that the lateral move made by the boys teams from Uniontown and Laurel Highlands.
The Red Raiders and Mustangs are moving only next door, but into a much tougher section alignment. The two Fayette County teams stay in Class AAA, but move from Section 3 to Section 4.
Gone are the likes of Yough, Derry and Southmoreland. In their places stand Elizabeth-Forward, Thomas Jefferson and West Mifflin. The Titans knocked LH out of this year’s WPIAL playoffs last Friday, while Thomas Jefferson and Elizabeth-Forward earned higher seeds than 20-1 Uniontown. The Red Raiders play the Warriors Friday night. Also in the new section are Belle Vernon, Ringgold and Steel Valley.
It is hard to dispute that a lack of competition in Section 3-AAA this season hurt Uniontown in the seeding process. That shouldn’t be an issue next season. In fact, it might be safe to say the WPIAL Class AAA champion might come out of Section 4, especially with Chartiers Valley, this year’s top-seed, moving up to Class AAAA next season.
Not so fast, says Uniontown coach Rob Kezmarsky. “Chartiers Valley goes up, but Hampton (Section 1) and New Castle (Section 2) come back down to Class AAA,” he said. “Our goals will be the same, though. We’ll compete for our 48th section championship and it’s going to be a great section, which is nothing but good for us. It will give us more credibility for the playoffs next year.”
Southmoreland remains in Section 3, along with holdovers Mount Pleasant, Derry, Yough and Greensburg Salem. New to Section 3 are Indiana, Kittanning and West Shamokin.
“It’s also good to play a lot of the same teams in basketball that we play in football,” Kezmarsky said. “We’ll have great rivalries with Thomas Jefferson, West Mifflin and Elizabeth-Forward. We do plan to talk to Greensburg Salem about playing them in exhibition games.”
On the distaff side, Laurel Highlands comes back down to Section 3-AAA after spending two years up in Section 1-AAAA. It is certain to be a popular move to coach Ken Riddell, not to mention Section 3 holdovers Uniontown, Southmoreland, Mount Pleasant, Greensburg Salem, Indiana and Yough.
Speaking of Section 1-AAAA, it remains intact for both boys and girls, except for LH’s drop, with Albert Gallatin and Connellsville being joined by Hempfield, Kiski Area, Latrobe, Norwin and Penn-Trafford.
Changes in the Class AA and Class A alignments, including Carmichaels’ moves up to Class AA, may be found elsewhere in today’s sports section.