Matt’s Picks
Overrated: Gateway
Underrated: Penn Hills
Final Four: Moon, Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Regional, Shaler
Champion: Shaler
This year’s 5A tournament is the most wide open the WPIAL has seen in quite some time. Each of the section winners seem to have a roughly equal chance of coming home with the title. So, how do you pick a winner when you have several teams with a legitimate possibility of winning it all? To do so, I’ve decided to emphasize two key metrics of success: defense and experience.
Shaler is the best defensive team in 5A allowing just 45 points per game. On any given night, a team can be on or off from a shooting perspective, particularly behind the 3-point arc. While 3-point shooting is important to a team’s success (Shaler Area is also among the WPIAL’s elite in that category), the intense man-to-man defense for the Titans have stumped opponents time and time again. Additionally, they are the most experienced team in the tournament with eight seniors, some of whom earned varsity playing time in their freshman year.
I like Penn Hills to upset Gateway in the first round. The Gators were defeated by the Indians at home in overtime earlier this season and they have lost five of their last ten entering the tournament. That is a troubling sign for a top eight seed. For Penn Hills, they have finished the season stronger than they began it, winning seven out of their last ten and three in a row.
Just like the NCAA tournament, the WPIAL tournament can be filled with an upset or two that no one sees coming. Particularly, Peters Township and South Fayette have capable rosters to knock off a higher seed, but going into the tournament, it seems that the top four seeds (section champions Moon, Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Regional, and Shaler) are a step above the rest.
Shaler Area’s path to the Petersen Events Center looks to be destined to be filled with overtime rematches. Assuming Shaler Area defeats Chartiers Valley and South Fayette bests Bethel Park, it will set up an epic showdown that ended earlier this year with a Kaden Orga buzzer beater to seal a Titan victory. A potential rematch looks to be challenging for both teams and a classic to watch. Similarly, the Titans lost to Franklin Regional in double overtime on the road, which, if not for a controversial no-call, Shaler Area could have won with Sam Himrod hitting a game-winning free throw in the first overtime.
Regardless of our predictions, this year’s tournament looks to be an exciting one, especially if Brady’s bracket comes to fruition.
Brady’s Picks
Overrated: Thomas Jefferson
Underrated: Penn Hills
Final Four: Moon, Peters Township, Penn Hills, Shaler
Champion: Shaler
5A is seeing one of the best years where they have so many teams that can make a run at the championship. There isn’t a team in the tournament who is going to have a walk through to the finals. With that being said, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see some upsets this year.
I think the sleeper of this whole tournament is Penn Hills. The defending champs of 5A are a very well-rounded team that battled through a tough regular season schedule. Penn Hills will match up with Gateway in the first round who they beat on the road in the regular season, 55-48. I also think that they will pull the biggest upset in 5A shocking the 2nd seeded Franklin Regional in the quarterfinals.
My overrated team of the tournament will be Thomas Jefferson. Although I don’t think losing the 4v5 matchup is an upset, I think that they will drop the third matchup of the year against Peters Township.
Personally, I have Shaler winning it all because of their experience and strong senior class. This Titan team has experienced the ups and downs of playoffs since their freshman year and I think this is the year they bring back a WPIAL championship.
