CHURCHILL - Imhotep Charter coach Richard Gullien, who was filling in for coach David Hargrove Saturday, has the right idea for what the early part of the basketball season should be about. The opportunity is there for most schools to take a trip and see competition they typically wouldn't see otherwise.

The Panthers left Philadelphia and traveled to Woodland Hills High School for the Play 4 Mae Showcase. Imhotep came away with losses to Shady Side Academy and Belle Vernon, but came away with information about the program.

"It's so early in the season and we're still just trying to find ourselves," Gullien said. "Every season has its own story, so the big adjustment was let's just stick to our principles, let's stick to our values and the discipline of the fundamentals and let that just kind of work its way throughout the game."

The Panthers missed six of their first seven 3-pointers against the Leopards, but came back to take the lead in the second half thanks to its aggressive defense. Read a full story on the game here.

​"I thought defensively we played well and we were able to create turnovers," Guillen said. 

​The Leopards bounced back after only scoring seven points in their season opener. Belle Vernon trailed by 10 points before it came storming back to beat the Panthers.

"It was just hustle," Belle Vernon forward Isis Almighty said. "We worked as a team and hustled."

The Pitt women's volleyball team will have a home path to the NCAA Division I women's volleyball national semifinals. The Panthers were chosen as one of the four top seeds for this season's tournament. Pitt has reached the national semifinals in four consecutive seasons.

In three of those seasons, 2021, 2023 and 2024, Pitt played at home all the way to the semifinals. In 2022, Pitt took a detour through Madison, Wisc., on its way to the final four. The Panthers have yet to advance to the national championship match.

Pitt lost to host Louisville in the semifinals last season. The Panthers are 26-4 this season and finished 18-2 in ACC play. Pitt shared the conference title with Stanford, which beat the Panthers in five sets this season. Pitt will open this tournament with a matchup with UMBC.

The Panthers swept UMBC in the first round in 2021.

Franklin Regional graduate Spencer Lee took a tough loss at Real American Freestyle 03 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Lee, who was a large betting favorite, had a 9-4 lead with 23 seconds remaining when his Ukranian opponent, Andrii Yatsenko, attempted a trip and threw Lee to his back.

Yatsenko quickly capitalized on the position, wrapping up the pin in the final 10 seconds of the 135-pound bantamweight match.

Lee, a former Olympic silver medalist, was a significant favorite ahead of the bout. Lee was a -1718 (bet $1,718 to make $100) favorite according to Nxtbets. Anyone bold enough to back Yatsenko was paid out at +700. A $100 bet on Yatsenko would have paid out $800.

Lee is now 41-4 in his freestyle career. This year, Lee has taken three losses. He challenged himself by taking on Masanosuke Ono at the FlowWrestling: Night in America at 59.5 kilograms and lost 3-2 back in February.

Lee took his other loss at the 2025 World Championships, where he placed ninth at 57 kilograms. Lee opened the tournament with a win, but was eliminated when he lost to Arsen Harutyunyan by technical fall, 14-3.
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Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges.

​The Pittsburgh Central Catholic football team opened up the season by testing itself against La Salle College at the Wolvarena. Thanks to a 32-14 win over Harrisburg in the PIAA Class 6A semifinals Saturday night, the Vikings will end their season against the Explorers, but at a different venue.

Pittsburgh Central Catholic (12-1) hasn't lost since La Salle College handed them a 23-6 defeat in the season opener. The Explorers are led by Mizzou commit Gavin Sidwar at quarterback. This will be the third time that Central Catholic has reached the final since the PIAA expanded to six classes in 2016.

The Vikings previously lost to St. Joseph's Prep in 2016 and 2024. Central Catholic has four state championship wins, including the first-ever Class 4A title in 1989. The Vikings last brought home the crown in 2015, when it knocked off Parkland, 21-18.

Farrell rolls over Seton LaSalle
The District 10 champion Steelers flexed their offensive muscles in a 40-19 win over Seton LaSalle. Farrell leaned on Juelz Johnson, who rushed for more than 200 yards.

The Rebels (12-2) fell behind 24-0.

Bishop McDevitt breaks Peters Township's heart
Crusaders kicker Aidan Greall made a 24-yard field goal as time expired to help District 3 champion Bishop McDevitt beat Peters Township, 31-28. The Indians nearly had another wild comeback win. Peters Township trailed 14-0 and 21-10.

The Indians took their only lead, 25-21, when quarterback Nolan DiLucia threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to P.J. Luke.

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.

The Clairton Bears got back on track offensively after a minor speed bump during the WPIAL Class A championship last Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. The Bears beat up District 10 champion Greenville Friday night at Ellwood City  to clinch a spot in the state championship game with Bishop Guilfoyle.

This will be the third meeting between the Bears and Marauders in the PIAA final. Bishop Guilfoyle won the two previous meetings. The Bears (14-1) never let Greenville get any ideas about springing an upset. After being limited to six points by Laurel last week, the Bears scored six first-half touchdowns.

Brandon Murphy returned two punts for touchdowns against the Trojans. Deon Lovelace-Pompey ran for 109 yards for Clairton.

Avonworth will get familiar foe
The Antelopes improved to 14-0 by sliding by Penn Cambria 41-15 in a Class 3A semifinal. Avonworth will now get to face off against Nothwestern Lehigh, which knocked off the Antelopes 36-33 in the championship game last season. Avonworth beat Penn Cambria despite playing without running back Dimitri Velisaris, who was out with a bruised leg.

Avonworth quarterback Carson Bellinger passed for 258 yards and two touchdowns.

Quips come up just short
Twin Valley will know that it deserved its opportunity to play in its first-ever PIAA Class 4A final. The Raiders built a 28-6 lead at halftime, but allowed Aliquippa to score three unanswered touchdowns in the second half of what ended up being a four-point victory.

The Quips rallied in the second half behind two touchdown passes from Yale commit Marques Council Jr. He threw touchdown passes to Qa'Lille Goode and Antonio Reddic. Akiva Woods also returned an interception for a touchdown for the Quips. Aliquippa, which finished 10-4, wrapped up an improbable WPIAL title with a memorable playoff run.

Matt Sieg's college commitment should create some interesting local ripples in the recruiting scene. Sieg was one of many recruits who had previously chosen Penn State who wanted to take a look at other options when James Franklin was let go. While Nittany Lions interim coach Terry Smith is a legendary local recruiter, there are no guarantees what his future will be.

Sieg announced that on Dec. 3 he will choose between Pitt, Penn State, Indiana, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame. Franklin recently took over as the coach at Virginia Tech, so there is a Franklin connection there.

Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi has also recently turned up his pursuit of the Rangers' star quarterback/safety. Sieg helped Fort Cherry win two WPIAL titles and set the school record for rushing set by Mike Vernillo. Sieg is second all-time in WPIAL history in rushing yards behind former Hopewell start. Rushel Shell.

Leechburg graduate Braylan Lovelace has shown during his career with the Pitt football team it is possible to make the transition from small-school football to the big team. During a wild game Saturday night, Lovelace intercepted a pass in the third quarter and returned it 100 yards for a score to help Pitt upend No. 16 Georgia Tech, 42-28, to help keep its hope of an ACC title alive.

The Panthers (8-3, 6-1) were combing off an embarrassing loss to Notre Dame before it headed south to take on the Yellowjackets. Pitt caught everyone off guard by scoring the first 28 points against Georgia Tech. The Yellowjackets scored two quick touchdowns before halftime to put pressure on the underdogs.

Georgia Tech had moved the ball inside the 10-yard line against when Yellowjackets quarterback Haynes King dropped back to pass to try and cut the lead to seven. Instead of finding a receiver, King's pass was undercut by Lovelace on the goal line. Lovelace ran 100 yards for a touchdown.

It was Lovelace's second career pick-six. Lovelace has seen his numbers increase every year since he arrive in Oakland. Lovelace has 61 tackles this season after having 53 last year and 24 in 2023. 

PITTSBURGH - Wayne Wade didn't need to worry about the Clairton football team tuning him out about their being more meat on the bone after winning the WPIAL Class A football championship Saturday afternoon at Acrisure Stadium.

The Bears needed all of their mettle to trip up fourth-seeded Laurel, 8-6. Clairton (13-1) now has 15 WPIAL championships to its name, but Wade would like to see this Bears squad be the first one not led by Tyler Boyd to win a state championship. Boyd, who went on to play in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans, was on the sidelines and spoke to the team after the game.

The Bears won four consecutive PIAA titles during Boyd's career.

​"Tyler was just telling the kids in the locker room, it's not over," said Wade, who has led Clairton to five WPIAL titles in 12 seasons as coach. "He was saying that we did this four times and we had this (WPIAL championship), but the big one is in two weeks."

The Bears will try to return to the final by knocking off District 10 champion Greenville in the semifinals next weekend. Clairton has made the state finals seven times, winning four times between 2009-12. The Bears lost to Steelton-Highspire in 2008 and Bishop Guilfyole in 2014 and 2016.

This current group of players hasn't experience the type of that some of their previous classes had. Clairton's win over Laurel gave the Bears first WPIAL championship since 2019. After losing by one point to Fort Cherry in the final last season, everyone was feeling the pain.

Clairton senior quarterback Jeff Thompson found Brandon Murphy for a 12-yard touchdown right before halftime to give the Bears their only points against Laurel. Last season, Thompson had injured his shoulder during the playoffs and couldn't throw in the championship game.

"I feel like I let the city down last year," Thompson said. "I wasn't healthy. I couldn't throw the ball, like there was just nothing I could do. But I still stayed out there and ran the offense, but we came out short. It feel good to be back out there throwing the ball and just being myself, man. I got my guys here with me and they help me out too."

Wade said this championship started with all of the players getting in the weight room back in February. The Bears have chipped away at the things that caused their close calls in the past to fall short.

Wade also said he was encouraged with a lot of the things that has happened for Clairton off the field. The Bears have received a few shots in the arm.

Money was raised to renovate Neil C. Brown Stadium, a total of $10 million through donations and a taxpayer bond, which has been rechristened Tyler Boyd Field. Recently, Pittsburgh Steelers minority owner Thomas Tull announced that $2 million was being donated through the Tull Family Foundation to help out schools in the Pittsburgh area with high school athletics.

The Bears received $100,000.

"We've had a lot of adversity," Wade said. "We stood here as runners up last year and this group of seniors decided since Feb. 5 that they were going to help us win a championship and they did it. I don't know I can even name everyone who truly helped us get here this year."

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.

Tika Hemingway is set to have a day in her honor Saturday, Nov. 22, in Wilkinsburg. Hemingway, a professional boxer, is being honored for her work with Pittsburgh Girls Box. She has a class in downtown Wilkinsburg to teach women of all ages how to box.

Hemingway, a Perry graduate, chose to get into boxing after she was raped as a teenager. She likes the opportunity to help girls learn self-defense to protect themselves and help stay in shape to keep boxing herself.

Hemingway was scheduled to box last summer at Live! Casino in Hempfield Township. But the event was canceled. Hemingway is 2-0 as a professional and last fought in January 2022. Hemingway was one of Claressa Shield's major rivals to make the U.S. Olympic team for the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.

Hemingway, who was a four-time national champion as an amateur, had a 100-13 before turning professional.

"Thank you to Wilkinsburg Mayor Dontae Comans for officially making November 22 be known as Tika Hemingway day," Hemingway wrote on instagram.

Josh Rizzo is the editor and pubsisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.

Jack Miles first role with the Laurel football program was as an eager observer. Jack's grandfather, George, led the Spartans from 1982 to 2003 and compiled a record of 201-128-4.

George led Laurel to its only WPIAL title in 1980. Jack used to go and sit and watch practice when he was 3-years-old.

"I have been around football my entire life," said Jack, who rushed for 109 yards in the Spartans' upset win over Fort Cherry last Friday. "I have always been passionate about football, so there wasn't really a time or age I wasn't interested. I would always talk to my dad and grandfather about how I wanted to be as big or as good as the football players."

Jack and his Laurel teammates will have an opportunity to leave a new chapter in the program's legacy when it takes on No. 2 seed Clairton at 11 a.m. Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. George and Jack's dad, Ryan, are assistant coaches for the Spartans.

Making trips to Pittsburgh's North Shore to play for titles has been a tradition for his family.

In 1989, Laurel and Clairton met at Three Rivers Stadium for the Class A crown. Ryan, played for George in that game. The Bears came away with a 27-20 win. Clairton was quarterbacked that day by Wayne Wade, who is now the Bears long-time head coach.

George's lone WPIAL title win also came against Clairton in 1980, but the Spartans' 14-12 win was played at Mt. Lebanon High School. 

"It's was a blessing to be able to have my family as coaches," Jack said. "Not just for them to see my become successful, but also for them to push me even farther to be this successful."

The Spartans earned their spot with a balanced offensive effort in a 24-14 semifinal win over the two-time defending WPIAL champion Rangers. Laurel didn't have any negative plays and used all of their backs to move the ball methodically down the field.

​Jack, who recovered a fumble in addition to scoring on a 33-yard rush in the third quarter, said Laurel didn't go overboard in celebrating an upset win. Fort Cherry had won 40 consecutive games against WPIAL opponents.

"I didn't do anything special after the game because the job is not done," Jack said. "Our goal was to win the WPIAL championship and Fort Cherry was a boulder we had to climb. I look forward to the community coming and watching such a big game."

Clairton (12-1) is another boulder in a similar size to Fort Cherry. The Bears made the WPIAL final last year and lost a one-point heartbreaker. Clairton has the second-most championships in the district's history with 14, but haven't raised a trophy since 2019.

The Bears' defense is led by sophomore linebacker Brandon Murphy, who has drawn Division I interest. Clairton (12-1) lost its season opener to Imani Christian before shutting out its next nine opponents. The Bears' defense hasn't looked quite so invincible in the WPIAL playoffs.

In the quarterfinals and semifinals, the Bears allowed 33 and 22 points, respectively. Clairton only conceded 19 points in the regular season.

Jack is excited for the challenge ahead. There is still work left to be done.

"When it comes to playing for Laurel, I think of it like repaying the people that helped me throughout my life," Miles said.

Seton La Salle, Steel Valley eager to get back on top
The Rebels had one of the most difficult offseasons in recent memory. Seton LaSalle thought Southmoreland transfer Anthony Smith may start at quarterback. Then his eligibility was denied.

The Rebels were set to have Khalil Taylor and Trey Littlejohn return at wide receiver. They transferred to Pine-Richland and Penn Hills, respectively. After losing its season opener to North Catholic, the Rebels haven't lost since, displaying an explosive offense.

Steel Valley is led by Pitt recruit Da'Ron Barksdale. Read about the game in my preview for the Tribune Review.

Can the Avonworth train be derailed?
The Antelopes have a strong argument to be in the top five pound-for-pound teams in the WPIAL. There is a thought that Avonworth, which came close to winning the state title last season, may be capable of making another run to Mechanicsburg.

The Antelopes (12-0) have been outscoring opponents by an average margin of 42-10. Avonworth went on the road and beat WPIAL Class 4A champion Aliquippa and has another win over perennial power Thomas Jefferson. Antelopes quarterback Carson Bellinger threw for 1,934 yards and and 26 touchdowns.

Dimitri Velisaris has been the Antelopes' top running back, picking up 1,449 yards on the ground. The Antelopes will seek their fourth WPIAL crown and to go back-to-back for the first time in program history against Imani Christian.

The Saints (12-0) were undefeated last season when Avonworth knocked them out in the WPIAL semifinals. Imani should be a worth challenger. The Saints have outscored their opponents by an average margin of 49-7. Gabe Jenkins, who decommitted from Penn State after James Franklin was let go, has passed for 1,646 yards and thrown for 29 touchdowns against five interceptions.

Jenkins has also rushed for 1,357 yards. David Davis, another player who has drawn Division I interest, has 515 receiving yards.

Pine-Richland, Peters Township set to square off again
There is a real argument to be made that Class 5A has been the most balanced division in the WPIAL since the PIAA chose to expand to six classes in 2016. But Pine-Richland and Peters Township have risen to the top of the heap. This will be the third consecutive year the two programs meet in the finals and the fourth time overall.

Pine-Richland won last year's matchup 20-9. The Rams also beat the Indians in 2020 and 2022. Peters Township is 1-3 in in the 5A title games, with their lone win coming in a 43-17 win over Pine-Richland in 2023.

The Rams are 11-1 this season, with their lone defeat coming at the hands of 6A state title contender Pittsburgh Central Catholic. The Indians (12-0) are undefeated. Pine-Richland is loaded with stars, including Jay Timmons, the son of former Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons, who recently committed to Ohio State.

Taylor is one of the top-recruited juniors in the country. Pine-Richland quarterback Aaron "Oobi" Strader has also put up good numbers.

Peters Township is led by quarterback Nolan DiLucia, who has passed for 2,449 yards and 22 touchdowns. Cole Neupaver has rushed for 1,314 yards. The Indians defense is led by Pitt commit Reston Lehman. This should be a worthy nightcap for the four-game Saturday slate.

Josh Rizzo is the editor of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.