WPIAL basketball tournament: 5 things to watch as Butler County teams enter the playoffs
Every dribble and swish has led to this.
The WPIAL boys and girls basketball brackets were revealed Monday afternoon, and a dozen Butler County teams are included in the postseason. Entry into the playoffs doesn’t come without its ups or downs, however, and each team that’s made it to this point has learned lessons along the way.
Here are some of the biggest storylines heading into the dance for Butler County teams.
If you doubted Matt Clement’s Golden Tornado before the season, it would be wise not to double down.
Without a "star" player, Butler’s boys have fared just fine, for most of the season, anyway. It hit a snag to begin section play, losing three in a row, but has only dropped three in the month and a half since.
Andrew Gettinger and Stainton Forbes can erupt any night, while Tayt Lucas and Ayden Andrews serve as key contributors. It seems the Golden Tornado, seeded seventh, are playing their best basketball right as it matters most. They host No. 10 North Hills on Monday.
Butler girls hoops coach Mark Maier saw a bright side after a narrow loss to neighboring rival and section winner Seneca Valley on Jan. 31.
“You’ve gotta be able to play that hard no matter who you play,” Maier said. “That’s encouraging on one hand, right? Because we’re right there with the top teams in 6A. ... We’re right there.”
The fifth-seeded Golden Tornado have won three of their last four as of Monday afternoon. They hit the road Feb. 20 to take on Canon-McMillan.
Having gotten guards Tyler Pepin and Andrew Omasits healthy and playing together, Seneca Valley was at one point the hottest boys team in the area.
Not anymore.
The No. 8 Raiders have fallen short in five straight, including a 30-point home loss to Pine-Richland on Friday. They’re happy that stretch is behind them, and their focus is pointed ahead.
“That’s in the past now,” Trost said after that defeat. “At this point, right, everybody’s 0-0.”
Seneca Valley hosts No. 9 Woodland Hills on Monday.
After they were bounced from the postseason last year, Knights boys coach Alan Bauman labeled the season a building block.
The next few weeks will show just what the team has grown into. Guided by Jackson Bauman, the coach’s son, and Teegan Finucan, Knoch was regarded as maybe the best team in WPIAL Class 4A entering the season. Its grip on a section crown slipped late in the campaign, though.
Welcoming in No. 12 West Mifflin on Friday, the No. 5 Knights will be able to show their mettle.
The Trojanettes have been a force all season. Since Dec. 11, they’ve dropped just one game, a rare section loss to Oakland Catholic on Jan. 29.
No. 3 North Catholic has a balanced, productive offense that scored the most in its classification while also being one of six teams in the grouping to allow fewer than 36 points per game.
Molly Rottmann is an accomplished coach. More Trojanettes success would hardly be a surprise. They start off at home against No. 14 Mt. Pleasant on Monday.
