Big efforts highlight day one of WPIAL semifinals

Adou Thiero celebrates an and-one against Lincoln Park. Photo credit: Tyler Gallo

Ethan Morrison
February 26, 2022

For the first time since 2020, the UPMC Events Center hosted WPIAL semifinal games and they did not disappoint.

Today, the WPIAL 3A semifinal game between Quaker Valley and Lincoln Park opened up today’s slate followed by the first half of the 6A semifinals between North Allegheny and Upper Saint Clair which went down to the wire.

The other half of that bracket which featured top-seeded Mt. Lebanon and Bethel Park.

WPIAL 4A: Quaker Valley 74, Lincoln Park 63

Quaker Valley came into this game sweeping Lincoln Park in the season series. It was much of the same in the first quarter as the Quakers got off to a red-hot start hitting a couple of corner threes.

Adou Thiero backs down LP’s L.A. Pratt. He scored 25 points in the winning effort. Photo credit: Tyler Gallo

Most of the second and third quarters were even throughout before Quaker Valley began to pull away as time was winding down in the fourth quarter.

For the Quakers, Markus Frank put up 27 in the winning effort while Adou Thiero logged 25 points and a triple-double while nursing an injury.

For the Leopards, Brandin Cummings put up 18 points in the loss as Lincoln Park struggled from beyond the arc, going just 2-17 in the first half from downtown.

Quaker Valley will take on Montour in the finals.

WPIAL 6A: Upper Saint Clair 48, North Allegheny 44

The first semifinal matchup of the day in the WPIAL 6A was a back-and-forth affair throughout.

At the half, Upper Saint Clair led by 11 points and was looking to pull away with the game and solidify their spot at the Petersen Events Center next weekend for the WPIAL 6A Championship.

North Allegheny had other thoughts, however, as Jasmine Timmerson nailed a three-point jumper to knot the game up at 36 at the end of the third quarter.

We’ve got a good ballgame on our hands as North Allegheny’s (@NATigerAthletic) Jasmine Timmerson nails a three to tie the game up at 36 as the buzzer sounds to end the third quarter against Upper Saint Clair. pic.twitter.com/pH3Pgb34Ot

— Ethan Morrison (@EthanMorrison26) February 26, 2022

In the fourth quarter, both teams were jockeying for position and North Allegheny had a slim one-possession lead on USC.

In came Rylee Kalocay. She put Upper Saint Clair on her back, nailing a game-tying three-point basket, followed that up with a layup to take the lead, and then the cherry on top; knocking down two free throws to ice the game.

Wild finish to game two at the UPMC Events Center. Upper Saint Clair’s (@USCSchools) Rylee Kalocay puts her team on her back knocking down the game tying three (Shown), the go-ahead lay up and iced the game with two free throws. @wpial7 @wpialgbb pic.twitter.com/Far1W0irR5

— Ethan Morrison (@EthanMorrison26) February 26, 2022

Kate Robbins led USC in scoring with 18 while Kalocay finished the afternoon with 13.

Timmerman finished the day with 12 for the Tigers.

Upper Saint Clair will face Mt. Lebanon in the WPIAL 6A finals next weekend.

WPIAL 6A: Mt. Lebanon 52, Bethel Park 33

This game featured top-seeded Mt. Lebanon and they showed Bethel Park why they were the top dogs in 6A.

The game started slow as both teams ended the first quarter tied at seven, but after that, it was all Mt. Lebanon.

The Blue Devils controlled the pace of the second quarter, scoring 17 points in the second frame.

Ashleigh Connor led Mt. Lebanon with 16 points in the winning effort.

The UPMC Events Center will host two more WPIAL semifinal games on Monday with the first game starting at 6:00 p.m. as Avonworth and South Allegheny do battle in the WPIAL boys 3A semifinals.

Gateway and New Castle will close out the night in a WPIAL 5A showdown at 8:00 p.m.