PIAA State Tournament

http://www.bluestarmedia.org/pennsylvania-state-finals/

HERSHEY, Pa.–This past weekend the Giant Center in the sweetest place on earth, Hershey, Pennsylvania, played host to the PIAA High School Basketball State Finals. There were 16 teams in four classifications, including boys, competing over two days for coveted state titles. A five pound Hershey bar is at stake to the winner along with the obligatory medals and team trophy… but let’s face it…it’s the Hershey bar all the teams are playing for!

On the girl’s side of the playoffs, familiar faces adorned the Giant Center floor this weekend. In Class AAAA, Cumberland Valley is back for the fourth straight year, looking for a Three-Peat.

In Class AAA; the only team with the distinction of beating nationally ranked Neumann-Goretti, Archbishop Wood was on hand for their third straight crack at the crown. In Class AA, Goretti is back for their third straight trip to Hershey. The defending National Champ was looking to go Back-to-Back. Class A found a newbie, in comparison, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic which had not been to Hershey since 2012. CWNC has a rich tradition with the PIAA; the Trojanettes were hunting their eighth state title in school history... Click to read more

West Virginia State Tournament

http://www.bluestarmedia.org/west-virginia-state-tournament-2/

CHARLESTON WV- All eyes were on Charleston last week for the 40th edition of the WVSSAC girls High School basketball tournament. Tournament officials in West Virginia have always does a good job of providing a top-notch, well run, classy event. Ongoing construction on the 45-year-old structure certainly provided the Charleston Civic Center staff with plenty of challenges during the four day event, but the powers at be pulled it off with very few glitches.

For four days, 24 teams battled their way down to six in the Charleston Civic Center culminating in an intriguing storyline that can best be described as; A Tale of Three Basketball Teams.

On one hand you had in Class A, the heavily favored St. Joseph Central (Huntington).  The Irish were looking for a record-tying eighth straight West Virginia State title. Although Gilmer County is a well-coached, hardworking crew, few would think that they could slay the Goliath that was St. Joseph Central…which is why we play the game.

Secondly, in Class AA you had the upstart Wyoming Warriors, a young and extremely talented team led by one of the best players in West Virginia, Gabby Lupardus. Could Fairmont Senior’s patented pressure defense take Lupardus and crew out of their game?

Finally, and by no means least, in Class AAA, a determined Morgantown team came to Charleston looking for the Three-Peat. Would the Mohigans hard-nosed, bareknuckle style of defense hold up against the speed and pressure of the mission focused Huntington Highlanders?...  Click here to read more