Chartiers Valley and five teams compete for championships

The winter high school sports season is nearing its end as spring begins. The PIAA semifinals for boys and girls basketball are taking place. Six teams from the WPIAL are looking to advance to the state final in Hershey. Chartiers Valley's boys basketball team is one of the highlights. The Colts will face Hershey in a semifinal game in Clearfield at 6 p.m. Chartiers Valley, the WPIAL champion with a record of 26-3, has a strong history in semifinals, having won two out of three in the past. Their standout player, senior guard Jayden Davis, has scored 52 points in the playoffs so far. North Catholic is another key team in the boys 4A category. They hope to continue the WPIAL's success in this class. They will play Berks Catholic in a semifinal at 6:30 p.m. North Catholic's scoring duo, Jude Rottmann and Jason Fredericks, will lead the way for the Trojans. In boys Class A, Neighborhood Academy and Otto-Eldred face off at 7 p.m. Both teams are champions in their respective districts. Neighborhood Academy has had strong playoff performances, with Courtney Wallace Jr. scoring a total of 67 points so far. In girls Class 6A, WPIAL champion Upper St. Clair will play Garnet Valley at 5 p.m. The Panthers have won their playoff games decisively, led by senior guard Rylee Kalocay. The other game features Perkiomen Valley facing Archbishop Carroll. Two veteran coaches will meet in the girls Class 3A semifinals. Don Eckerle's Our Lady of the Sacred Heart will compete against Jonna Burke's Shady Side Academy at 6 p.m. Both teams have strong playoff track records. Overall, fans can expect an exciting day of basketball with many talented players and teams competing for a chance to go to Hershey.