The WPIAL basketball playoffs are now underway with some great games Friday. On top of that, Obama Academy and Allderdice won boys and girls City League titles this weekend.
This season, KDKA Radio will again nominate players each week to join the KDKA Radio Super 7 Awards watch list. Every Monday, a new crop of players will be unveiled based on their efforts that previous week. At the end of the year, KDKA Radio will announce the winners of the award for each WPIAL boys and girls classification, as well as the Pittsburgh City League.
Here are the top performances from Week 11:
Eric James, Obama Academy
It was a golden week for Obama Academy and Eric James.
The Eagles topped rival Allderdice 64-58 in overtime to claim their second Pittsburgh City League title Sunday.
James led the way, scoring a game-high 19 points on his way to being named the game’s MVP. Earlier in the week, James scored 21 points against Carrick to reach the title game.
James has several college offers, including a local offer from Point Park.
Lyla Jablon, Fox Chapel
Fox Chapel picked up seventh straight victory Friday in a thrilling playoff win.
The Foxes got by Latrobe, 60-58, in the Class 5A first round. Jablon netted 24 points, eight rebounds and seven steals in the win.
After a 4-6 start to the season, Fox Chapel has gone 11-2 down the stretch and will face Thomas Jefferson Wednesday in the quarterfinals.
Jablon, a senior, has a handful of Division III offers.
Evan Moore, Deer Lakes
Deer Lakes suffered three losses heading into the postseason, but were able to flip the playoff switch Friday night by pulling a surprising upset.
Moore led the way, scoring 22 points in a 57-46 Class 4A first round win at No. 4 Derry.
The victory puts the 13-seeded Lancers into the Class 4A quarterfinals, where it will face Armstrong next.
A junior, Moore is also a wide receiver on the Deer Lakes football team.
Tess Pauley, Waynesburg Central
Waynesburg Central’s fantastic season continued Friday with a dominant first round win.
The Raiders took down Deer Lakes, 55-28, to advance to the Class 3A quarterfinals.
Pauley, just a freshman, knocked down four 3-pointers and scored 23 points to lead the way. That followed a 24-point outburst against California in Monday’s regular season finale.
Winners of 11-straight, Waynesburg is now 21-2 and will face Beaver Falls Wednesday.