The WPIAL playoffs enter their final week following a sensational week of postseason action, including a number of great individual performances on the hardwood.
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 12:
Cooper Hochendonner, South Park
Hochendonner has posted some massive performances this season, but saved one of his best for the playoffs.
On Tuesday, he scored 31 points to lead the Eagles to a 58-29 first round win over Riverside. He followed that with 15 points in a 56-39 victory over Ligonier Valley in the quarterfinals.
South Park will meet Aliquippa in Tuesday’s Class 3A semifinals.
Hochendonner, a three-spot athlete in basketball, soccer and baseball, is committed to Slippery Rock to play baseball.
Cassie Sauer, Shady Side Academy
Shady Side Academy punched its ticket to the Petersen Events Center with a pair of strong playoff performances last week.
Sauer led the way in both games, scoring 15 points in a 48-27 quarterfinal win over Avonworth and 18 points in a 55-36 victory over Seton LaSalle.
The Bulldogs will meet Greensburg Central Catholic Thursday for the Class 3A girls title.
Sauer, a senior, is committed to the University of Chicago.
Zach Washington, Quaker Valley
Quaker Valley will return to the WPIAL finals thanks to a blowout and a narrow win last week.
The Quakers beat Belle Vernon, 72-41, and Deer Lakes, 44-42 in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
Washington scored 18 and 20 points in the two wins, setting up a matchup with Knoch in the Class 4A championship game Thursday.
Payton Newman, Neshannock
Neshannock picked up its 19th and 20th wins of the season last week, securing a spot in the WPIAL 2A semifinals this coming Tuesday.
Newman paced the Lancers, scoring 22 points in a 76-16 first round win over Brentwood and 24 points in a 67-29 triumph over Laurel in the quarterfinals.
Nehannock, winners of 16 straight, will play Rochester Tuesday.
Newman is committed to Saint Vincent College.
KDKA’s coverage of the high school basketball season continues Monday with the Class 6A semifinal between New Castle and Central Catholic. KDKA will also have coverage of all 12 WPIAL Championship Games later this week on 100.1 FM, AM-1020 KDKA and the Audacy app.