We're off and running with the 2022-2023 high school basketball season in Western Pennsylvania!
Before the holidays, there have been plenty of massive performances, including numerous buzzer beaters this past Friday night, including one heard on KDKA Radio.
This season, we will nominate four players (two boys, two girls) to the KDKA Radio Super 7 Basketball Watch List. At the end of the year, KDKA Radio will select one player from each WPIAL boys and girls classification, plus the Pittsburgh City League, to receive the prestigious KDKA Radio Super 7 Player of the Year Awards.
Here is a look at the four players who had great weeks on the hardwood in Week 1 of our coverage:
Jake Pollaro, North Hills
In an absolutely thriller heard on KDKA Radio, Pollaro took the game's final shot, and made it count.
Down 53-52 with four seconds to go, Pollaro banked in a 3-pointer to give the Indians a 55-53 win.
Pollaro, who missed most of last season with a hand injury, scored 12 points in the game, all on 3-pointers.
He added 11 points Tuesday in a 72-71 win over Butler, as well.
Payton Collins, Mt. Lebanon
Mt. Lebanon lost the KDKA Radio Super 7 Girls 6A Player of the Year, Ashleigh Connor, to graduation in the spring. But the cupboard clearly wasn't left empty for the Blue Devils.
On Thursday, Collins backed that up. The sophomore scored 28 points, including eight 3-pointers, in a 53-28 win over Canon-McMillan Thursday.
As a freshman last season, Collins was a key piece in the Blue Devils' 27-2 season that was highlighted by a WPIAL title and an appearance in the state championship game.
Bryce Epps, South Allegheny
A finalist for the KDKA Radio Super 7 award last season, Epps put up 60 points over two games last week.
The senior scored 35 points in a 69-60 win over McKeesport Friday. That followed a game in which he dropped in 25 Tuesday in a 53-46 win over Washington.
Epps, who has an offer to play at LaRoche, scored over 21 points per game last season.
The Gladiators, with Epps leading the way, are 5-0 to begin the season.
Tiffany Zelmore, Mt. Pleasant
Zelmore has had a decorated career for the Vikings, and continued that this week, highlighted by a 28-point effort in a 61-45 win over Southmoreland on Thursday.
Zelmore is a four-year starter with already over 1,000 career points. She scored 32 in a win over Ringgold this season, as well.
The Vikings, which won eight games last season, are already halfway there with a 4-1 record to begin the season.
The high school basketball season continues Thursday night, when Hampton visits Fox Chapel for a boys basketball showdown. You can hear the game on 100.1 FM and 1020 AM KDKA Radio. And be sure to follow KDKA Radio's social media accounts throughout the night for updates, photos and videos of the action.
