The WPIAL basketball playoffs are in full swing, with action tipping off Thursday and continuing through the weekend. Along with the City League championships, there were some very strong performances by four individuals.
Throughout the season, KDKA Radio will put together a watch list of some of the best boys and girls basketball players in the region. At the end of the year, the top performer from each WPIAL classification, and one member of the Pittsburgh City League, will receive the prestigious KDKA Super 7 Award.
Here are the top performers from last week:
Bailey White, Allderdice
A year ago, Alldedice’s girls team was crushed by Obama Academy in the City League Championship by 46 points. But a year later, the result was much different.
White scored 34 points, including seven 3-pointers, as the Dragons got revenge on Obama Academy in a 62-39 win on Sunday at Duquesne’s UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
White finished the regular season averaging over 19 points per game. The Dragons will next move into the PIAA postseason.
Jacob Guillen
In the spring, Aquinas Academy lost the WPIAL’s all-time leading scorer, Vinnie Cugini, to graduation. But that didn't mean that all hope was lost for Aquinas.
In fact, they’ve played quite well. And Guillen has been a big factor.
The junior guard went for 37 points Friday as the Crusaders pounded California 85-50 in the first round of the WPIAL Class 1A boys basketball playoffs.
Guillen has scored over 21 points per game this season, and Aquinas will next meet. No. 2 Neighborhood Academy Wednesday in the quarterfinals.
Raney Staub, Fort Cherry
It’s been a strong year to this point for Fort Cherry girls basketball and that continued Friday.
Staub scored 30 points in a 66-16 blowout over Beth-Center in the WPIAL girls Class 2A first round.
The senior point guard has averaged over 15 points per game this season.
The 4-seed Rangers next face No. 12 South Side in Wednesday’s quarterfinals.
Jamire Braxton, Uniontown
Uniontown has put together a couple of very impressive seasons of late on the hardwood. This regular season, the Red Raiders went 19-3, and tacked a postseason win Friday.
Uniontown dropped Quaker Valley, 64-45, in the WPIAL Class 4A boys first round.
Braxton led the way, going for 16 in the win. This season, he has scored over 18 points per game.
The 4-seed Red Raiders next face No. 5 North Catholic in Wednesday’s quarterfinals.
KDKA Radio’s high school basketball coverage continues this week. You can hear more WPIAL playoff basketball on 100.1 FM and 1020 AM KDKA Radio. Follow @KDKARadio on X (Twitter) and Instagram for updates throughout the games.