The PIAA basketball championships are set, and the WPIAL will be well represented in Hershey, with nine district teams reaching the state title games.
Throughout the 2021-2022 high school basketball season, KDKA Radio has recognized some of the top boys and girls basketball players from the WPIAL and Pittsburgh City League.
At the end of the season, along with a fan vote, the KDKA Radio high school sports staff will name the winners of the prestigious Super 7 Basketball awards.
This week, the list features one of the WPIAL's all-time leading scorers, a player who helped pull a stunning upset, a two-sport standout and a member of one of the state's all-time best teams.
Jake DiMichele, OLSH
DiMichele has put together one of the best careers in WPIAL history. But his efforts Saturday took him to legendary status.
DiMichele scored 39 points, including a remarkable 21 in the fourth quarter, as OLSH overcame a 22-point deficit to top Kennedy Catholic, 78-68, in the PIAA 2A semifinals.
The senior is the fourth-leading scorer in WPIAL history, and has helped the Chargers to 67 straight victories, one shy of a 44-year PIAA record.
DiMichele, who has scored 33 points per game this season, has offers from Seton Hill and Cal U.
Renae Mohrbacher, Freedom
Mohrbacher and the Bulldogs got past their nemesis, North Catholic, in the PIAA semifinals Friday night.
She scored a game-high 17 points, and hit nine foul shots in the fourth quarter, as Freedom stunned the WPIAL champion Trojanettes, 46-39, to advance to the PIAA 3A championship.
Renae Mohrbacher's sister, Julz, added 12 points in the win.
In addition to her talents on the basketball court, Renae Mohrbacher is also a talented soccer player who is committed to Robert Morris.
D.J. Walker, Aliquippa
Aliquippa fans are going to have a little deja vu this week, as the Quips, fresh off a PIAA football title in Hershey just three months ago, are heading back in search of a 3A basketball title.
On Saturday, Walker scored 20 points to help Aliquippa get past South Allegheny, 57-55. The junior hit tying put-back layup to tie game with under two minutes to go.
Walker, a first-team all-state defensive back, has football offers from nine different Division I schools, including BGSU, Navy, Austin Peay, Fordham, Monmouth, Akron, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Albany.
Hallie Cowan, Chartiers Valley
The Colts' Fab Five have made a couple of appearances on the KDKA Radio Watch List this season, with Pitt recruit Aislin Malcolm and Columbia bound Perri Page both getting recognized.
On Saturday, Malcolm scored 22, but Hallie Cowan dropped in 15 massive points, including a trio of three-pointers, as the Colts got by McKeesport, 59-50 in the PIAA 5A semifinals.
Cowan's twin sister, Helene Cowan, as well as Page, scored 10 points each.
Both Cowan sisters are committed to Division II Seton Hill. Hallie Cowan has scored around 13 points per game this season. The Colts' senior group is 110-6 in their high school careers.
