The holiday break has hit for the local basketball teams, and while some tournaments are set to take place in the coming days, we look back today at the action on the hardwood in the penultimate week of 2023.
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:
Rowan Carmichael, Avonworth
Carmichael has been putting up some major numbers early on in 2023-24, and really popped off Tuesday.
The junior scored 47 points in a 91-63 win over Union, helping the Antelopes to a 5-2 record and a bounce back win over a tight loss to Allderdice last weekend.
Carmichael's father, Hermie, is the head coach of the La Roche men's basketball team. Rowan has picked up an offer from Edinboro.
Mary Vargo, Baldwin
While many WPIAL basketball teams played just one game last week, Baldwin played a pair. And Vargo took advantage of the double dip.
The junior scored 18 points against rival Thomas Jefferson in a 43-40 win Monday, and added 20 more points – including four 3-pointers – against Latrobe in a 71-57 win Thursday.
The Highlanders are now 4-3 on the year.
Zion Moore, Belle Vernon
It's been a strong start to the season for the Leopards despite feeling the impact of a long run to a state title for Belle Vernon's football team.
Moore has been a catalyst for the 4-1 start. He scored 29 points Tuesday in a 65-55 win at McKeesport.
The 6-foot-2 junior has received an offer from Edinboro following a big showing on the summer basketball scene and a 25-point-per-game season as a sophomore last year.
Hannah Pugliese
Like Vargo, Pugliese also benefitted from a pair of games – and a pair of lopsided wins – last week.
The senior dropped in 20 points against Gateway in 46-17 win Monday. She then went for 19 more against Franklin Regional in 45-29 win Thursday.
Pugliese has committed to play at Slippery Rock next season.
KDKA Radio's high school basketball coverage continues this week. On Tuesday, you can head day-long coverage of the AHN Sports Medicine Holiday Hoops Classic, with four games airing on 100.1 FM and 1020 AM KDKA Radio. Follow @KDKARadio on X (Twitter) and Instagram for updates throughout the games.
