We’ve hit the midway point of section action in WPIAL basketball, and now the push towards the postseason and section titles begins as team get set to meet for a second time. With that, there have been some big individual performances over the last week, including a 50-point game and a school record broken.
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:
Evan Berger, Thomas Jefferson
Berger is one of the WPIAL’s top guards, and now he’s the top scorer in Thomas Jefferson history.
The senior, needing 21 points to break the Jaguars’ scoring record entering Friday’s game against Bethel Park, went for 22 points in a 72-60 win.
Berger – who has offers from W&J, Allegheny and Edinboro – currently has 1,258 points and is averaging over 20 points per game this season. The Jaguars are 10-2 and 4-0 in Section 1-5A.
Emma Larkin, Geibel
Most high school basketball players don’t score 80 points in a season. Larkin did it in two games last week.
The sophomore scored 29 points in a 59-43 win over Mapletown on Monday. Larkin then reallu popped off, exploding for 51 points in a 77-43 victory over Avella on Thursday.
Larkin is a multi-sport standout who also runs track and cross country, and plays softball in the spring. She is averaging over 33 points, 7 rebounds and 5.6 steals per game this season.
Jack Dunbar, Peters Township
Dunbar helped power Peters Township to an appearance in the WPIAL 5A finals last season, and could have the Indians heading in that direction again.
Last week, the senior scored 22 points in an 84-35 blowout of Ringgold on Tuesday. He followed that performance with 23 points against Trinity in an 82-43 runaway victory Friday.
The Indians have now won three straight games and are 9-4 overall. Dunbar, also a strong track athlete, has picked up a basketball offer from Edinboro. He is scoring around 20 points per game.
Maggie Spell, Shady Side
Last season, Spell burst onto the scene with a stellar freshman season for the Bulldogs. Her sophomore campaign has lived up to the hype, as well.
In last week’s action, Spell scored 24 points in a 64-20 route of Mt. Pleasant on Monday. She followed up with 21 more in a 47-8 victory over Deer Lakes on Thursday.
Spell is averaging over 17 points per game. She has been receiving Division I interest since her freshman season.
KDKA Radio’s high school basketball coverage continues this week. On Friday, you can hear Gateway vs Belle Vernon on 100.1 FM and 1020 AM KDKA Radio. Follow @KDKARadio on X (Twitter) and Instagram for updates throughout the games.