February basketball begins this coming week, and the final pushes for playoff spots kick into high gear, as well. This past week, we witnessed a record-breaking night for a local girls basketball standout and three other big performances.
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:
Iyanna Wade, Clairton
Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen WPIAL single game and career scoring records fall on the boys basketball side. But this week was a record-breaking one for the girls, and more specifically for Iyanna Wade.
Wade began the week with 42 points in a 60-11 route of Elis School Monday. She followed that by going for a WPIAL girls basketball record 65 points against Steel Valley Thursday.
The previous record, set by Wilkinsburg’s Maude Searcy, had stood since 1990.
The junior leads the WPIAL in scoring at nearly 41 points per game for the Bears, now 14-2 this season. She has a Division I offer from Mount St. Mary’s.
Isaiah Gonzalez, Kiski Area
Kiski has had a strong season so far, posting a 12-5 record while competing in a tough Section 3-5A.
Last week, Gonzalez led the Cavaliers to a third and fourth straight win with a pair of big games.
The senior scored 28 points in a strong non-section victory over Knoch Tuesday, 77-76, in overtime. He then added 24 more points in a 79-47 section triumph over Latrobe Latrobe Friday.
Gonzalez is also a standout football player and has received offers from Mercyhurst, Westminster and Oberlin.
Alena Fusetti, Blackhawk
One of the WPIAL’s prominent girls basketball programs is at it again.
Blackhawk appears poised for a run at another championship, and Fusetti is once more a major piece.
She scored 22 points in a 79-41 win over rival Central Valley Thursday, and followed that with 24 more points in an impressive 67-47 non-section win against Freedom Friday.
Fusetti is committed to Mercyhurst, and has helped the Cougars to nine straight victories.
Bobby Fadden, Mohawk
One of the more under-the-radar stories from the 2023-24 season has been the recent emergence of Mohawk.
Following a 3-6 start, the Warriors have won nine straight games. And Fadden has been the key.
The sophomore last week scored 17 points in a 63-21 blowout of Freedom Tuesday, and followed that with a 34-point effort in an 82-77 victory over Ellwood City Friday.
Fadden is also a top football player for the Warriors, scoring 14 touchdowns this fall.
KDKA Radio’s high school basketball coverage continues this week. On Friday, you can hear Central Catholic vs New Castle on 100.1 FM and 1020 AM KDKA Radio. Follow @KDKARadio on X (Twitter) and Instagram for updates throughout the games.