PIAA Class AA Finals
Friday at Giant Center, noon
BISHOP CANEVIN CRUSADERS (26-4)
Head Coach: Tim Joyce
WPIAL Champion
Probable Starters
No. Name Pos. Ht. Cl.
20 Carly Forse F 5-10 Sr. 13.0 ppg.
32 Johnie Olkosky F 5-9 Jr. 10.0 ppg.
23 Gina Vallecorsa G 5-8 Fr. 6.0 ppg.
21 Erin Waskowiak G 5-11 Sr. 14.0 ppg.
22 Celina DiPietro G 5-10 Sr. 12.0 ppg.
Top Reserves
10 Alaina McGuire G 5-5 jr
12 Caroline DeFrank G 5-7 jr
Notes: Bishop Canevin earned its way to Giant Center for the finals by defeating the defending state champion, Seton-LaSalle, 41-36 in the semifinals. Forse, the Crusaders' top rebounder, scored five of her game-high 17 points late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. ... Duquense recruit Waskowiak is Canevin's leading scorer with 14.0 points per game and is critical in the Crusaders' defense. Waskowiak can get into foul trouble occassionally, as she had three whistles against her in the first quarter of the semis. ... Before the semis, Canevin's closest post-season win was the WPIAL final against Seton-LaSalle, a 56-47 victory. In fact, their last loss was a game at Seton-LaSalle on Feb. 7, 66-58. ... The Crusaders have not allowed more than 37 points in any of their four state playoff wins. ... Canevin lost in the second round last year and in the quarterfinals in 2011.
YORK CATHOLIC FIGHTING IRISH (29-2)
Head coach: Kevin Bankos
District 3 champ
Probable starters
No. Name Pos. Ht. Class
12 Amelia York G 5-8 Jr. 4.6 ppg.
21 Deanna Chesko G 5-6 Jr. 5.3 ppg.
25 Morgan Klunk G/F 5-11 Sr. 17.1 ppg.
35 Zaenna Echevarria F 5-9 Jr. 8.6 ppg.
44 Hannah Laslo F 6-1 So. 11.0 ppg.
Top reserves
14 Kathryn McNamara G 5-7 Sr. 1.7 ppg.
22 Marissa Ressler F 5-9 So. 5.0 ppg.
Notes: York Catholic earned its seventh trip to the finals in the last eight years after defeating St. Basil Academy 45-28 in the semifinals. The Crusaders won three state championships in a row from 2006 through 2008, but have lost three of the last four finals. Last year Seton-LaSalle won over York Cathoic 71-47 for the gold medal. ... The only team to stay within single digits of the Fighting Irish in the state tournament was Pine Grove, which lost 49-44 in the quaterfinals. .... The Fighting Irish have not depended on any one scorer during their playoff run, as three different players have led them in the last three games. Klunk had 14 points in the semis, Laslo scored 14 in the quarterfinals and Echevarria poured in 21 in a 50-39 win over Dumore in the second round. ... York Catholic's two losses were to Trinity and West York.
The Pick: York Catholic
DAVID BOHR: @David_Bohr