A new all-time WPIAL scoring champion was crowned and a record state winning streak was set. Throw in some first-time district champions and a few repeat winners, and the 2022-23 high school basketball season was definitely one to remember.
The final PIAA basketball champion will be crowned Saturday night in Hershey when the last two boys teams standing in Class 6A square off at 8 p.m., putting the wraps on another high school season. There have been some tremendous efforts along the way — both individually and team — that deserve mentioning even though they did not get the opportunity of being showered with Hershey kisses.
Vinnie Cugini of Aquinas Academy became the WPIAL’s all-time leading career scorer Jan. 31 at Neighborhood Academy. In front of a packed crowd in a small gym, Cugini’s free throw with 2:08 left accounted for his 2,839th point, eclipsing Valley’s Tom Pipkins’ 30-year-old record.
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart tipped off the season by setting a new state record when it won its 69th consecutive game. The streak increased to 74 before the Chargers fell to Deer Lakes on Dec. 22.
Deer Lakes was one of two boys teams to hoist WPIAL championship trophies for the first time. Deer Lakes captured the Class 3A title and Imani Christian the Class 1A title. Central Catholic also ended a lengthy championship drought, topping New Castle in the Class 6A final for its first title since 2008.
Bishop Canevin’s Shea Champine was one of the best stories in the WPIAL this season. Champine went from seeing limited minutes as a junior to becoming one of the district’s top scorers. Champine pumped in 30 points a game while leading the Crusaders to the WPIAL Class 2A semifinals.
On the girls side, a sophomore led all WPIAL and City League players in scoring. After averaging 23 points a game as a freshman, Clairton’s Iyanna Wade became an even more potent scorer by pouring in 33.3 points per game. That included a 50-point outburst against Steel Valley.
Two girls teams repeated as WPIAL champions, while two others reigned supreme for the first time. Class 5A South Fayette and Class 4A North Catholic went back-to-back, and Shenango and Union were first-time winners. North Catholic’s title was its WPIAL-record 22nd.
In honor of all these accomplishments, the Union Progress sports staff — with input from high school coaches — has put together its first PUP high school boys and girls all-star teams. Through witnessing first-hand, via video highlights and recommendations from coaches, the PUP has combed through all the players from the WPIAL and City League and came up with its first team, second team and third team to field a complete all-star lineup.
This Sunday, the boys and girls teams will be announced, followed by the Union Progress boys and girls players of the year and coaches of the year on April 2. So, before you put the basketballs away and break out the baseball gloves and track cleats, check in once again for a curtain call to the high school season with the PUP basketball awards.
Rick, an associate sports editor for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, is currently on strike and working as sports editor for the Union Progress. Contact him at rdavis@unionprogress.com.