2009 WPIAL Basketball Playoffs

Friday with showcase most local teams

Girls
Kittanning vs. McGuffey @ Cornell on Friday at 6:30pm
Freeport vs. Greensburg Catholic @ Hampton on Friday at 6:30pm
Apollo vs. Brownsville @ Southmoreland on Saturday at 12:00pm

Ford City will not play until next Tuesday or Wednesday.


Boys
Ford City vs. Avonworth Antelopes @ Knoch on Friday,at 8:00pm
West Shamokin vs. Fort Cherry @ Northgate on Friday, at 8:00pm

Kittanning Boys & FC Girls Armstrong County Basketball Champions

Six years ago I created a formula for ranking all seven Armstrong County high school basketball teams, essentially creating a mythical County Championship. This year’s section realignment created some dramatic games. The Ford City girls finish the season 10-0 against county teams, including two narrow victories over 2nd place Apollo Ridge. The playoff bound KHS Girls took third, unfortunately for them didn’t have the opportunity to face FC or Apollo, which is just plain stupid. In boys, section champion Ford City could only secure 2nd place. Kittanning showed there is a huge difference between “AAA” and “AA”, as they defeated both Ford City and West Shamokin on the road in their only match-ups. It’s Kittanning’s first every title, boy or girls and the fourth straight the FC Girls. Congratulations!

Here are the final rankings of 2008-09

Boys
1. Kittanning - 157
2. Ford City - 156
3. West Shamokin - 147
4. Freeport - 85
5. Apollo Ridge - 80
6. Leechburg -30
7. Elderton - 27

Girls
1. Ford City - 193
2. Apollo Ridge - 156
3. Kittanning - 126
4. Freeport - 93
5. Elderton - 69
6. West Shamokin - 58
7. Leechurg - 19

WPIAL Basketball Playoff Tonight on RSW.

Tonight on RSW we’ll welcome the playoff bound Kittanning High School girls to the show. The Lady Wildcats won their last three section games to earn a trip to the “AAA” playoffs. I’ll be speaking about the season and the upcoming playoffs. The WPIAL will be announcing the playoff pairing tonight’s so there will be plenty to talk about. Both Ford City’s girls and boys’ teams won their section titles this season, and will be headed to the playoffs. The West Shamokin boys and the Freeport and Apollo Ridge girls will also be headed to the playoffs. With all the local teams in the playoffs I hope to hear your thoughts and opinions tonight at 7:30 on FLTV.

Armstrong County Basketball Rankings

Here are this week's ranking as we finish up the season. In Girls FC has another title locked-up even if it isn't official yet. Boys Basketball is where all the excitement is, with three teams; Ford City, Kittanning, & West Shamokin fighting to the finish.

Boys:
1. West Shamokin - 152
2. Ford City - 143
3. Kittanning - 120
4. Apollo Ridge - 85
Freeport - 85
5. Leechburg - 32
6. Elderton - 28

Girls:
1. Ford City - 188
2. Apollo Ridge - 159
3. Kittanning - 121
4. Freeport - 91
5. West Shamokin - 61
6. Elderton - 58
7. Leechburg - 20

Armstrong County Basketball Rankings 12/30/08

West Shamokin still leads the boys, while Kittanning gets ready for a huge showdown in FC. In girls Ford City is undefeated, and the Lady Wolves of West Shamookin have won 5 in a row.

Boys
1. West Shamokin - 173
2. Ford City - 120
3. Apollo Ridge - 11
4. Kittanning - 92
5. Freeport - 62
6. Elderton - 32
7. Leechburg - 10

Girls
1. Ford City - 180
2. Apollo Ridge - 146
3. Kittanning - 132
4. West Shamokin - 95
5. Freeport - 71
6. Leechburg - 37
7. Elderton - 10

Ford City Prepare for AR Tonight

It’s the biggest game to date as the 7-0 Ford City Lady Sabers host 7-0 Apollo Ridge Lady Vikings tonight at 7:30. Both teams enter the game averaging an identical 53.9 points a game. It’s actually a really good rivalry, as these teams honestly don’t like each other. Apollo however hasn’t beaten Ford City in the last two seasons. I would hope this game draws a large crowd to Red Mihalik Gymnasium. Ford City will be favored but Apollo has a lot of momentum, so it should be entertaining. In other local news before the Christmas break, Ford City is 10-0 in PIHL Open Division Hockey. Also Kittanning Wrestling is off to a great start.

Armstrong County Basketball Rankings 12/16/08

It's the first rankings of the new season.  West Shamokin tops in boys,  while undefeateds Ford City and Apollo Ridge are on a collision course in girls. 

Boys

1. West Shamokin - 160
2. Ford City - 135
3. Apollo Ridge - 104
4. Kittanning - 81
5. Freeport - 50
6. Elderton - 43
7. Leechburg - 20

Girls

1. Ford City - 170
2. Apollo Ridge - 164
3. Kittanning - 139
4. Freeport  - 119
5. Leechburg - 52
6. Elderton - 15
    West Shamokin - 15

Boys Basketball Section Play Starts Tonight.

It’s a big night for local high school boys’ basketball teams as they’ll start section play tonight. Two games that are drawing extra interest are Ford City at Springdale, and Apollo Ridge at West Shamokin. Ford City has yet to play against a WPIAL team and many people (not me) feel Springdale could contend for a section title. The expectations for the Saber’s season will be set tonight. Apollo Ridge and West Shamokin will meet for the second time in week. The Wolves won the first encounter, but this one really counts, and Vikings are coming off a four point win over Kittanning. I’ll have a lot to say about the games on Rizzo Sports Weekly Tuesday Night.

WPIAL Allegheny Conference Winner

So high school football starts tonight....Ford City has a big game against Valley, and Freeport will try to upset Kittanning. Elsewhere Apollo Ridge comes back to "AA".

We're doing a poll on RizzoSports.com - Who do you think will win the Allegheny Conference?

WPIAL Football Game Picks

WPIAL Basketball Alignment 08-10

Ford City, West Shamokin, Freeport - Rejoice!!!

Local "AA" Basketball teams are feeling a lot better about the upcoming season as Riverview and Springdale, replace Greensburg Catholic and Jeannette in Section 1.

In "AAA" Deer Lakes replaces Indiana in Kittanning's section.

In girls basketball Ford City is extremely happy as Greensburg Catholic has moved, and Section 1 now looks like this:

Apollo Ridge, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Elderton, Ford City, Freeport, Leechburg, West Shamokin

Final Armstrong County Basketball Rankings 07-08

Champions

Boys: West Shamokin

Girls: Ford City

It was an exciting year. Congratulations to the Wolves and Lady Sabers.

Boys:
1. West Shamokin - 174
2. Ford City - 135
3. Apollo Ridge - 84
4. Kittanning - 83
5. Freeport - 64
6. Leechburg - 61
7. Elderton - 31

Girls:
1. Ford City - 169
2. Kittanning - 126
3. Apollo Ridge - 123
4. Freeport - 68
5. West Shamokin - 58
6. Elderton - 47
7. Leechburg - 10

WPIAL Basketball Playoffs: Local Round-up

Girls:
Ford City, Apollo Ridge

Boys:
West Shamokin, Ford City, Leechburg and *Elderton.

*In a "A" section with only five teams, Elderton makes the playoffs with only 1 section win.

Find out who finished the year as Armstrong County's top basketball teams this week on RSW.

Armstrong County Basketball Rankings 1-29-08

Only one week to go, can West Shamokin hang on? The Kittanning girls, Ford City, and West Shamokin boys are all battling it out for a playoff spot in final week.

Boys:
1. West Shamokin - 159
2. Ford City - 130
3. Apollo Ridge - 87
3. Kittanning - 87
5. Freeport - 69
6. Leechburg - 57
7. Elderton - 29

Girls:
1. Ford City - 164
2. Apollo Ridge - 140
3. Kittanning - 112
4. Freeport - 69
5. West Shamokin - 61
6. Elderton - 38
7. Leechburg - 10

Armstrong County Basketball Rankings 1-15-08

We're now into the most exciting time of the season. West Shamokin is still holding on to the top spot, while Ford City, Kittanning, and Apollo Ridge are battling for #2. In girls hoops, Ford City is just holding off Apollo Ridge.

Boys:
1. West Shamokin - 160
2. Apollo Ridge - 104
2. Ford City - 104
4. Kittanning - 96
5. Freeport - 66
6. Leechburg - 57
7. Elderton - 18

Girls:
1. Ford City - 152
2. Apollo Ridge - 148
3. Kittanning - 104
4. Freeport - 74
5. West Shamokin - 62
6. Elderton - 40
7. Leechburg - 10

Armstrong County Basketball Rankings 1-8-08

West Shamokin and Ford City have planted themselves at the top of the rankings and it's looking like they could be there for a while. Kittanning has gone on a recent roll in boys basketball inclucing a win against Ford City. West Shamokin prepares for their biggest weekend of basketball ever with GCC on Friday and Jeannette on Saturday.

Boys:
1. West Shamokin - 167
2. Apollo Ridge - 121
3. Kittanning - 99
4. Ford City - 86
5. Freeport - 72
6. Leechburg - 43
7. Elderton - 25

Girls:
1. Ford City - 151
2. Apollo Ridge - 141
3. Kittanning - 104
4. Freeport - 67
5. West Shamokin - 53
6. Elderton - 52
7. Leechburg - 10

Armstrong County Basketball Rankings 12-18-07

The Apollo Ridge vs. Ford City girls game on Thursday will be the game of the season to date. In boys West Shamokin extends their lead in the top spot.

Boys:

1. West Shamokin - 156
2. Apollo Ridge - 118
3. Ford City - 109
3. Kittanning - 74
5. Freeport - 55
6. Elderton - 39
7. Leechburg - 34

Girls:

1. Apollo Ridge - 155
2. Kittanning - 110
3. Ford City - 105
4. Freeport - 69
5. West Shamokin - 66
6. Elderton - 33
6. Leechburg - 10

WPIAL Basketball Playoffs

West Shamokin has a lot to complain about as they could be facing Aliquippa in the 2nd round.

In girls, Ford City gets away from GCC, but could have to play a very good OLSH team in the second round.

Boys

Leechburg vs. OLSH - Sat 12:00pm @ North Allegheny
Freeport vs. South Fayette - Sat 1:30 @ Steel Valley
West Shamokin vs. Burgettstown - Fri 6:30 @ Char Valley

Girls

Ford City - Mon - TBA
Freeport vs. Sady Side Acd - Sat. 12:00 @ Steel Valley
Apollo Ridge vs. Wilkinsburgh - Fri. 5:30 @ Yough