By: Don Insurgent
Monday, January 30, 2023 | 6:57 PM
Chaz Palla | Tribune-Evaluation
Aquinas Academy’s Vincent Cugini scores between Leechburg’s Jaden Floyd and Braylan Lovelace on Dec.13, 2022.
We might be closing out the month of January with a bit of historical past Tuesday.
It’d grow to be a record-setting day within the neighborhood when Aquinas Academy (3-2, 14-2) visits Neighborhood Academy (3-3, 12-4) in a Part 3-A boys basketball tilt.
All eyes shall be on Crusaders senior Vinnie Cugini as he tries to turn out to be the all-time scoring chief within the WPIAL.
Cugini wants 31 factors to interrupt the report held by new WPIAL Corridor of Famer Tom Pipkins of Valley, who has had the report for 31 years with 2,838 factors.
For many gamers, 31 factors in a recreation is perhaps a tall activity. Nonetheless the 6-foot-2 guard averages over 45 factors per recreation and has led the district in scoring in every of his first three years.
In his most up-to-date outing Friday, Cugini scored 57 factors because the Crusaders misplaced to Summit Academy, 89-83.
That is additionally a key recreation within the part as Aquinas leads each Neighborhood and Summit by solely a half-game within the chase for second place behind top-ranked Imani Christian.
The Crusaders beat the Bulldogs, 81-77, within the first assembly Jan. 6.
You may watch the sport on Trib HSSN beginning at 5 p.m.
Free 4 all
There are two video games set for Tuesday that may both convey some classification to their respective part title chases or additional muddy the waters with the chance of two or probably three groups sharing the part crown turning into extra of a actuality.
In Part 4-5A, a Mars thriller over North Hills final week now has three groups separated by just one recreation.
North Hills (14-4) stays in first place with a 5-1 part report, one recreation forward of each Moon (9-6) and Mars (12-5), each who’re 4-2 in part play.
On Tuesday, the Indians host the Tigers whereas the Fightin’ Planets go to West Allegheny (1-5, 8-10).
In Part 4-4A, defending champion Quaker Valley (10-5) is tied for first place with South Allegheny (14-2) with 5-1 part marks, one recreation forward of a West Mifflin (9-7) workforce that has received 4 of their six part video games.
It is a large week for the Titan. On Tuesday, the go to the Quakers, then on Friday, they host the Gladiators.
Be my Valentine
Contemporary off scoring 63 factors in a victory over Brentwood on Friday, senior Makhai Valentine leads Metal Valley (9-9) right into a Part 2-3A showdown towards defending WPIAL and PIAA champion Our Woman of the Sacred Coronary heart (14-3) on Tuesday.
The visiting Chargers are 7-1 within the part and a half-game in entrance of the Ironmen, who’re 7-2 in part play.
Metal Valley has received three straight and 5 of its final six since dropping 71-66 to OLSH on Jan. 6.
The 63 factors scored by Valentine is tied for the third-most factors in a recreation in WPIAL boys basketball historical past.
Tuesday women hoops
There are solely 5 WPIAL part women basketball video games Tuesday, however three of them have playoff ramifications.
In Part 1-5A, 4 groups are separated by just one recreation within the chase for third and fourth place.
Plum is in third place (5-4, 11-7) trailing first-place Indiana (8-0, 12-6) and second-place Woodland Hills (6-2, 9-9).
Penn Hills (4-5, 7-9) and Franklin Regional (4-5, 6-11) are tied for fourth place, a half-game forward of Kiski Space (3-5, 6-11).
On Tuesday, Franklin Regional visits Kiski Space whereas Penn Hills hosts Woodland Hills.
Additionally on Tuesday, next-door neighbors go at it when Keystone Oaks (12-6) goes throughout the road to battle Seton LaSalle (11-6).
The Golden Eagles are 4-2 and in third place, one recreation forward of the Rebels at 3-3 in Part 2-3A.
Tags: Aquinas Academy