WPIAL Class 2A Boys Basketball Championship

No. 8 Union (19-6, 10-4 Class 2A Section 4) vs No. 3 Jeannette (22-2, 12-2 Class 2A Section 1) – Friday 5 p.m. at the Petersen Events Center

Pregame at 4:50 p.m. on WSN Audio - LISTEN BROADCAST

WSN Broadcasters: Brent Whigham and Anthony DeNunzio

About the Scotties: Union continued its surprising run to the title game with a 60-56 victory against fourth-seeded Neshannock on Monday at Ellwood City High School. Lucas Stanley led the No. 8 Scotties with 24 points, while Maddox Thompson contributed 13 points. That triumph came after a stunning upset of top-seeded Greensburg Central Catholic, 44-42, in the quarterfinals, as Stanley hit the go-ahead 3-pointer and the Scotties’ defense made it stand. Union opened the postseason with a 70-49 home win against nine seed Fort Cherry. During the regular season, Stanley led the team in scoring (24.8 points), rebounding, assists, and steals averages. Thompson and Landon Eckert are key guards for Union, while Jordyn Kelley and Jamel Mitchell are valuable components in the frontcourt. Head coach Mark Stanley, a Union grad, is in the 11th year of his second stint leading the program. Union’s lone WPIAL title came in 2003, although the Scotties reached the championship round just two years ago, losing to Imani Christian Academy in Class 1A.

About the Jayhawks: Jeannette put the clamps down defensively in a 45-25 victory against second-seeded Sewickley Academy in the semifinals on Monday at Fox Chapel Area High School. In the win, Xavier Odorisio-Farrow netted a game-high 15 points, Lonnie Greene added a dozen points off the bench, and Kymon’e Brown notched nine points. On the year, Markus McGowan is the top scorer for Jeannette, averaging 15.7 points per game prior to the semifinals, while Brown averages 12.0 points and Jayce Powell contributes 11.9 points per contest. Prior to that, the Jayhawks rallied from a double-digit deficit in the second half to edge No. 6 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 55-50 in the quarterfinals. Jeannette commenced the postseason with a lopsided 91-42 win at home against Brentwood. The Jayhawks’ two losses this season both came against section rival Greensburg Central Catholic, which was ousted from the playoffs by Union. Coach Adrian Batts is in his 16th season on the bench for Jeannette. The Jayhawks’ lone WPIAL boys basketball title came in 2008, while their most recent championship game appearance was in 2015, a loss to Monessen.