PODCAST
Imani Christian Makes Mild Work of Clarion in First Spherical of PIAA Match

WEXFORD — On the heels of WPIAL Class 1A title, the Imani Christian Academy Saints returned to the PIAA state playoffs in opposition to Clarion Friday night time.
Because the Saints look to make one other deep run within the state bracket, they made a pitstop to play Clarion at North Allegheny Excessive College and it was a fast one at that, steamrolling the Bobcats 78-43.
After rattling off 13 wins in 14 video games to shut out the WPIAL season, Imani wanted to change gears for the larger image and the last word purpose, a state title.
“It’s a much bigger stage,” Saints’ head coach Omar Foster mentioned. “Groups are going to be somewhat higher and play more durable.”
The Saints (18-6) dealt with Clarion (17-10) effortlessly as they relied on offense that was on the spot and explosive because the fifth seed from district 9 had no likelihood.
Main the offense was Imani’s guard play as Avery Wesley, Dame Givner and RJ Sledge ignited the scoring for the Saints. Not solely did they money in all night time lengthy, in addition they shared the wealth round because the Saints completed with 29 assists.
“The guards performed actually robust and shot the ball very well,” Foster mentioned. “We had 29 assists as a crew and that’s stable.”
An offensive onslaught was speedy from the tip-off. Imani turned to its high shooters, which included Sledge who made his presence recognized early. Within the blink of an eye fixed, the 5-foot-11 sophomore drained three triples to open the scoring for the Saints.
“He’s been an excellent level guard,” Foster mentioned. “All my guards received after it right now.”
Sledge registered 10 factors within the first quarter on the way in which to 13 within the profitable effort.
Whereas Sledge had the scoring contact early within the recreation, the Saints’ backcourt continued to remain scorching with Wesley and Givner offering constant offense. The guard duo produced 16 factors apiece. Givner confirmed off his artful mid-range recreation, whereas Wesley knocked down three photographs from behind the arc within the first half.
“It helped us get the lead early within the first half after which we took off from there,” Wesley mentioned on the 3-point taking pictures.
Finish of Q1:
Dame Givner with a 3-pointer to shut out a stable first quarter for Imani Christian Academy.
Givner with 10 factors, together with RJ Sledge’s 10. Gabe Simko has 6 for Clarion. pic.twitter.com/agS9jW0mar
— Nathan Breisinger (@NateBreisinger) March 11, 2023
Because the threes rained for the Saints, one other large issue within the first spherical win was the dimensions mismatch. With a roster smaller than 6-foot-2, the Bobcats needed to cope with the vastly greater frontcourt of the Saints, which incorporates 6-foot-9 junior Virgil Corridor and 6-foot-11 highly-recruited Alier Maluk.
Each Corridor and Maluk had been distinction makers on the glass and within the offensive output. The 2 bigs had been additionally key in breaking down the Bobcats’ recreation plan.
“We observed they ran some zone performs and halfcourt offenses, and we simply needed to cease that,” Wesley mentioned. “We needed to maintain them from getting as many second likelihood factors as potential.”
Corridor and Maluk created some open lanes for the Saints, which allowed them to complete on the hoop as nicely. Corridor reached double digits as he completed with 14 factors. Maluk added eight.
With the sport was out of attain, Clarion tried to pour in as many factors as potential. The Bobcats’ main scorer Devon Lauer scored 17 within the dropping effort as he buried three from past the arc. Outdoors of Lauer, Gabe Smiko was the opposite vivid spot for the Bobcats as he notched 10 factors, however was rather more seen moreover his level complete because the 6-foot-2 ahead competed carefully with the Saints’ bigs.
Strolling away with a 35-point victory, the Saints did have some weary areas of their recreation that they should finetune earlier than shifting on within the bracket.
“I wasn’t actual proud of the way in which we performed protection,” Foster mentioned. “We’re going to work on that for the subsequent two days.”
The Saints will head to the second spherical to face Union-Rimersburg on Tuesday.
PODCAST
Pitt Bubble Watch: What May Assist, Damage Panthers

Contemplating their bubble standing, Jeff Capel and the Pitt males’s basketball program are compelled to be scoreboard watchers and hope for the suitable outcomes.
On Friday, the Panthers did have some issues go of their favor but additionally had just a few groups that proceed to win, placing their spot within the Subject of 68 in jeopardy.
The next outcomes helped out the Panthers:
-Oregon shedding to UCLA.
-Clemson shedding to Virginia, this one was massive.
-Arizona State shedding to Arizona.
-Utah State beating Boise State.
The next outcomes weren’t good for Pitt:
-Vanderbilt beating Kentucky.
-Ohio State beating Michigan State.
For the reason that scoreboard watching will proceed on Saturday, listed here are some issues that Pitt needs to occur.
-Purdue to beat Ohio State as a result of the Buckeyes are turning into potential bid stealers.
-Houston to beat Cincinnati.
-Texas A&M to beat Vanderbilt.
-Memphis to beat Tulane.
-Florida Atlantic to beat UAB.
By way of the opinions of nationwide bracketologists, right here’s what ESPN’s Joe Lunardi posted this morning.
LAST FOUR BYES
Penn State
Windfall
Utah State
Rutgers
LAST FOUR IN
Mississippi State
NC State
Pitt
Arizona State
FIRST FOUR OUT
Oklahoma State
Nevada
Clemson
Vanderbilt
NEXT FOUR OUT
Wisconsin
North Carolina
Oregon
Michigan
Lunardi nonetheless isn’t calling Pitt a lock to get a bid and says it’s “too near name” as of now.
Except for Vanderbilt, Pitt appears to be in good place when it comes to any crew catching them within the First 4 Out and Subsequent 4 Out group, however the factor to observe, and that would doubtlessly be devastating, is that if an sudden crew like Ohio State, Cincinnati, Tulane, UAB or Vanderbilt steals a bid by successful their convention match.
PODCAST
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PODCAST
May Duquesne MBB Be CBI Sure?

A number of sources chatting with Pittsburgh Sports activities Now on the situation of anonymity have said that the Duquesne Males’s Basketball Crew could be enthusiastic about competing within the CBI if that chance have been to be made out there.
To this point, Duquesne is 20-12 general and a 10-8 Atlantic 10 slate earned the Dukes, the sixth seed within the convention championship.
Duquesne basketball on Pittsburgh Sports activities Now’s sponsored by The Summit Academy: setting younger males on the trail to a greater future.
The Dukes fell in that event 81-70 Wednesday night and the opportunity of extending their season has clearly been thought of.
HappeningHoops.com ran a CBI bracketology Friday which has Duquesne within the subject.
When Duquesne Vice President of Athletics Dave Harper spoke in an unique interview with PSN, he didn’t affirm this potential alternative.
Harper did make the journey to Barclays Heart and acknowledged this risk of extending the workforce’s season.
“We are going to consider postseason alternatives as offered to us,” Harper said. “There are professionals and cons with buildings and the way the workforce feels. It’s prime recruiting season and as soon as we have a look at it wholistically if the chance presents itself that everybody will embrace that gained’t hamper our recruiting efforts, then we are going to transfer ahead.”
In earlier seasons, coach Keith Dambrot was reluctant to simply accept a CBI bid, however that thought course of has modified for the reason that event would have an actual really feel for it.
The CBI as soon as featured groups enjoying in one another’s gyms, however this yr’s occasion is Mar. 18-22 at Ocean Heart in Daytona, Fla. In a dialogue earlier this season, Dambrot was extra receptive in direction of the thought of enjoying on this occasion.
Issues actually may change, however the CBI is a 16-team occasion and time will inform if Duquesne is a type of groups competing.
“We had some preliminary conversations as seasons have been ending, however the focus was on the video games at hand,” mentioned Harper. “Now that the season ended, we’ve talked extra extensively and are ready to decide if given the chance. There’s professionals and cons with every thing, however simply so long as we steadiness alternatives and concentrate on recruiting which is simply paramount this time of yr.”
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