WJPA Sports

We don’t need a groundhog to tell us there’s only one week left in the high school basketball season. All WPIAL teams have to complete their section games by the end of the Saturday. Then, the League’s basketball committee will meet and set the pairing for the 12 playoff brackets. Canon-McMillan girls used a 13-0 run to open the second half on the way to a huge road win at Norwin, clinching at least a share of the 6A Section 2 title for the Big Macs. C-M girls went 5-16 three years ago and may be the #1 seed in this year’s tournament. Peters Township girls have played their way into a ‘win-and-you’re-in’ game with Monday’s victoryt at Uniontown. The Indians will host Bethel Park Friday. Ringgold missed a chance to clinch a playoff spot, falling at home to Laurel Highlands. Wash High’s 3A Section 3 post-season hopes took a step forward as the Little Prexies beat McGuffey, the Highlanders having already clinched a berth. Wash High qualifies with a win at Keystone Oaks on Thursday.

On the boys side, 5A Section 3 leader Thomas Jefferson topped Ringgold, keeping the Rams from clinching a playoff berth. Bentworth topped Greensburg Central Catholic, the Bearcats moving into a tie for third in 2A Section 1 with Southmoreland, both having playoff berths in hand. Here’s the Monday section scoreboard:

Girls
6A Canon-McMillan 44, Norwin 37
5A Trinity 52, Albert Gallatin 21
5A Peters Township 46, Uniontown 40
4A Laurel Highlands 29, Ringgold 20
3A Wash High 46, McGuffey 35
3A Waynesburg 58, Keystone Oaks 55
3A Brownsville 47, Charleroi 24
2A-2 Fort Cherry 77, Northgate 21
2A-2 Burgettstown 49, Brentwood 27
2A-3 Chartiers-Houston 51, Carmichaels 12
2A-3 California 54, Jeff-Morgan 26
2A-3 Beth-Center 52, Bentworth 46
1A Serra Catholic 71, West Greene 36
1A Clairton at Mapletown
1A Bishop Canevin 54, Avella 21

Boys
5A Thomas Jefferson 76, Ringgold 69
3A-3 Charleroi 67, Waynesburg 53
2A-1 Bentworth 41, Greensburg Central Catholic 33

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals hired Mike LaFleur as head coach, turning to a division rival’s offensive coordinator to try to pull the franchise out of the bottom of the NFC West. The Cardinals made the announcement on Sunday, bringing an end to the nearly four-week process. The 38-year-old Los Angeles Rams assistant replaces Jonathan Gannon, who was fired on Jan. 5 after a 15-36 record over three seasons, including 3-14 this past season. LaFleur — who is the younger brother of Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur — has been the Rams’ offensive coordinator for the past three seasons.

The Las Vegas Raiders are working toward finalizing an agreement to make Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak their head coach. That’s according to a person with knowledge of the discussions who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no contract was in place. The Raiders would not be allowed to announce a deal with Kubiak until after next Sunday’s Super Bowl between the Seahawks and New England Patriots. The 38-year-old Kubiak would be the third coach in three seasons for the Raiders and the fifth full-time leader since they moved to Las Vegas in 2020.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Justin Rose is the first wire-to-wire winner at Torrey Pines in 71 years. Rose finished with a 70 to break the tournament scoring record last set by Tiger Woods in 1999. He finished at 23-under 265. The Farmers Insurance Open has some of the best weather ever. What it didn’t have was drama. Rose started with a six-shot lead and never let anyone get any closer, winning by seven. Tommy Bolt in 1955 was the last player to win this tournament from start to finish without ties. Rose now moves to No. 3 in the world at age 45. He is not slowing.