(File Photo of the Basketball Broadcast Schedule Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) Some of the local teams competed in the second round of the PIAA boys and girls high school basketball playoffs in Pennsylvania. For the boys’ games, Aliquippa lost to Forest Hills 63-55 yesterday in Sidman. The Sewickley Academy boys won in a blowout yesterday, defeating Port Allegany in Clarion by winning 76-29. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart’s boys lost to Mercyhurst Prep in overtime 46-45 yesterday in Sharon, Pennsylvania. North Catholic High School’s boys defeated Knoch 77-69 in triple overtime in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Moon’s boys defeated Thomas Jefferson 87-77 in McMurray on Tuesday. New Castle’s boys defeated Methacton 65-61 yesterday in Spring Mills. For the girls’ games, Blackhawk defeated Belle Vernon 55-41 yesterday in Wexford. Beaver Falls’ girls lost to Shady Side Academy 39-33 in Allison Park on Tuesday. Slippery Rock’s girls lost to Oakland Catholic in a 63-36 blowout yesterday in Wexford. North Catholic’s girls defeated Harbor Creek 63-51 yesterday in Sharon.

According to reports from HSSN, here is the complete Boys and Girls PIAA quarterfinals round schedule, with the local teams in bold:

Boys:

Class 6A

Saturday, March 14th

Plymouth-Whitemarsh (24-4) vs. Father Judge (17-11); Imhotep Charter (23-6) vs. Parkland (24-6); Central Dauphin (24-3) vs. New Castle (25-2); Central Catholic (24-3) vs. Upper St. Clair (26-1)

Class 5A

Friday, March 13th

Bonner-Prendergast (21-6) vs. Springfield-Delco (23-4) at Cardinal O’Hara; Upper Moreland (19-9) vs. Neumann-Goretti (22-5) at Bensalem; West York (22-1) vs. Moon (22-4) at Hollidaysburg; Chartiers Valley (25-2) vs. Johnstown (20-4) at Norwin

Class 4A

Friday, March 13th

Bishop McDevitt (21-3) vs. Lewisburg (24-4) at Martz Hall; Devon Prep (7-18) vs. Scranton Prep (22-5) at Bethlehem Liberty; Carver Engineering & Science (22-6) vs. North Catholic (21-6) at McConnellsburg; Deer Lakes (14-14) vs. Obama Academy (18-9) at North Allegheny

Class 3A

Saturday, March 14th

West Catholic (14-12) vs. Taylor Riverside (25-1); Notre Dame-Green Pond (26-3) vs. Warrior Run (25-2); Camp Hill Trinity (22-2) vs. Forest Hills (25-4); Bishop Guilfoyle (25-4) vs. Westmont-Hilltop (21-6)

Class 2A

Saturday, March 14th

Delone Catholic (25-1) vs. Old Forge (20-6); Paul Robeson (22-6) vs. United (29-0); Sewickley Academy (27-1) vs. McConnellsburg (27-1); Jeannette (24-2) vs. Mercyhurst Prep (21-6)

Class A

Friday, March 13th

High Point Baptist (16-8) vs. Coventry Christian (21-5) at Exeter Township; Sankofa-Freedom (20-8) vs. York Country Day (23-4) at Coatesville; Conestoga Christian (16-11) vs. Neighborhood Academy (23-3) at McConnellsburg; Elk County Catholic (26-2) vs. Erie First Christian Academy (20-6) at Clarion

Girls:

Class 6A

Friday, March 13th

Upper Dublin (26-2) vs. Hazleton (26-2) at Bethlehem Liberty; Red Lion (24-3) vs. Archbishop Carroll (23-5) at Coatesville; Cardinal O’Hara (23-4) vs. Altoona (21-4) at Cumberland Valley; Dallastown (25-3) vs. Canon-McMillan (23-4) at Altoona.

Class 5A

Saturday, March 14th

Lampeter-Strasburg (20-8) vs. Crestwood (25-3); Bethlehem Catholic (25-4) vs. Archbishop Wood (14-12); York Suburban (24-2) vs. Peters Township (17-11); South Fayette (27-1) vs. Baldwin (23-5)

Class 4A

Saturday, March 14th

Susquehanna Township (22-4) vs. Scranton Prep (22-5); Central Columbia (29-0) vs. Neumann-Goretti (17-10); Penn Cambria (21-5) vs. Oakland Catholic (23-2); Blackhawk (24-1) vs. North Catholic (22-6)

Class 3A

Friday, March 13th

Holy Redeemer (20-8) vs. Schuylkill Haven (24-5) at Lehighton Elementary; Hughesville (26-3) vs. Dunmore (24-3) at Wilkes-Barre Area; Camp Hill Trinity (23-2) vs. Greensburg Central Catholic (21-7) at Altoona; Shady Side Academy (25-2) vs. Central Cambria (22-6) at Armstrong

Class 2A

Friday, March 13th

Southern Columbia (14-13) vs. Mountain View (20-6) at Wilkes-Barre Area, 5:30 p.m.; Wyoming Seminary (19-7) vs. Berlin-Brothersvalley (23-5) at Cumberland Valley, 7 p.m.; Neshannock (24-3) vs. Kennedy Catholic (24-2) at New Castle; Bishop McCort (19-8) vs. Wilmington (23-4) at Armstrong

Class A

Saturday, March 14th

Delco Christian (27-2) vs. Benton (19-8); Lourdes Regional (27-2) vs. Linville Hill Academy (17-6); Williamsburg (24-5) vs. Bishop Carroll (25-4); St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy (26-3) vs. Bishop Guilfoyle (20-4)

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press, Caption for Photo: Pitt guard Nojus Indrusaitis drives against NC State during an ACC tournament game on Wednesday at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C.)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Charlotte, NC) Pitt’s men’s basketball team’s 2025-2026 season ended yesterday with a loss to NC State 98-88 in the second round of the T-Rowe Price ACC Tournament at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Senior forward Cameron Corhen had a career-high 27 points and also had seven rebounds in this game for the Panthers, who finished this season with a 13-20 record and will not be selected for the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. 

(File Photo of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (“PGCB”) is launching the “What’s Really at Stake” campaign intended to heighten the awareness of the problematic issue of young people engaging in gambling activities. The campaign will utilize a website, access to promotional materials, online advertising and social media posts. This launch coincides with both national Problem Gambling Awareness Month in March and the start of one of the most significant wagering events in the United States, which is the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship. All of those materials are available to counselors, individuals and educational institutions as a free download at the website WhatsReallyatStake.com under the “Resources” section, which you can find by clicking here.

According to various studies:

• 75% of U.S. college students gambled in the past year (legally or illegally), with 18% gambling weekly or more frequently; at the same time only 22% of U.S. colleges and universities have formal policies on gambling. (CollegeGambling.org)
• 58% of 18–22-year-olds (including college students) engaged in sports betting with 6% reporting losing over $500 in a single day. Additionally, awareness of campus support for gambling problems is low with only 14% of men and 16% of women report knowing where to seek help.  (NCAA)
• 6% of college students meet criteria for a serious gambling problem—roughly double the adult U.S. average of 3%.  (AddictionCenter.com)
• 33.7% of youth under 18 gambled in a year period (Mass.gov)
• More than 1 in 3 boys aged 11–17 gambled in the past year. (Common Sense Media)

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press: Caption for Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) warm-ups before an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Steelers and defensive tackle Cameron Heyward have recently agreed to a contract extension that will reduce his salary cap hit in 2025. According to a report from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Heyward will now play under a two-year contract worth a total of $32.25 million for 2026 and 2027. This new deal will reportedly reduce Heyward’s salary cap hit for the 2026 season by $5.5 million. $16.24 million is also guaranteed for the veteran defensive tackle.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Moon Area School District)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Moon Township, PA) Ground has been broken on a new athletic facility and field house at the Moon Area School District’s stadium. That district stated that a ceremonial groundbreaking was held on Tuesday to commence and celebrate the start of construction on renovations at the school campus in Moon Township. Construction began on a project in January that will include renovations to the athletic facility, press box, field house, and tennis courts of the Moon Area School District and the project is expected to be completed in August of 2027. 

(FIle Photo: Source for Photo: Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean runs after intercepting a pass against the San Francisco 49ers during a game in Tampa, Fla., Oct. 12, 2025. Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Erik Burkardt of Roc Nation Sports, the agent of Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean, told ESPN’s Peter Schrager yesterday that the Pittsburgh Steelers have have agreed to a three-year, $36.75 million deal with Dean. The Buccaneers drafted Dean in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft out of Auburn. Dean, the last remaining cornerback from the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl LV (55) championship team, missed three games with an injury in 2025 but registered a career-best three interceptions, as well as two forced fumbles, a sack, two quarterback hits and nine passes defended.  

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (5) runs the ball for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to a report from NFL Network yesterday, the Pittsburgh Steelers are signing former Carolina Panthers standout running back Rico Dowdle to a two-year, $12.25 million deal. Dowdle led the Panthers with 1,076 rushing yards in 2025, giving him consecutive 1,000-yard seasons between Carolina and the Dallas Cowboys. Dowdle, who went undrafted out of South Carolina, also has chemistry with new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy, who coached Dowdle when he was a member of the Dallas Cowboys from 2020-2024. 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – An NCAA logo displayed on the fence before an NCAA softball game between Jacksonville and FGCU, March 24, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough, File)

(AP) One of the so-called fixers in a sprawling betting scheme that allegedly raked in millions of dollars off of big bets on rigged NCAA basketball games pleaded guilty Monday.

Jalen Smith appeared in federal court in Philadelphia and pleaded guilty to wire fraud and bribery charges, becoming the first of 26 people charged in the scheme to formally do so. It came a week before the start of March Madness, in which bettors will wager billions legally — and illegally — on the 68 college basketball teams in the tournament.

Smith, of Charlotte, North Carolina, trained and developed local basketball players for professional scouting combines and used those connections with players when he became part of the scheme, according to prosecutors.

The charges against Smith and 25 others were unsealed in January. Smith’s lawyer, Rocco Cipparone, said in an interview that Smith pleaded guilty to get the matter behind him, serve whatever sentence he’ll be given and “move forward in his life in a positive direction.”

Smith had begun talking to prosecutors about a guilty plea well before he was formally charged, and the possibility that others in the case might plead guilty didn’t have any impact on his decision making, Cipparone said.

Besides the fixers who recruited players and placed bets, the charges targeted 17 former college basketball players and four other players who were active with their college teams this season.

More than a dozen players tried to fix games as recently as last season and some helped recruit other players, federal prosecutors said.

Two of the players charged were banned by the NCAA after a separate point-shaving investigation. One of the two, former University of New Orleans player Dae Dae Hunter, said on ABC’s “Good Morning America” that he participated in point-shaving to get money to care for his child.

It is the latest gambling scandal to hit the sports world since a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision unleashed a meteoric rise in legal sports betting.

Smith was active in helping fix games in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, placing bets and recruiting players with the promise of a big payment in exchange for purposefully underperforming during a game, prosecutors said.

The fixers would then bet against the players’ teams in those games, defrauding sportsbooks and other bettors, authorities said.

Smith often traveled to meet players to deliver cash payments by hand, prosecutors said. In one case, Smith traveled to Louisiana to arrange the delivery of about $32,000 in cash to two of the players charged in the scheme, prosecutors said.

Smith also pleaded guilty to a separate weapons charge, stemming from an FBI search of Smith’s bedroom at a house in North Carolina last May where agents found a loaded handgun in a hamper underneath some clothing.

Smith was prohibited from possessing the weapon as a condition of a drug conviction in 2018, and told agents that he had bought it from a man outside a sneaker store in Charlotte, the plea agreement said. Agents later found that it had been reported stolen.

The point-shaving scheme began with two games in the Chinese Basketball Association in 2023, according to the indictment. Successful there, fixers recruited Smith and two other fixers and moved on to rigging NCAA games, and the last game they fixed was in January 2025, it said.

Their scheme grew to involve more than 39 players on more than 17 different NCAA Division I men’s basketball teams, who then rigged and attempted to rig more than 29 games, prosecutors said.

They wagered millions of dollars, raking in “substantial proceeds” for themselves, and paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to players in bribes, prosecutors said. Payments to players typically ranged from $10,000 to $30,000 per game, they said.

Prosecutors named more than 40 schools where games were allegedly targeted by the scheme. Those included Tulane University and DePaul University.

Rigged games included major conferences and some playoffs, including the first round of the Horizon League championship and the second round of the Southland Conference championship, prosecutors said.

Players often recruited teammates to cooperate by playing badly, sitting out or keeping the ball away from players who weren’t in on the scheme to prevent them from scoring. Sometimes the attempted fix failed, meaning the fixers lost their bets, prosecutors said.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Sources recently told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the Indianapolis Colts have traded wide receiver Michael Pittman, Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a swap of late round draft picks. Pittman, who has spent his entire six-year NFL career with the Colts, tallied 80 catches for 784 yards along with seven touchdowns last season. Schefter reported that the Steelers are also giving Pittman a new contract for three years, and it is worth $59 million.