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Dec 1, 2023 By Jim Downey 3 min read

Jim Downey

Peters Township’s Chris Cibrone maintains contact with the mat as the Falcons’ Lonzy Vielma controls his legs during the 138-pound bout in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA team wrestling tournament on Feb. 22, 2023, at Connellsville.The winter sports season officially gets underway tonight.

Ãå±±½ûµØ fans ready for something different will have a full schedule tonight with the start of the winter sports season.

Belle Vernon plays in the PIAA Class AAA football semifinals tonight at North Allegheny, but basketball tournament games abound in the area.

The Laurel Highlands girls host the C.Vivian Stringer tournament, playing Taylor Allderdice today at 5:45 p.m.. Franklin Regional faces Hempfield at 7:20. Laurel Highlands plays Franklin Regional on Saturday at noon, with Hempfield-Taylor Allderdice to follow at 1:30 p.m.

Brownsville hosts its annual Falcon Fest with both boys and girls games.

The Falcons entertain Beth-Center in the final game of the four-game schedule at 9 p.m. The Albert Gallatin boys play Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at 5 p.m.The Lady Falcons host Bentworth at 7 p.m. and Uniontown plays Chartiers-Houston in the opening game at 3 p.m.

The Jefferson-Morgan girls are the host of the Donna M. Furnier Invitational. The opening day has Ligonier Valley playing Beth-Center at 4 p.m., the host Lady Rockets face county rival Carmichaels at 5:30, and Geibel Catholic closes play against Waynesburg Central at 7 p.m.

Laurel Highlands’ John Smith coaches his first game when the Mustangs play Derry in the Cougar Nation Tip-Off Tournament at 6 p.m. The host Cougars follow at 7:30 against Summit Academy.

Local boys teams playing in other tournaments include: Connellsville vs. Franklin Regional, at Hempfield Tip-Off Tournament,, 4:45 p.m.; Frazier at McGuffey, McGuffey Tip-Off Tournament, 8 p.m.; Waynesburg Central at Fort Cherry, at Fort Cherry Tip-Off Tournament, 9 p.m.; Jefferson-Morgan vs. West Allegheny, Fort Cherry Tip-Off Tournament, 6 p.m.; Carmichaels at Mapletown, 7 p.m.; Elizabeth Forward vs. Thomas Jeffersoni, MVI Tip-Off Tournament, 5 p.m.;

Ringgold at Charleroi, MVI Tip-Off Tournament, 7:30 p.m.; and Mount Pleasant vs. Forest Hills, River Valley Tournament, 6 p.m.

Other girls opening day action includes: Propel Montour at Connellsville, 5:30 p.m.; Frazier at Southmoreland, 7 p.m.; West Greene vs. Ellis School, Fort Cherry Tip-Off Tournament, 7:30 p.m.; Mapletown at Avella, Avella Tip-Off Tournament, 6 p.m.; Elizabeth Forward vs. Chartiers Valley, Keystone Oaks Tip-Off Tournament, 6:30 p.m.; Yough vs. Valley, Deer Lakes Tip-Off Tournament, 6 p.m.; Charleroi vs. Derry, Major Corley Tip-Off Tournament, at Monessen, 5:30 p.m.; Brashear at Monessen, Major Corley Tip-Off Tournament, 7 p.m.; Ringgold at Greensburg Salem, Greensburg Salem Tip-Off Tournament, 7:30 p.m.; and Mount Pleasant vs. Blackhawk, Greensburg Salem Tip-Off Tournament, 6 p.m.

Albert Gallatin, Elizabeth Forward, West Greene, Bentworth and Beth-Center open the wrestling season in the two-day Chartiers-Houston Invitational.Connellsville travels to Williamsport Area High School for the Top Hat Wrestling Invitational.

The Elizabeth Forward swimming and diving team opens with a non-section meet at West Mifflin.