The Beaver Falls Tigers will play for a PIAA Class AA boys’ basketball championship Saturday. But they say they also are playing for a classmate who died in a car accident recently.

Dray Harper was killed in an accident recently. He wasn’t on the basketball team, but players ink his initials on their wrist bands for games.

After Thursday’s semifinal victory over Aliquippa, Beaver Falls’ Carliss Jeter was interviewed with a newspaper reporter. At the end of the interview, he said, “Can you please mention that we’re dedicating the rest of the season to [Harper].”

It has been a wonderful season for Beaver Falls (28-3) and the Tigers are the only WPIAL boys’ headed to Hershey for the championships this weekend. Oakland Catholic and Serra will represent the WPIAL on the girls’ side.

Here is a look at each game:

CLASS AAAA BOYS
Lower Merion (25-8) vs. Chester (26-6), Saturday at 8:00pm

It might seem strange for two Philadelphia teams to play for the championship. But the PIAA changed the brackets this season and some Eastern Pennsylvania teams played through the western bracket. Lower Merion was one of those teams.

Lower Merion is near Philadelphia. The last time the Aces were in the title game, they had a kid named Kobe Bryant manning one of the guard positions. Bryant and Lower Merion defeated Erie Cathedral Prep in the 1996 championship.

Both Lower Merion and Chester are from District 1. Lower Merion was the No. 12 seed for the District 1 playoffs, but ended up fourth. The Aces are led by 6-4 junior forward Garrett Williamson, who averages 13 points. Greg Downer is Lower Merion’s coach. He also was the coach during Bryant’s days.

Chester is a perennial power and is in the playoffs for the 34th year. The Clippers have three starters 6-5 or taller.

CLASS AAA BOYS
JOHNSTOWN (27-3) VS. STEELTON-HIGHSPIRE (31-3), FRIDAY AT 8:00pm

Steelton-Highspire has been in the championship game six times. This is the first time ever for Johnstown. John Fuschino is in his first season as Johnstown’s coach after two years at both Windber and Somerset.

Steelton-Hishspire has two 2,000-point scorers in 6-5 forward Tristan Crawford and 6-1 guad Tremayne Hawthorne, who is a Drexel recruit. Fuschino considers his team an underdog.

“We’re just hoping to keep it competitive as long as possible and hopefully have a chance at the end,” Fuschino said.

Kurt Hoffman, a 6-6 junior forward, averages 15 points a game for Johnstown guard Aireon Jefferson 12.

CLASS AA BOYS
BEAVER FALLS (28-3) VS. YORK CATHOLIC (26-8), SATURDAY 3:00pm

Beaver Falls last won a title in 1994, when Dave Podbielski was coach. Podbielski died of a heart attack a few years ago. Beaver Falls also won a PIAA title in 1970. York Catholic is 4 for 4 in title games, winning in 1978, 1979, 1987 and 1990.

York Catholic is a young team. Freshman guard Jacob Iati averages 14 points a game and sophomore Jon Showers 13. Showers had 21 and Iati 19 in the semifinals against Camp Hill Trinity.

Beaver Falls is among the top five scoring teams in the state, averaging more than 70 points a game. The Tigers had some trouble scoring against Aliquippa, as the Quips played a triangle-and-two defense on Beaver Falls’ Lance Jeter and Jack Anderson. It’s questionable if the same defense will be effective by York Catholic.

“Aliquippa just has the size to play that,” Jeter said.

CLASS A BOYS
KENNEDY CATHOLIC (25-5) VS. BISHOP O’REILLY (28-4), FRIDAY 3:00pm

Kennedy Catholic has won six championships since 1986. All of the previous titles came under Coach Joe Votino. Fourth-year coach Tim Loomis, a Penn State assistant, is trying to win his first.

Kennedy Catholic has a good-sized team with 6-6 David Jackson (17 ppg) and 6-3 Blair Rozenblad (16 pppg). Bishop O’Reilly is the defending PIAA champion and has one of the top point guards in Class A in Tim Crossin.

“Their team goes through him, as our team goes through our inside players,” Loomis said.

CLASS AAAA GIRLS
OAKLAND CATHOLIC (30-2) vs. CHELTENHAM (26-6), FRIDAY 6:00pm

This is Oakland Catholic’s fifth championship appearance in six years. Coach Rich Irr is in his second season after taking over for Suzie McConnell Serio. Irr spent part of his childhood as McConnell’s neighbor. McConnell Serio still stays in touch with Irr.

Cheltenham defeated Oakland Catholic in the 2000 title game. Cheltenham is a surprise team in the PIAA playoffs. It finished as the No. 5 team in District 1.

“We’re surprised to be there,” said Coach Bob Schaefer. “We’ve been watching Oakland Catholic all season. I’ve had my head scout everywhere. He’s said all year that Oakland Catholic is going to be there again.”

Cheltenham features sister Antonia and Ashley Gale are sisters. Antonia is a La Salle recruit who averages 15.1 points a game. Ashley averages 12.2.

Eve Pyle leads Oakland Catholic with a 16.6 average, Aysha Jones averages 10.1 and Brianne O’Rourke.

CLASS AAA GIRLS
Mercyhurst Prep (28-3) vs. St. Basil (27-4), SATURDAY 6:00pm

Mercyhurst Prep is the defending Class AAAA champion and a big favorite in this game. In the semifinals, Mercyhurst Prep led Lewistown at halftiem, 53-11. Chelsea Gordon is a 6-foot Illinois recruit who averages 16.5. Mashea Williams is a 5-10 senior headed to Penn State and averages 15.2.

Erin Kerner is a 5-8 guard headed to Division I Quinnipiac who averages 11. Pennewell also is a Quinnipiac recruit.

There is another Quinnipiac recruit in this game. St. Basil guard Samantha Thompson averages 14 a game.

CLASS AA GIRLS
WESTMONT HILLTOP (30-2) VS. DELONE CATHOLIC (31-3), FRIDAY 3:00pm

Westmont Hilltop knocked off some top WPIAL teams in the PIAA playoffs. The Hilltoppers defeated previously undefeated Avonworth in the second round and Greensburg Central Catholic in the semifinals.

Westmont Hilltop might be considered the underdog in this game because Delone Catholic is the two-time defending champion. One of Westmont Hilltop’s two losses this season was to Delone Catholic, 53-46.

Kelly Britcher is only a sophomore but, the 5-11 forward leads Westmont in scoring at 14.4. Junior Katie Linter aveages 10.8 and and senior Kaitlin Urban 9.2.

Delone, the District 3 runnerup, is led by 5-10 junior guard Meredith Cox, who averages 17.3.

CLASS A GIRLS
SERRA (28-1) VS. MARIAN CATHOLIC (30-3), SATURDAY 1:00pm

Serra is trying to become only the third WPIAL team win a Class A championship. The others are Mt. Alvernia in 1983 and Monessen last year. Mt. Alvernia is the only WPIAL team to ever win a PIAA title with an undefeated record.

Serra has two 1,000-point scorers in Laura Grimm and Brittany Matta. But it’s questionable if the Eagles’ offense will be able to get going against Marian Catholic, which allows less than 35 points a game.

In the semifinals, Marian Catholic held Pottsville Nativity BVM to 25 points.

Marian Catholic’ Tricia McElmoyle, a 5-8 guard, averages 14 points while 5-7 Jen Blasko averages 11 and 5-9 Jody Searfoss 10.