Stephanie Strasburg

State basketball semi-finals at North Allegheny Senior High School

Bishop Canevin girls won over West Shamokin and Sewickley Academy boys won against Bishop Canevin in the high school basketball state semifinals on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at North Allegheny Senior High School. Winners advance to Hershey, PA for the state finals this weekend. Photos by Stephanie Strasburg.

Sewickley Academy’s Dave Groetsch holds on to the ball against Bishop Canevin’s Kellan Gustine, left, and Eugene Goodwine, right, in the boys’ state basketball semifinals at North Allegheny Senior High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in McCandless, Pa.
Sewickley Academy’s Isiah Warfield plays defense as Bishop Canevin’s Mitchell King brings the ball downcourt in the boys’ state basketball semifinals at North Allegheny Senior High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in McCandless, Pa.
Sewickley Academy’s bench reacts during their game against Bishop Canevin in the boys’ state basketball semifinals at North Allegheny Senior High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in McCandless, Pa.
Sewickley Academy’s Justin Pryor goes up for the shot against Bishop Canevin’s Richie Bochiccio, back, and Eugene Goodwine, front, in the boys’ state basketball semifinals at North Allegheny Senior High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in McCandless, Pa.
Bishop Canevin’s cheerleaders celebrate as their team scores in the final minutes of their game against Sewickley Academy in the boys’ state basketball semifinals at North Allegheny Senior High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in McCandless, Pa.
West Shamokin’s fans cheer during a game against Bishop Canevin during the girls’ state basketball semifinals Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at North Allegheny Senior High School in McCandless, Pa.
Bishop Canevin’s Shamyjha Price plays defense against West Shamokin’s Shelby Clowser as they play in the girls’ state basketball semifinals at North Allegheny Senior High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in McCandless, Pa.
Bishop Canevin fans react in a game against West Shamokin during the girls’ state basketball semifinals at North Allegheny Senior High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in McCandless, Pa.
Bishop Canevin’s Brionna Allen dribbles past West Shamokin’s Shelby Clowser as they play in the girls’ state basketball semifinals at North Allegheny Senior High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in McCandless, Pa.
Bishop Canevin’s head coach Tim Joyce argues a call during their game against West Shamokin Tuesday, March 21, 2017 as they play in the girls’ state basketball semifinals at North Allegheny Senior High School in McCandless, Pa.
Bishop Canevin’s Brionna Allen, left, fights for the ball with West Shamokin’s Jays Hooth as they play in the girls’ state basketball semifinals Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at North Allegheny Senior High School in McCandless, Pa.
Bishop Canevin’s fans contest a call in the team’s game against Sewickley Academy in the boys’ state basketball semifinals at North Allegheny Senior High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in McCandless, Pa.
Sewickley Academy’s head coach Win Palmer on the sideline of the team’s game against Bishop Canevin in the boys’ state basketball semifinals at North Allegheny Senior High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in McCandless, Pa.
Bishop Canevin’s Walter Bonds knocks the ball from Sewickley Academy’s Justin Pryor during their game in the boys’ state basketball semifinals at North Allegheny Senior High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in McCandless, Pa.
Bishop Canevin’s Sarah Green, center left, and Lauren Gamble, center right, celebrate their win against West Shamokin in the girls’ state basketball semifinals on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at North Allegheny Senior High School in McCandless, Pa.
Bishop Canevin’s Sarah Green, center left, and Lauren Gamble, center right, hug as they celebrate their win against West Shamokin in the girls’ state basketball semifinals on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at North Allegheny Senior High School in McCandless, Pa.
Bishop Canevin head coach Kevin Trost talks to his team on the sideline during their game against Sewickley Academy in the boys’ state basketball semifinals at North Allegheny Senior High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in McCandless, Pa.
Sewickley Academy’s bench celebrates their win in the final seconds against Bishop Canevin in the boys’ state basketball semifinals at North Allegheny Senior High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in McCandless, Pa.
Sewickley Academy’s Justin Pryor gets a hug after his team won against their game against Bishop Canevin in the boys’ state basketball semifinals at North Allegheny Senior High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in McCandless, Pa.
Lizzy Groetsch, center, 14, of Wexford, laughs as she dons a Hershey Kiss hat while celebrating Sewickley Academy’s win in the final seconds against Bishop Canevin in the boys’ state basketball semifinals at North Allegheny Senior High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in McCandless, Pa. Groetsch has two brothers on the team. “I’m so excited,” she said.
Bishop Canevin’s Sarah Green exits the court with her teammates as they celebrate their win against West Shamokin in the girls’ state basketball semifinals on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at North Allegheny Senior High School in McCandless, Pa.
Sewickley Academy celebrates their win in the final seconds against Bishop Canevin in the boys’ state basketball semifinals at North Allegheny Senior High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in McCandless, Pa.
Sewickley Academy’s Justin Pryor gets a hug after his team won against their game against Bishop Canevin in the boys’ state basketball semifinals at North Allegheny Senior High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in McCandless, Pa.

In Focus: A very Northside Mardi Gras

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Outside the red door to the Allegheny Elks Club, two of Cheryl Capezzuti’s shimmering puppets dance to the quiet street sounds of a Tuesday night in February. Open the red door, and the brass and drums of big band music pour out the door, setting the mood for revelers draped in shiny beads and feather boas, their eyes shadowed by glittery masks. The line for jambalaya and shrimp po’ boys runs to the back of the wood paneled room. In time, Jack “Johnny Angel” Hunt calls 2016 Northside Mardi Gras King Rick Sebak to the stage to pass over his beads, scepter and crown to his 2017 successor, Randy Gilson of local Randyland fame. As the crowd cheers and cameras flash, Seback reluctantly allows Gilson to pry the crown from his head, and the start of the 2017 Northside Mardi Gras is officially proclaimed. View The Gallery >

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Streaks and curls of holiday lights reflect off the tinted windows of a hot pink stretch limo as it winds its way through the suburban streets of Bethel Park. Inside the limo, the mirrored ceiling bounces neon lights onto a group of young girls singing (shouting?) in unison, a group of girls who a mere hour and a half ago were wary strangers. Their freshly painted sparkly nails cut and wave brazen zig-zags through the air as they launch into Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor, and "Frozen" songs in unison. View The Gallery >