Happy New Year to all of our readers. There’s no doubt 2007 will be interesting on the high school sports scene. Here’s a sampling of items to look forward to as the year gets under way: &#149 Section 1-AAA showdowns: It won’t take long to see how the Section 1-AAA boys will trend. Tonight, Highlands (11-0) will play host to Knoch, winner of six in a row. On Friday, Knoch will be at home against Hampton (11-0). The Talbots are ranked No. 2 in the Harrisburg-based statewide Class AAA rankings. As if that’s not enough, next Tuesday Highlands will be at home to face Hampton. &#149 Pining for Palumbo: The WPIAL has signed a two-year agreement to hold all eight basketball finals at Duquesne University’s A.J. Palumbo Center March 2-3, 2007 and Feb. 29-March 1, 2008. Last year, there were three finals on Friday of championship weekend at Palumbo, then five the following day at Pitt’s Petersen Events Center. The state finals for the next three seasons will be held at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center after being in Hershey the past 26 years. &#149 No Indiana change: Though Indiana (Pa.) University has been forced to change its name from Indians to the Crimson Hawks, Indiana Area High School has no plans to depart from the Indians moniker. One administrator said recently that in 26 years at the school, he has heard no complaints from about the nickname. In fact, at a statewide athletic directors meeting last year, no school using Native American-related names indicated any complaints. &#149 Saltsburg’s last stand?: The inside word at Saltsburg is that the school will be back in the fall, possibly for its last academic year. With the boys and girls basketball teams featuring strong underclassmen, the Trojans could contend for PIAA District 6 titles in the school’s swan song. &#149 Scintillating Sabers: Despite squandering a 19-point lead to Greensburg Central Catholic before the Christmas section break, the Ford City girls have a solid chance to make the WPIAL playoffs for the 12th consecutive year, including all eight under coach Al Davis. &#149 Deer Lakes football: Indications are the school will be selecting a new head football coach by the end of the month. Despite 11 consecutive losing seasons, don’t be surprised if at least one big name emerges for the vacant position. &#149 New PIAA schools: At least 14 and, possibly all 16, schools from the Philadelphia Catholic League will be joining the PIAA starting next year. With most of the schools Class AAAA or AAA, it could have an effect on lowering the enrollment barriers statewide. The entry of Philly public schools two years ago caused a ripple effect locally, with Class AAA football schools like Valley and Kittanning dropping to Class AA, and Class AA schools such as Apollo-Ridge dropping to Class A. &#149 Willie Thrower pursuit: It will be interesting to see if any accolades come to the late New Kensington resident who, in 2006, had a statue erected in his honor at Valley Memorial Stadium and was named to the Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame in Harlem, N.Y. Besides that, Willie Thrower is a featured question in the latest board game, Trivial Pursuit 6, dealing with early black NFL quarterbacks. &#149 USC MIAs: Since Upper St. Clair won the PIAA Class AAAA title last month and finished the season 16-0, why haven’t we heard anything from the two USC school board members who orchestrated a move to have coach Jim Render fired two years ago?

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