A close match was in the works when BP faced Plum in the WPIAL Class AAA 3rd Place Consolation Game on May 22 at Baldwin High School. However, with help from star Jake Dixon, BP was able to pull away.

Dixon had a key kill, and BP beat Plum, 3-1. BP earned third place.

In addition to third place in the WPIAL tournament in Class AAA, BP also secured a spot to the PIAA tournament.

Other Class AAA teams going into the PIAAs include champion Fox Chapel and runner-up Seneca Valley.

In the first game, neither team could get ahead by five points or more, and there were seven tied scores. However, Dixon got a kill when the score was 26-25, and BP won the game, 27-25.

BP then went ahead 20-16 in the second game. Then, Plum went on a 4-1 run to cut the lead to one point. In spite of that, BP scored five straight points to win the game.

In the third game, with BP winning 2-0 and having a 17-10 lead, Plum went on a 10-6 run to bring the score to 23-20 BP, and then scored six straight points to win the set, 26-23.

With the score 2-1 BP, Plum got out to an early 10-9 lead. However, BP scored five straight points to make the score 14-10, and did not trail the rest of the game, as BP took the game and match, 25-22.

BP will play State College in the first round of the PIAA playoffs on Wednesday, May 27 at 5 p.m. at Altoona High School. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for students.

Good luck to the Black Hawks en route to a state championship.