Indiana girls come up short in PIAA AAA title game

UNIVERSITY PARK — Archbishop Wood (26-5) captured the PIAA Class AAA girls basketball title today, pulling away in the fourth quarter for a 49-39 victory against WPIAL representative Indiana (25-3) at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center.

The Vikings, from Bucks County suburban Philadelphia, used a pressure defense that forced 23 Indiana turnovers. They outscored Indiana, 18-9, in the fourth quarter.

It was Indiana's first trip to the PIAA state finals since 1983 when it lost to Nether Providence High School. The school is now called Strath Haven High School.

Indiana led 13-6 after one quarter and increased its lead to 15-7 on a bucket by Stapleton to open the second quarter. Archbishop Wood then turned up the defensive pressure, forced four-consecutive turnovers, and went on a 6-0 run to cut the score to a 15-13. The score was tied at 17-17 at halftime and Wood led 31-30 after three quarters.

Tiara Stossel led Indiana with 17 points and Leslie Stapleton added 13.

Christine Verrelle, who broke a 33-33 tie with a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter, finished with 16 points. Stephanie Keyes added 11 and Samantha Greenfield had 10.