The Penn-Trafford girls basketball team needed a buzzer beater to escape the opening round of the WPIAL Class AAAA playoffs
It wouldn't have the same luck in the quarterfinals.
The Warriors was outscored 18-2 in the fourth quarter as Penn Hills captured a 40-22 win over the defending WPIAL champions.
“You have to give (Penn Hills) credit,” Penn-Trafford coach John Giannikas said. “They made more plays than we did. I'd take the same looks we had in the next game. Our kids moved the ball, got the shots we wanted to shoot and they just didn't go in. There were no surprises out there.
“I wouldn't take any other kids than the ones I have in the locker room right now. I wish I could have done more to help them get the ball in the basket.”
The game started at a slow pace as Maria Palarino and Casey Aunkst connected on 3-pointers to give Penn-Trafford a 6-2 at the end of one quarter. A 3-pointer from Emma Mull 30 seconds into the second quarter gave the Warriors a 9-4 avantage and the largest lead they would see in the game.
A Penn Hills turnover to start the third quarter led to a Palarino score but the Indians took control form there. A Penn-Trafford turn over led to a Desiree Oliver 3-pointer that tied the game at 15-15. A Saroyah Johnson basket 20 seconds later gave Penn Hills a lead it would not surrender the rest of the game. The Indians would hold the Warriors scoreless for long lapses in the third quarter – including a stretch of nearly four minutes – and built its lead to 22-20 at the end of three.
Penn Hills jumped ahead for good in the fourth quarter when it outscored Penn-Trafford by 16 points.
“The frustration built up a little bit and it led to some fouls that let them shoot free throws,” Giannikas said. “I thought defensively we were fine. Without free throws at the end of the game, we would have held them to the 30s. If you would tell me before the game we would hold them to the 30s, I would have liked our chances.”
The Warriors had defeated Penn Hills, 53-35, on Dec. 27.
The offense never seemed to click for the Warriors as the 22 points scored was a season low. Penn-Trafford averaged 55.6 points per game this season.
Jade Ely led the Indians with 21 points, going 11-for-13 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.
The win snapped Penn-Trafford's win streak at 21 while Penn Hills extended its win streak to 11.
While the loss knocked the Warriors out of WPIAL title contention, the team's season lives on. Penn-Trafford dropped to the consolation bracket and faced Pine-Richland on Tuesday – results were unavailable at press time. A win in the bracket would guarantee a spot in the PIAA playoffs.
Giannikas said the best thing for his squad after the Penn Hills game would be to get back in the gym and keep working.
“It is tough right now but the season isn't over,” Giannikas said. “We will take a couple days off and we will get ready for states. It is one game a time. I know we'll come ready to play and hopefully the ball goes in the basket a little better.”
Nathan Smith is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at nsmith@tribweb.com or via Twitter @NSmith_Trib.
