Staff writer
jmontecalvo@observer-reporter.com
PITTSBURGH - After suffering a 29-point loss in the WPIAL championship game to Upper St. Clair last Saturday, the Peters Township High School girls basketball team entered the PIAA playoffs with a chip on its collective shoulder.
The Indians wanted to prove their performance in the district title game wasn't a typical one.
They had that chance Friday night in the first round against New Castle.
During the WPIAL playoffs, the Indians pulled out three exciting last-minute victories, winning by three points over Fox Chapel, by two in overtime against Butler and by four in the semifinals against Mt. Lebanon.
Against New Castle, Peters Township found itself in a familiar position, trailing by three points with 2:45 left.
It seems the Indians wouldn't have it any other way.
In the final 2:32, Maura Lacey and Samantha Higgins each scored four key points, Emily Correal came up with a crucial steal, and Peters Township held New Castle to one basket in earning another exciting playoff victory, a 56-50 decision at North Hills Junior High School.
"We took a major step in proving ourselves from Saturday," Peters Township coach Dennis Squeglia said. "We talked a lot about that during the week. When you lose by 29 on the biggest stage in the WPIAL, you have to find a way to come back."
It was the second win for the Indians against New Castle. Peters Township beat the Red Hurricanes 79-60 during the Ambridge tournament Dec. 27.
This latest victory advanced PT to the second round of the state playoffs against City League champion Schenley (23-4), a 42-36 winner over Oakland Catholic. The game will be Tuesday at a site to be determined.
As has been the theme for Peters Township throughout the postseason, it took some heroics in the closing minutes to earn the win.
Lacey grabbed a rebound and scored to bring the Indians to within one point of the lead, then pulled in another offensive board on the next possession. She proceeded to find Higgins, who scored with 1:56 left for a 49-48 lead.
Higgins, who scored 12 points, also converted two free throws to give the Indians a 51-50 lead before Correal went to the free-throw line with 58 seconds remaining.
Correal missed the front end of a one-and-one but redeemed herself by coming up with a steal with 40 seconds left, and the Indians made three of six free throws from that point to seal the win.
Correal finished with 17 points and eight rebounds, but New Castle, the fifth-seeded team from the WPIAL, didn't make things easy for the 6-3 center. The Red Hurricanes (19-7) double-teamed Correal nearly every time she touched the ball.
"It was really physical," Correal said. "They played a 2-2-1 the last time and we got some wide open layups. I had to work a lot harder this time.
"I can just remember when I was at the foul line with a one-and-one and we were up by one and I missed it. I had to get that steal to make up for it. We just seem to be able to pull it out when it's close."
Correal had help from her supporting cast.
Lacey had a game-high 15 rebounds - nine on the offensive end - as the Indians held a 35-16 edge on the boards, which offset their 20 turnovers.
Lexi Kamphaus scored a career-high 17 points. She continually broke down the New Castle defense and single-handedly produced a 6-0 run early in the third quarter that gave Peters Township (21-8) a four-point lead.
"My shot was off during the warmup, and usually when I get down on myself before a game, my shot is off," said Kamphaus, who overcame a rough collision with teammate Maddie Miller in the first half. "Once we got past their first line of defense, it was a layup or foul from there. They didn't have the quick feet that our guards do, so that was an advantage."
New Castle had a chance to make things interesting in the last minute, but turned the ball over twice and shot an airball. The Red Hurricanes, who received 16 points from Logan Hartman and 12 from Amanda Wise, forced a turnover late, but missed two point-blank shots with less than 15 seconds left.
"We didn't do a great job stopping their dribble-penetration and (Kamphaus) killed us," New Castle coach Luann Grybowski said. "This game is pretty simple. When a shot goes up, you have to go rebound. They dribbled around us and we stood there. And the third quarter when Peters Township scored 21 points was a turning point."
Correal made one free throw with 9.1 seconds left a Lacey grabbed the rebound on the second and scored to end the game.
"I've always told the girls rebounds and foul shots win games," Squeglia said. "We didn't play a perfect game by any means, but we did enough right things to get into position to make foul shots in the end."