Third time is South Park’s charm
Members of Trinity High School’s girls basketball team walk off the court after losing to South Park in the first round of the PIAA Class AAA playoffs Saturday at Peters Township High School.
Trinity’s Natalie Cappelli and South Park’s Jess Jones battle for possession of the ball during the first half Saturday.
Trinity’s Adison Mamula gets her shot blocked South Park’s Allison McGrath in the second half Saturday.
Trinity’s Natalie Cappelli reacts as South Park scores with 2.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
McMURRAY – Like most kids with a passion for sports, South Park High School’s Brittany Andrews remembers counting down the seconds on the imaginary clock while playing basketball in her driveway, hoping to pull off an improbable game-winning shot.
Those buzzer-beating countdowns and next-to-impossible shots became reality Saturday afternoon.
With the clock ticking down in a tied game, a cutting Andrews took a pass from teammate Allison McGrath and finished the layup while being fouled with 2.1 seconds left. The three-point play was enough for No. 6 South Park to upset Trinity 44-41 in a PIAA Class AAA first-round playoff game at Peters Township High School.
“I just never imagined it would be this real,” Andrews said. “I just stepped up like everybody else did. That is what is expected in the playoffs.”
Despite South Park (20-7) losing to the Hillers twice earlier in the year – in the regular-season finale and the WPIAL quarterfinals – Eagles head coach Juliet Highberger knew maybe a third shot would not be the worst thing.
“Third times a charm, obviously” said Highberger, a Washington native. “Our girls just have a passion for this game. My girls played tough the entire game and you just cannot coach that. You cannot coach passion.”
That toughness was evident throughout most of the game as the Eagles fought for everything they could get against Trinity (21-5).
“They outhustled us, especially in the first half, and got a lot of the 50-50 balls,” said Trinity head coach Bob Miles. “We expected everything they gave us, and we told our players that it was not going to be an easy game. Those girls were as hungry as we were.”
The hustle and energy from Andrews, who had 15 points and five rebounds, helped South Park outrebound much taller Trinity.
South Park went on an eight-point run with two three-pointers from McGrath to put the Eagles up 32-29 with 3:08 remaining in the third quarter.
“With her making those three-pointers in the third quarter it gave us the confidence we needed,” said Highberger, whose team scored only six points in the third quarter of in the last meeting with Trinity.
The Hillers regained the lead at 41-39 lead on Trinity senior Mary Dunn’s turnaround jumper with 5:26 to play.
They were the last points Trinity scored.
“They scored and we did not,” said Miles. “We had a couple of opportunities when we took the lead but we just did not finish.”
The Eagles, who will face Forest Hills in the second round, were led by McGrath’s 19 points, 13 coming in the third quarter.
Trinity was led by Dunn’s team-high 16 points and 11 rebounds. Sierra Kotchman scored 11 points and Delaney Elling provided nine first-half points off the bench.
“We need to keep our heads up and there should be no crying,” Miles said. “I have seniors who are going to go onto college. I have guards coming back who are young and will be a good nucleus for next year. I think everything is a positive.”