Mar 12, 2016 4 min read

NEW CASTLE – Playing an opponent that has a perfect record does not mean a perfect effort is needed to win.

Missed shots, missed assignments on defense and mistakes handling the basketball are invevitable, particularly against a quick opponent with three Division I players in the starting lineup.

Though South Fayette didn’t need to be perfect Saturday afternoon, its mistakes were untimely and too many precious opportunities were missed.

And those handful of mistakes cost the Lions a trip to the state semifinals.

After struggling against South Fayette’s trapping zone defense in the first half, Villa Maria used a 20-point third quarter to pull away for a 54-44 victory over the Lions in a PIAA Class AAA quarterfinal game at New Castle High School.

South Fayette, which saw its season end with a 24-4 record, trailed by just one point at halftime, despite missing a fast-break lay-up to end the second quarter and missing five free throws.

“If you want to beat that team, you can’t miss free throws and lay-ups,” South Fayette head coach Matt Bacco said. “You can’t do it.”

The Lions grabbed a one-point lead to begin the third quarter, but Villa Maria (28-0), the District 10 champions and the ninth-ranked team in the country according to USA Today, answered with a 10-0 run to take advantage of South Fayette’s rushed possessions.

Senior guard Sarah Agnello, a Lafayette recruit who finished with a game-high 19 points, made one of her five three-pointers during the Victors’ run. The Lions cut the deficit to five points a few minutes later, but Agnello responded with a three-pointer.

She did the same early in the fourth after South Fayette sophomore forward Sam Kosmacki made a twisting lay up to narrow the margin to six points. Kosmacki had 13 points and senior center Emily Anderson had 13 with 11 rebounds and four blocked shots. Mikayla Fetchet chipped in 10 points.

“When you play a team that’s that good, you’re going to have to take some punches,” Bacco said. “We took some and we responded with a few of our own. Every time we needed a stop, it seemed like they’d bang in a three.”

South Fayette trailed by just five points with 40 seconds remaining, but Villa Maria quickly broke the Lions’ press defense to escape a foul, instead earning two free throws. Villa Maria scored the final five points to secure the win.

The Victors found second chances throughout the second half, grabbing rebounds after missed three-point attempts and long possessions turned into points, including Molly Mraz’s three-pointer late in the third quarter to help Villa Maria grab an 11-point lead entering the fourth.

Villa Maria senior point guard Anna Sweny, a Canisius recruit, had 13 points and senior forward Jennifer Oduho, who will play at Youngstown State, had nine points and 10 rebounds. Though the Victors struggled from the field and committed 15 turnovers, their defense forced 15 and held the Lions to just one three-point field goal.

“South Fayette is very talented one through five,” Villa Maria head coach Doug Chuzie said. “It doesn’t matter what player is out there or who has the ball, they can score. We tried to mix our defenses a little bit so they wouldn’t get comfortable. As soon as they got comfortable, they’re going to execute and put the ball in the hoop.”

That’s what the Lions did in the first quarter with Kosmacki sparking a 10-0 run, but as soon as South Fayette held the momentum, Agnello hit a three-pointer.

South Fayette held a four-point lead at the end of the first quarter and Villa Maria got into foul trouble, but the Lions could not capitalize, making just 5 of 10 free throws in the second quarter.

“We made them make some tough plays, but they have five good offensive players on the floor,” Bacco said. “Any time you aren’t defensively perfect, the ball is going to end up in your hoop.”

The Lions’ run came to an end, but they won the program’s first WPIAL title and made another PIAA playoff appearance. Villa Maria, which is in the PIAA playoffs for the 16th consecutive season, will play South Park, the WPIAL’s sixth seed, Tuesday in the semifinals at a site and time to be determined.

“There’s no doubt, we were right there,” Bacco said. “It is no consolation, but that team is ranked No. 9 in the country and they have six Division I players. Those kids are there to play basketball. They go there because it’s a perennial power. I’m proud of what our kids accomplished. We aren’t going to hang our heads.”