Prep’s slowdown doesn’t stop Peters Township
SLIPPERY ROCK – They teach patience, right along with shooting, passing and man-to-man defense, at Cathedral Prep High School in Erie. By the time the Ramblers’ girls basketball players are ready for the varsity, they have become adept at dropping the pace of a game to that of a chess match at the local old folks home.
Such was the case Saturday in the PIAA Class 5A quarterfinals against Peters Township.
Prep wanted to slow the pace, limit the number of possessions in the game and take advantage of some favorable matchups on the offensive end of the court. The Ramblers accomplished the first two objectives but did not do enough of the latter to win the game.
Natalie Wetzel scored 14 points and Peters Township survived Cathedral Prep’s slowdown tactics as the Indians won a defensive struggle, 35-25, at Slippery Rock University’s Morrow Field House.
The win sends Peters Township (26-3) into the state semifinals against South Fayette, a rematch of the WPIAL championship game won by the Indians. The semifinal will be played Saturday at a site and time to be determined.
The rematch against South Fayette will be played at a quicker tempo than Cathedral Prep offered. The Ramblers used a motion offense to control the pace and test the Indians’ patience.
“We thought they might do that,” Peters Township coach Steve Limberiou said. “He (Cathedral Prep coach Doug Chuzie) is a ballholder, unfortunately. I know he’s done that in the past. With no shot clock, you can do that. Getting out to a lead was important because it makes it harder to do that when you don’t have the lead.”
Bri Morreale, who battled foul trouble much of the game, gave PT a 2-0 lead when she stole a pass in the backcourt and raced for the fast-break layup.
Morreale had another steal later in the quarter and fed point guard Taylor McCullough for a basket that put PT up 9-4.
“Bri has one of the highest defensive IQs of any basketball player I’ve been around or coached,” Limberiou said. “Her sense of angles and anticipation is amazing. She has such a good sense of playing defense.”
Cathedral Prep (18-8), the District 10 champion, held only one lead. The Ramblers scored five straight points in the second quarter and took a 13-12 lead after two free throws by Jessica Beveridge.
“We haven’t backed down from anyone,” Chuzie told reporters. “Our strength is in the team, and by playing team basketball, by sharing the ball and being in the right spot on defense. Size is a factor and that was the case for the majority of this game.”
The Prep lead lasted only one possession as PT’s Alina Sopko made a three-pointer that put PT back in front. Prep then tried to hold the ball for the final shot of the first half but turned it over. That set up a three-pointer by Wetzel with 40 seconds left and the Indians took an 18-13 lead into the intermission.
Much of Prep’s game plan was to get some favorable matchups with 6-2 forward Addie Beil, an Appalachian State recruit. Daniela Radulovich, with help from Wetzel, guarded Biel and held her to nine points.
“I don’t think they played against two 6-3 girls in District 10,” Limberiou said, referring to Radulovich and Wetzel, who combined for 20 rebounds, three blocked shots and numerous altered shots.
Several times Radulovich found herself guarding Biel between the top of the key and center circle. Prep’s coaches wanted Biel to drive to the basket in those situations but Radulovich was able to play a cat-and-mouse game with Biel.
“I had never been in that type of situation before,” Radulovich explained. “I tried to get close enough that (the officials) would start a five-second count and she would have to move the ball. I think what helped us is that Natalie and I were able to trade off on Biel.”
“One of the things we saw on film is that we didn’t want to put Biel on the foul line,” Limberiou said. “I thought we did a really good job against her. Every shot she took was a tough shot.”
Biel made only three field goals, including just one in the second half.
PT didn’t score for the first 4:59 of the second half but Prep could only trim its deficit to two points. The Indians led 23-19 when Morreale made a fast-break layup. The Indians guard added a 16-footer at the buzzer to end the third quarter with the Indians ahead 27-19.
Two baskets off daring drives by Prep’s Seana Thrower made it a four-point game in the fourth quarter but that was as close as the Ramblers would get. The Indians scored the game’s final five points, all in the final 50 seconds.
PT won despite making only five field goals in the second half. Prep had only nine baskets in the game.
“It’s past time for a shot clock in Pennsylvania,” Limberiou said.