In the nick of time: Emerich’s late free throws propel Trinity past WA
IMPERIAL – Vitt Emerich stood at the foul line by herself as a stunned silence fell upon the West Allegheny gymnasium.
With the score tied, Emerich tried a desperation three as time was expiring in the fourth quarter and was fouled.
The game was in her hands, Emerich did her best to block everything out.
“I wasn’t really thinking about too much honestly,” Emerich said. “I am confident in my free throw ability, and I knew I had it in me to make them”
She certainly did.
Emerich canned two of three free throws and No. 9 Trinity earned a thrilling 50-48 win over No.8 West Allegheny in the first round of the WPIAL Class 5A girls basketball playoffs Friday night.
The Hillers (17-6) advanced to play No. 1 South Fayette in Wednesday’s quarterfinals. West Allegheny, which was in the playoffs for the first time since 2018, finished 18-5.
With the score tied 48-48, Trinity had the final possession with 10 seconds remaining. Emerich dribbled near the midcourt logo and tried to throw up a three when she was hit on the arm.
Most people in the gym thought the game was headed to overtime, but the far official had his hand in the air and awarded Emerich three free throws.
She made the first one and the third one.
“She’s our best free throw shooter, so if we had anyone at the line I was happy it was Vitt,” Trinity coach Bill Poletti said. “She did a great job.”
West Allegheny coach Maura Castelluci, a South Fayette grad, had no issues with the foul call.
“We told them when the ball came in to foul, because we had them to give and it took time off the clock,” Castelluci said. “She fouled her once and they didn’t call it and she fouled her again and she happened to be shooting at the same time.”
Emerich’s free throws capped a wild fourth quarter.
Trinity led by 10 with 3:50 remaining after Gabby Reig made a three-pointer, but West Allegheny scored 10 unanswered to tie the game.
Reig made a three that gave Trinity a 48-45 lead but that only lasted five seconds, because Sky Gubba responded with a three of her own.
Trinity had to play the final 3:50 without leading scorer Sutton Williamson.
It got hectic late, but the Hillers found a way.
“It was unbelievable,” Poletti said. “Gabby Reig, who has been hurt most of the year, battled back and made some huge shots. She missed a huge chunk of our season and I’m so proud of her.”
Williamson scored 15 points, including eight in the fourth quarter before fouling out. Emerich had 14 points and hit four threes.
Trinity struggled to find a rhythm on offense for most of the second and third quarters, but played well enough defensively to stay close to West Allegheny.
The Hillers did not score a basket in the third quarter until the 3:50 mark when Emerich nailed a three-pointer, but caught fire late to make it a tie game going into the fourth.
Williamson hit a pair of turnaround jumpers and Emerich hit another three to give Trinity a 32-30 lead.
Alexis Santucci made two free throws to make it a tie game going into the fourth.
Prior to Trinity’s run West Allegheny built a 28-19 lead with a 7-0 run.
“We had been in so many situations like this before where we were down late and I believe in our team and the way that we play,” Emerich said. “I just had a feeling that we were going to come back.”
Trinity started the game on a 7-0 run, but West Allegheny matched it by scoring the next seven points.
Emerich nailed a three that gave Trinity a 10-7 lead at the 2:52 mark of the first, but West Allegheny scored the next six points to take a 13-10 lead.
Ella Smith canned a three in the left corner to give West Allegheny its first lead with 1:15 remaining in the quarter.
Both teams struggled from the field in the second quarter and West Allegheny went into the break with a 21-19 lead.
The Indians made only two shots from the field, but went 4-for-6 from the foul line. Gabby Humphreys had a pair of baskets for the Hillers and Kimari Behrens put in a rebound that gave the Hillers a brief 19-18 lead in the final minute.
But a pair of free throws by Breana Gubba in the final 10 seconds put the Indians in front at halftime.
Trinity 10 9 13 18 – 50
West Allegheny 13 8 11 16 – 48
Trinity: Sutton Williamson, 15 points; Vitt Emerich, 14.
West Allegheny: Breana Gubba, 13 points; Ella Smith, 11.