Turnovers turn tide against Waynesburg
South Fayette survives upset bid
McMURRAY – The Waynesburg girls basketball team knew it had a tall mountain to climb Wednesday evening in the WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinals at AHN Arena at Peters Township High School.
Yes, the Raiders were fresh off an impressive win in the first round last Friday night at home against Deer Lakes. And, yes ,they were sporting a 21-2 regular-season record. What they faced Wednesday was an entirely different situation.
The opponent was Beaver Falls, owner of a 21-1 record and the No. 2 seed in this tournament. Unfortunately for the seventh-seeded Raiders, the Tigers were able to shake off a slow start and get to their game en route to a 68-45 win that sends them to the semifinals next week. Waynesburg (21-3) will play in the consolation bracket to earn a spot in the PIAA tournament.
In the second game of the doubleheader, defending state champion and top-seed South Fayette survived a mighty scare from upset-minded Trinity, beating the Hillers 26-23 in a Class 5A quarterfinal.
Waynesburg played on even terms with the Tigers (22-1) for much of the opening quarter as Peyton Cowell was able to work past the tough Tigers defense for six first quarter points as the Raiders forged an early 10-9 lead. But the Tigers closed the quarter on an 8-0 run that was spearheaded by their full-court press defense.
The run became 10-0 in favor of Beaver Falls until back to back baskets by Cowell and Emma Blair to cut the Tigers gap to 19-14 early in the second quarter. But Beaver Falls was undaunted as they went on a staggering 21-2 spurt that was again keyed by the unrelenting Tigers pressure defense. Dreaven Haskins paced the Tigers in the first half scoring 11 points, most of which coming on transition lay-ups.
Beaver Falls forced 15 first half turnovers, which led to a 23-6 advantage in points in the second quarter and a 40-16 halftime lead.
“If we take better care of the basketball, that’s a different game in my opinion,” Waynesburg coach Mark Capozoli remarked. “I’d say about 80 percent of their offense comes off turnovers. Cut those down and we would have been right there.”
For the game, Waynesburg turned the ball over 27 times.
Waynesburg worked to get closer in the third as they cut a 24 point deficit down to 18 thanks to baskets by Cowell and four points from Blair, but the Tigers kept the Raiders at bay thanks to the scoring of Haskins, Kiyah Tymous and Zakyhia Slade as they closed the Raiders out in the second half.
Haskins led all scorers with 17 points while Tymous and Slade finished with 16 and 12 points, respectively.
Cowell led Waynesburg with 15 points while freshman Tess Pauley added 12.
South Fayette 26-23
Great teams aren’t always great. They are only great when they have to be.
The defending Class 5A state champion South Fayette Lions girls basketball team did not have its A game. They did not have its B or C game, either, for much of the contest, but they rose up as champions usually do and played their best when it mattered most as they fought and clawed their way to a tough 26-23 win over Trinity.
Kenzie Rumberger came off the bench to lead all scorers with 13 points. The Hillers (17-7) zone defense seemed to confound the Lions (23-1) as they held the number one seed to 11 of 43 shooting from the field.
Sutton Williamson led Trinity with 12 points.
The ninth seeded Hillers somehow led 8-6 at the half in what could be described as a defensive battle. South Fayette came out strong in the third when Ella Vierra hit a three pointer and a mid range jumper to get the Lions rolling. But the Hillers remained close throughout and made life miserable for the Lions much of the night.
South Fayette moves on to the semifinals which will take place on Saturday against Peters Township. The Hillers await their PIAA fate.