South Fayette cruises past PT to return to state finals
BETHEL PARK – In Irish folklore it is considered good fortune to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day.
Yes, green was the color of the uniforms the South Fayette girls basketball team was wearing on Tuesday, but they didn’t need the luck of the Irish to advance to the state championship.
It was all skill.
Spin moves in the lane, three-point shooting, blocked shots on defense, rebounding, no-look passes…the Lions did it all on their way to a 67-24 victory over Peters Township in the PIAA Class 5A semifinals at Bethel Park High School.
“After the Baldwin game (in the quarterfinals) we watched the film and realized we didn’t play up to our standard. The kids knew it and I knew it,” South Fayette coach Bryan Bennett said. “They really refocused and I thought they executed every part of the game plan. They played so disciplined and hard tonight and did the little things that we didn’t do in the first half against Baldwin.”
The Lions (29-1) will defend their state title against either Crestwood or Archbishop Wood in the Class 5A PIAA championship, 6 p.m. Saturday at Giant Center in Hershey.
The Lions were showered with Hershey kisses after time expired and they didn’t take the moment for granted.
They are headed to the state final for the third time in four years.
“It’s really exciting, because this is our third time going to the state final,” Lions senior Juliette Leroux said. “It’s a once in a lifetime experience for some teams, so I’m really grateful to be able to go three times now. I’m super proud of our team. We were really strong from start to finish.”
Peters Township, who had an impressive run to the state semifinals, beating three District 3 teams, finished 18-12.
South Fayette was in control from the start and led 34-13 at halftime.
Ella Vierra and Haylie Lamonde had 10 points each in the first half. Vierra had some acrobatic moves in the lane, including a spin move that ended with a finish at the rim. Lamonde was strong from outside, hitting a pair of threes.
Vierra finished off the half with a basket off a rebound. She had a game-high 19 points.
“She played a complete game tonight,” Bennett said. “I thought she played under control and poised. I think what people forget about her is that she’s only a sophomore. She has the skill of a senior, but she’s such a young kid and is still learning the game. She did a great job on both ends of the floor.
In Peters Township’s run to the state semifinals, it had used strong outside shooting, including sinking nine threes in the quarterfinal win over York Suburban.
They struggled to recreate that against South Fayette.
Taylor McCullough did her best, hitting a three deep threes, but the Indians made only two other baskets in the first half.
“We had some open threes and didn’t make them, but South Fayette is a baseline of 25 more points talented than any other team in the WPIAL,” Peters Township coach Steve Limberiou said. “If you play well like you saw with Baldwin you can get that down to 15 or 20 and if you’re not good it’s going to be 35 or 40. They’re the best team from a talent perspective that I’ve seen in my time coaching.”
South Fayette started the third quarter on a 13-0 run to put the game into mercy rule. Vierra and Oldaker hit threes. Oldaker’s three made it 45-13.
Bri Morreale had a steal and score to end the run, but it was a brief reprieve.
South Fayette scored the next 10 points and won the quarter 23-3.
The Lions’ starters got the entire fourth quarter off.
Lamonde had 14 points and Oldaker scored 13.
McCullough led the Indians with 11 points.
Peters Township graduates two senior starters Morreale and Alina Sopko. They won 81 games in their time at Peters Township, a WPIAL title last year and made the state semifinals twice.
“Those two were around before we started winning a lot and they were bought in before Peters Township girls basketball was popular,” Limberiou said. “That’s what I’m so appreciative of is that they believed from the beginning. They got to see the highs of winning a (WPIAL) championship and were in multiple final fours. They’re complete winners and very good kids. That’s what I’m most proud of more than anything.”
South Fayette 14 20 23 10 – 67
Peters Township 5 8 3 8 – 24
South Fayette: Ella Vierra, 19 points; Haylie Lamonde, 14; Ryan Oldaker 13.
Peters Township: Taylor McCullough, 11 points.