close

Trinity girls aiming to make most of second chance

6 min read
article image -

The Trinity girls basketball team has already endured film sessions of its sloppy, first-quarter performances in both WPIAL playoff games.

The Hillers trailed Plum 13-8 after the opening eight minutes until a big run in the second quarter had them stave off elimination. They could not recover from a 14-4 deficit after the first quarter in the quarterfinals against Oakland Catholic.

And if one time wasn’t enough when coach Bob Miles rolled through the inefficiencies, he plans to do it against before his team begins what he hopes will be a similar state tournament run against WPIAL Class 5A champion Gateway at 3 p.m. Saturday at Fox Chapel High School.

“It’s a mental attitude,” Miles said. “In some regards, we didn’t lose our focus, but we didn’t come out and play to our level. I know that we didn’t take anybody too lightly. We just didn’t come out to do the things we did all year to get us to that point. I think the girls realize that they can’t play that way and be successful.”

Trinity (20-4) backed into the PIAA tournament with the follow-the-leader formula after Oakland Catholic defeated Mars in the semifinals. That will give the Hillers, who were the No. 1 seed in the WPIAL playoffs, another crack at making it the Giant Center in back-to-back seasons.

Trinity lost to 34-26 to Archbishop Wood in last year’s state final, the only girls’ basketball team in Washington County history to make it to that point.

“It’s going to take a number of things,” Miles said about making another run to Hershey.

“We have to perform better than we did in the last two games.”

Instead of turning up the intensity at practice, the Hillers have dialed it down a notch. They have trimmed practice time to work on fundamentals, including moves to the baskets, defensive techniques and boxing out. The latter was the main reason Trinity didn’t advance past Oakland Catholic in the quarterfinals.

“(Oakland Catholic) beat us on the boards,” Miles said of the 55-46 loss. “They had length and disrupted our offense. Our inability to rebound gave them second- or third-chance opportunities. Throughout the course of the season, we weren’t a bad rebounding team.”

Gateway (23-3) provides a similar challenge with 6-3 center Lexi Jackson. But the Gators also slow the tempo with senior guard, and Niagara recruit, Jordan Edwards. They only average 46.6 points per game, fourth lowest in the WPIAL Class 5A girls’ playoff field.

If Trinity is to make another deep run, it might have to be through the difficult teams representing the WPIAL. The Hillers could see Chartiers Valley in the second round for the second straight year. They could then face Mars or Thomas Jefferson in the quarterfinal round.

“Teams from District 10 are generally competitive,” Miles said. “Teams in the middle of the state play a good, quality schedule. The closer you get to Philadelphia, you start looking to the private schools. That’s always a strong area. Things have to fall into place. The girls just have to understand that they are capable of playing at this level. They have set their standard to this level. It also takes luck. Not a lot of teams get a second chance. We have to go out and take advantage of this.”

  • No introductions will be needed when Peters Township (21-4) and Bethel Park (17-6) play one another in the opening round at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Canon-McMillan High School.

It will be the fourth time the two Class 6A Section 3 rivals meet this season. The Indians have won the first three matchups, including a 55-39 victory in the semifinals.

The Black Hawks have had no answer for PT’s Makenna Marisa, who has scored 19, 21 and 25 points in those games.

  • In a rematch of a WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal playoff game, the Belle Vernon girls will look to avenge a 63-32 hammering from Beaver.

The two teams will play at 3 p.m. Saturday at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School.

Beaver (18-6) fell to North Catholic 50-49 on a last-second shot in the championship game at the Petersen Events Center.

If Belle Vernon (18-6) is looking to compete this time, the Leopards will have to get off to a better start. The Leopards trailed 29-16 at halftime and 48-19 after three quarters last time.

Four players scored in double figures to power Beaver to the easy victory.

  • There won’t be any rematches in Class 2A as Chartiers-Houston plays Cambridge Springs (21-4) at 6 p.m. Friday at Canon-McMillan High School.

Only surrendering an average of 37 points per game, Cambridge Springs, the third seed out of District 10, won seven of its last eight games.

Junior center Abby Wescott leads the Devils in scoring with 12.7 points per game.

Chartiers-Houston (19-6) will look to rebound after falling to Vincentian Academy in the WPIAL Class 2A Championship, 62-47.

  • The California girls likely have the longest trip of any local team, traveling to St. Mary’s High School to take on District 9 champion Coudersport (20-3) at 6 p.m. Friday.

Winners of seven straight, Coudersport is led by Haley Keck and Shaelyn Black. Keck, a senior guard, leads the Falcons in scoring with 18.8 points per game. Black, a junior forward, is averaging 11.6 points.

After being bounced from the WPIAL tournament in the quarterfinals by eventual champion Vincentian Academy, California (15-8) will lean on Bailey Vig for scoring. Vig controls the Trojans’ offense with 17.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

  • West Greene (22-3) looks to rebound from a disappointing WPIAL Class A championship game as the Pioneers take on Farrell (12-11) at 5:30 p.m., Friday at Peters Township High School.

The Steelers were in the middle of the pack in the District 10 Region 1 standings but earned the No. 2 seed.

Farrell is led by Marissa Hopson (16.6 ppg) and Kyra Crosby (12.7 ppg).

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $3.75/week.

Subscribe Today