South Fayette, CV, PT eliminated in PIAA playoffs

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Lainey Yater (center) keeps a stiff upper lip as Erica Hall (32) tears up and Alexa Ankrum (13) attempts to console them after South Fayette's season came to an end with a loss to Oakland Catholic, 48-27, in the second round of the PIAA 5A playoffs. The Lady Lions were three-time WPIAL champions.

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Erica Hall (left) battles Josephine Fontanna (right) for the loose ball during PIAA Class 5A girls basketball action.

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Ella Cupka has her shot blocked by Norwin defender Ava Christopher. Blocked shots and steals in the second half enabled the Knights to overcome a 31-24 deficit and defeat Chartiers Valley, 56-47, in a PIAA Class 6A second-round playoff game. Cupka finished with 13 points.

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Emma Reynolds splits the Norwin defenders and rises up to the hoop for a Chartiers Valley basket during PIAA Class 6A second-round playoff action.

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After two rounds of PIAA girls’ basketball playoff action, there were no local survivors as South Fayette (19-9), Chartiers Valley (17-8) and Peters Township (24-2) wrapped up their seasons with decisive defeats.

The Lady Lions dropped a 48-28 decision to Oakland Catholic (26-2) on March 13 at AHN Arena in Peters Township High School.

South Fayette, which only 11 days earlier earned its third straight WPIAL 5A championship, was no match for Josephine Fontanna. The 6-2 sophomore scored the eight of OC’s first 10 points as the Eagles opened up a 15-4 advantage. Fontanna finished with 14 points.

The Eagles went outside as they stretched the margin to 27-10 at halftime and 40-22 after three quarters. Kayla DeAngelo scored all 12 of her points on 3-point field goals in the span while Alayna Bivins knocked down one trey. Bivins finished with 13 tallies, six in the final frame.

The Lady Lions buried five 3-points in the second half, four in the third quarter. They finished with six for the game.

Juliette Leroux led with 10 tallies followed by six points from Erica Hall and five markers from Haylie Lamonde.

In the first round of state competition, South Fayette easily dispatched Red Land, 48-20.

Erica Hall (14) and Juliette Leroux (12) scored in double figures for the Lady Lions, who held the Patriots to no points in the second quarter and led, 33-6, at halftime.

In PIAA Class 6A action, CV and PT managed split decisions.

The first round, the Colts edged Altoona, 44-43, while the Indians defeated Lebanon, 69-49.

For CV, Lilac Turnbull exploded for 18 points while Emma Reynolds followed with 15 tallies.

For PT, Gemma Walker pumped in 30 points while Natalie Wetzel provided 21. The duo also paced the Indians in their second-round loss to Spring-Ford, 75-53. In the game played March 12 at Bald Eagle High School in Bellefonte, Walker managed 24 points while Wetzel chipped in 14.

CV put up a valiant effort before falling to Norwin, 56-47, in a second round contest played March 12 at AHN Arena.

The WPIAL Class 6A champions overcame a 31-24 halftime deficit to dispatch the Lady Colts, who buried seven of their nine 3-point field goals in the first 16 minutes of play.

The Knights tied the game at 37-37 but CV forged its last lead when Ella Cupka connected on a long-range shot to start the final frame. Cupka finished with 13 points as did Lilah Turnbull. Emma Reynolds chipped in 11 markers.

Lauren Palangio led the Knights with 16 tallies. Kendall Berger followed with 15 and Bella Furno chipped in with 14.

CV fell behind, 7-0, to start the game but took the lead, 19-12, before settling into the seven-point halftime advantage. The Lady Knights went on a six-point run to overtake the Lady Colts for good three minutes into the final frame. During the spree, Norwin forced a number of turnovers, created key steals and blocked several shots to insure the victory.