Feb 24, 2015 By Eleanor Bailey 3 min read

In a game between two streaking basketball teams something had to give.

Unfortunately for Bethel Park, it was its 17-game winning streak as Penn Hills ended the Hawks’ run, stretched its success story to 12 games and reached the WPIAL Quad-A girls’ basketball championship game for the first time since 1995 with a 52-39 triumph in a semifinal showdown at Baldwin.

Despite the defeat, Bethel Park (20-5) lives to play again. The Hawks have qualified for the PIAA tournament, which commences March 6-7.

“Overall I am proud of this team and the effort we have given,” said Jonna Burke. “With each victory came a little more pressure.” Burke noted the Lady Hawks’ streak, then the section crown, then staying alive in the playoffs and then attempting to reach the district finals for the first time since winning the program’s first title in 2013. “These girls had a lot of pressure on them and they responded. Unfortunately, (against Penn Hills) it wasn’t our night.”

Early on it appeared to be as Bethel Park knocked down three, 3-point field goals and constructed a 9-2 lead. However, the Lady Hawks wilted under the half-court pressure applied by Penn Hills and by the Indians’ ability to get to the charity stripe. They connected on 14 of 21 free throws while BP was 6-of-8.

“They’ve made a living out of getting to the foul line. I told my girls before we played them that we could not allow that.”

Likewise, Penn Hills could not afford to let Mia Mattes make long-range shots. Yet, the senior did. She buried five, 3-point field goals and finished with 15 points. She staked Bethel Park to a six-point lead, 20-14, on back-to-back buckets with 6:37 left in the first half.

“Mia hit some big shots,” Burke said. “She did a great job for us. She never gets a break. She handles all kinds of pressure and she is never out of the game.”

When the Indians went on the warpath, the Lady Hawks found themselves out of the game. In the third quarter, Penn Hills outscored the Black Hawks, 21-5. The Indians took their first lead, 28-25, at the 3:11 mark in the frame when Ionie Banner connected on a 3-pointer. Penn Hills never trailed again and BP’s foul problems persisted.

“The wheels just fell off,” said Burke.

Desiree Oliver wheeled her way to 15 points. Jade Ely (14) and Marlon Herring (10) joined the sophomore in double figures. Banner finished with seven markers.

For the Lady Hawks, Shannon Conely topped 10 points. BP’s leading scorer Justina Mascaro finished with five markers, 11 below her average, before fouling out of the game with 1:28 to play.

While Penn Hills (15-10) will play Norwin (20-4) at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Petersen Event Center for the WPIAL championship, the Lady Hawks now prepare for the PIAA tournament.

“We are in uncharted territory with this team,” Burke said. “Hopefully we can win a few games and see where our momentum takes us. We are going to try and last as long as we can.”

If history has a way of repeating itself, then that may be a long time for the Lady Hawks. One only has to remember what happened the last time Bethel Park lost.