Mar 21, 2017 By Eleanor Bailey 3 min read

South Fayette has made the most of its second chance.

After being eliminating from defending their WPIAL title in the district playoffs, the Lions (20-6) received new live with a berth in the PIAA girls’ basketball tournament. They qualified as the fifth team when Chartiers Valley beat Trinity, 47-35, in the WPIAL semifinals.

With wins against Obama Academy, the Pittsburgh City League winner, 51-49, Hampton, 68-65, and most recently Oakland Catholic, 53-35, on March 18, the Lions advanced to the Final Four in the state tournament. They were scheduled to battle Trinity (25-3) on March 21 for the right to play in the PIAA final set for 6 p.m. March 25 at the Giant Center in Hershey. (The results of that game were too late for publication in this week’s edition of The Almanac.)

“If we got a second chance,” SF coach Matt Bacco said, “we believed something could be done with it. We believe in our kids. We know how hard they work. We know how big their hearts are.

“We asked them after getting bounced from the WPIAL tournament if they would want to be champions of that again to beg bounced in the state tournament or make it to Hershey? They said go to Hershey instantaneously.”

Because they put their heart and soul into the quarterfinals, the Lions had that opportunity. From the get-go, they pounced on the Eagles, opening up a 20-4 advantage in the first eight minutes. Maddie Gutierrez tossed in 12 of her game-high 16 points in the quarter.

“Oakland Catholic has played a certain way all year,” Bacco said of the District 7 runner-up. “They have a certain system and that is their identity. We just prepared. Our kids did a great job of executing.”

The Lions forced 26 turnovers, 11 in the first frame, and breezed their way to a 27-13, halftime edge that stretched to 38-26 after three quarters.

Jordyn Caputo joined Guitierrez in double digits, topping out at 12 tallies.

Maura Castelluci and Carlee Kilgus also pitched in with nine and eight markers, respectively.

Castelluci has been a big asset regarding South Fayette’s surge. After missing six weeks of the season with a broken leg, she returned to the line-up in the first-round of the state playoffs. She has averaged 12 points in the three victories.

Sam Kosmacki is the team’s leaders. The junior averages 13 points per game.

“We talk about grit, guts and mental toughness all the time,” said Bacco. “We just tell our kids they have to be mentally tough to come out and play hard. I’m just so proud of our kids. We knew if we had a second chance, they would do something with it.”

NOTES: In South Fayette’s win against Hampton, Caputo (15), Kilgus (14), Kosmacki (14), Gutierrez (13) and Castelluci (10) all finished in double figures.

Trinity ended Chartiers Valley’s run in the PIAA tournament, scoring a 50-37 win against the Colts. Megan McConnell led CV (20-8) with 11 points. The Colts had won 12 games in a row, including triumphs against South Fayette and the Hillers on their way to their first-ever WPIAL title.

Mt. Lebanon (19-7) and Chartiers-Houston (24-3) also ended their PIAA runs. The Blue Devils dropped a 56-52 decision to North Allegheny while the Bucs fell to Bellwood-Antis, 80-68. Kenzie Bushee (20) and Kate Sramac (12) led Lebo. Alexa Williamson fired in 35 and Jala Walker finished with 12 tallies in C-H’s loss.

Staff writer Luke Campbell contributed to this story.