Girls’ basketball teams prepare for long playoff runs
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Olivia Westphal is one of four starters returning from last year's 24-4 squad. She averaged 15.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.5 steals a game in 2019.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Maria Cerro is Bethel Park’s playmaker. The senior point guard averages 10.5 points per game.
Emma Dziezgowski is averaging 7.3 points and 5.8 rebounds a game in her freshman season on the Bethel Park varsity girls' basketball team.
Time is of the essence for Bethel Park as while as for the rest of the girls’ basketball teams approaching the WPIAL playoffs. For at any moment, the season could be over.
“The best thing about playing in the postseason is that it gives us extended life, more time to be together as this team,” Hawks’ coach Jonna Burke said. “Every year around this time, I tell the girls to enjoy these last few weeks because this particular group will never be together again. Make the most of it because anything can happen once you get in (to the postseason).”
The Hawks enter the Class 6A playoffs as runner-up to undefeated Peters Township in Section 2 for the second year in a row. Heading into their regular-season finale, hosting North Catholic at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11, BP sported a 19-2 record with both losses coming against the Lady Indians.
Peters Township should earn the top seed in the Class 6A tournament when the WPIAL announces playoff pairings on Feb. 12. Defending champion, North Allegheny, which suffered its lone loss to Norwin, 44-43, on Jan. 29, should draw the No. 2 seed. The Knights and the Hawks should merit the next two spots.
Clearly the Indians, who were the runners-up to NA in last year’s championship game at the Petersen Events Center, are the favorite.
“Peters Township has proven themselves the team to beat as they are the only remaining undefeated 6A team,” said Burke.
While having played them twice, losing both encounters, gives the Hawks insight into what makes the Indians tick, Burke would not comment whether those experiences will help her team. She did note that BP must continue doing what they do best if they are to extend their season.
While the Hawks can go toe-to-toe with most offenses, they excel at playing defense. They allow only 39.2 points per game.
“We have become a better defensive team as the season progressed,” Burke said. “To have a successful run in the postseason, we need to continue to be defensive minded and continue to share the ball offensively.”
The Hawks have had not problem doing that as three players average in double digits-Olivia Westphal (16.7 ppg.), Maddie Dziezgowski (14.8) and Maria Cerro (10.5).
Freshman Emma Dziezgowski, who manages 7.3 points a game, ranks among the team’s top rebounders (5.8 rpg) along with Westphal (5.3). Her sister, Maddie, leads in that category, cleaning the glass 7.5 times a contest.
In BP’s win on Feb. 7 against Baldwin, 68-39, Maddie and Emma Dzeizgowski led the way with 18 and 10 tallies while Cerro supplied 10 markers.
Mt. Lebanon
The Blue Devils find themselves in a similar situation as Bethel Park. They played in the same section with Peters Township and have lost twice to that juggernaut, which is led by Penn State recruit Makenna Marisa.
“Peters Township has an unbelievably talented team this year,” said Lebo coach Dori Oldaker. “They can beat you in so many facets of the game and MaKenna Marissa is a machine.”
Even though the results were 64-36 and 68-40 losses, playing against the Indians can benefit the Blue Devils, who finished 10-4 in the section after beating Upper St. Clair, 63-34, on Feb. 7.
“We can learn from our mistakes and try to make corrections,” Oldaker said.
That will be Lebo’s secret to success in the playoffs. While the Blue Devils sport an average record-11-10 overall-they have stacked their non-section schedule with teams that are ranked in the WPIAL, the state and nation.
“We have been very up and down but hopefully our tough scheduled has prepared us for the playoffs. All our losses are to ranked teams,” Oldaker said. “But, we need to stop beating ourselves and rebound. We are giving our opponents too many second and third opportunities to score.”
Ashleigh Connor and Morgan Palmer lead Lebo in scoring with their 10-point averages. Connor also ranks first in steals with 3.3 per game. Jamey Napoleon is the top rebound, with 8.1 boards a game. She also averages 6.6 points and 27 blocks.
Having reached their initial goal, the Blue Devils are ready for the playoffs.
“It’s what we have worked so hard for,” said Oldaker of the post-season berth. “Now we can just focus on one game,” she emphasized.
Other news
Upper St. Clair joins PT, BP and Lebo in the Class 6A playoffs. The Panthers are coming off a 63-34 loss to Mt. Lebanon. Cassie Kartsonas led USC with 12 tallies while Jamey Napoleon (15), Ashleigh Connor (13) and Morgan Palmer (12) were in double figures for the Blue Devils. USC finished the regular season 7-7 in Section 2 and 11-11 overall.
In Class 5A, Chartiers Valley is expected to draw the top seed as the Lady Colts are undefeated (22-0) in Tim McConnell’s first season at the helm. They claimed the Section 1 championship and capped their 14-0 record with a 63-29 win against South Fayette (7-7, 13-9).
In the triumph, Mackenzie Wagner (18), Gabi Legister (15) and Aislin Malcolm (12) all finished in double figures. Maura Castelluci and Clare Relihan led the Lions with nine tallies each.
Despite the defeat, the Lions have qualified for the postseason. Other local girls’ teams in the playoffs include: Bishop Canevin (11-0, 18-2) in Class 2A and Seton LaSalle (10-4, 11-9) in Class 3A. The parochial schools met in their regular season finale Feb. 9.
The WPIAL will meet at 7:30 Feb. 12 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Green Tree to award section plaques and announce playoff pairings for both its girls’ and boys’ basketball tournaments.
Games are scheduled to begin Feb. 15. The championship games will be played Feb. 28-March 1 at the Petersen Events Center on the University of Pittsburgh campus.