Peters Township rolls past Bethel
Peters Township players Makenna Marisa, Journey Thompson, Isabella Mills and Mackenzie Lehman celebrate as the seconds ticks off in their 62-44 victory against Bethel Park.
Jordan Bisignani drives around Julianna Carbone. Bisignani scored 10 points as Peters Township defeated Bethel Park, 62-44, in a PIAA girls' basketball playoff game.
Makenna Marisa puts up a shot against Olivia Westphal (22) and Maria Cerro (4) during PIAA playoff action. Marisa fired in 18 points in Peters Township's 62-44 win against Bethel Park.
Mackenzie Lehman gets off the shot despite being heavily defended by Reagan Milliken during PIAA girls' basketball playoff action. Lehman scored 14 points and pulled down 10 rebounds during Peters Township's 62-44 win against Bethel Park.
Makenna Marisa keeps the ball away from a Bethel Park defender during PIAA basketball action.
Peters Township rolled past Bethel Park, 62-44, in a PIAA Class 6A second-round girls’ basketball playoff game on March 12 at Canon-McMillan High School.
It was the fourth meeting this season between the two squads with the Lady Indians winning all four encounters. After two section wins, including an overtime thriller back in January, PT beat the Lady Hawks, 36-28, in the District 7 semifinal game also played at Canon-Mac on Feb. 26.
A balanced attack and strong defense highlighted PT’s most recent triumph.
Offensively, Makenna Marisa scored 18 points to lead the Indians. Mackenzie Lehman and Journey Thompson added double-doubles. Both finished with 10 boards while Lehman pumped in 14 points and Thompson fired in 13 more.
Jordan Bisignani also reached double figures for the first time in her career with 10 tallies.
Defensively, the Lady Indians pressured the Lady Hawks into taking difficult shots and they converted just 22 percent of their attempts from the field (13-for-59). BP was 7-for-41 through the first three frames, including a 2-for-15 showing from 3-point range.
“We just didn’t shoot the ball well,” said Bethel Park coach Jonna Burke. “I’ll tell you what, I credit their length and defense. We did get looks at the rim but just didn’t finish. Their defense made it tough on us.”
The Lady Hawks only made three field goals in the opening half and trailed 30-15 at halftime. PT held onto its double-digit lead for the remainder of the game. The Indians built their largest lead, 56-32, on Bisignani’s second, 3-pointer with four minutes to play.
“(Peters Township) is not a team you can spot too many points,” Burke said. “It’s different. An eight-point lead they might have is different than eight-point leads other teams have. We’ve been in those games all year. We fight back. With their offensive firepower it’s hard. That’s why they are a great team. That’s why they haven’t lost. That’s why they are number one.”
Maria Cerro showed why she is one of Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s top recruits as she powered the Lady Hawks offensively, putting on a 3-point shooting clinic in the fourth quarter. She buried four long-range shots in the frame and finished with a team-high 18 points.
Junior Olivia Westphal followed with 13 tallies.
The Lady Hawks played with Emma Dziezgowski. A freshman and starting forward, she did not even travel with the team to Canonsburg because of an illness.
While BP wrapped up its 22-4 season, all losses coming to the Indians, PT improved to 27-0. They advanced to the PIAA quarterfinals for the first time since 1994.
The Indians battled Norwin March 15 for a berth in the PIAA semifinals. The state championships are scheduled for March 22 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
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In the opening round of the tournament, the Lady Indians dispatched Harrisburg, 54-34, while Bethel Park bested State College, 55-46.
Marisa fired in 25 points. Mills followed with 11 points. Lehman led on the glass with 11 rebounds while Mills and Journey Thompson grabbed seven and eight boards respectively. Thompson also chipped in with nine points.
Emma and Maddie Dziezgowski pumped in 17 and 15 markers while Lauren Miller supplied 12 tallies for the Lady Hawks.