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Peters Township prepared for playoff assignment against Butler

By Eleanor Bailey almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.Net 3 min read
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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Gemma Walker is one of the many offensive weapons Peters Township possesses as it enters the WPIAL Class 6A playoffs. The Indians will host Butler at 8 p.m. Feb. 20. Walker averages 20 points a game.

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Eleanor Bailey/ The Almanac

Natalie Wetzel averages 19 points and 9 rebounds a game for Peters Township, which opens WPIAL Class 6A playoff action hosting Butler at 8 p.m. Feb. 20.

Peters Township has done its homework. Now the Indians are ready for their appearance in the WPIAL Class 6A girls basketball playoffs.

The Indians, who are 12-10 overall and seeded No. 8, will host No. 9 Butler (10-11) at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 in the opening round of the tournament.

“We watch a lot of film so we were familiar with them even before the playoff brackets were announced,” said PT’s first-year coach Steve Limberiou.

The Indians also faced the Golden Tornado in last year’s playoffs. They beat Butler, 57-42, in the first round.

Limberiou noted though the Golden Tornado only returned one starter from that club. “Butler is a younger team, like us,” he said.

“They have good length and versatility at the wing spots. They play a lot of different defenses.”

Defense will be the critical key for the Lady Indians, who carry a three-game winning streak and a 51.5 points allowed average into the playoffs. PT averages 58.8 points per game.

“For us, it is about defending,” Limberiou said. “We have to keep people outside of the paint on drives. Our help-defense has to be on time and consistent.”

PT’s primary concern is Amelia McMichael. The 5-10 senior guard averages 16 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists a game.

“She can score inside and out,” Limberiou noted.

The Indians though have their own weapons.

Sophomore Natalie Wetzel averages 19 points and 9 rebounds a game while junior Gemma Walker tosses in 20 tallies a night.

Bri Morreale is PT’s outside threat. She converts 38 percent of her 3-point attempts and averages 8 points per game.

Sami Bewick provides a solid two-way punch. She provides 5 points to the offensive attack and pulls down 7 rebounds a game.

Desire will determine the outcome between Butler and PT.

“In a playoff game, the intensity rises and we must come out with a playof-like intensity and energy level,” said Limberiou. “That is what will be required to win.”

A victory would pit the Lady Indians against Limberiou’s alma mater. The winner would be matched against Upper St. Clair. The No. 1 seed will host the Butler-PT winner at 7 p.m. Feb. 23.

The Lady Panthers own 73-56 and 61-47 victories against the Indians this winter. USC won the section title with a 12-0 record while PT finished fourth in the division with a 5-7 slate.

“If we are fortunate enough to beat Butler, we will be excited for the opportunity to play USC,” Limberiou said.

Limberiou added that there is no singular key to beating the Panthers.

“You have to play really fundamentally sound basketball to win. You have to play extremely hard on both ends and have good ball movement offensively. Those things are non-negotiable to beat them,” he said.

“It all starts with defense and it sounds simplistic but you have to make shots as well. We simply didn’t shoot the ball well enough against them in our last matchup,” he noted.

“At this point in the season, it’s about execution. The team that executes better typically wins.”

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