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PT’s balancing act nets spot in semifinals

By Dave Whipkey for The Observer-Reporter newsroom@observer-Reporter.Com 3 min read
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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Jack Dunbar (45) of Peters Township splits the South Fayette defenders Gavin Ororz (left) and Elijah Hill (15) on his way to an acrobatic basket. Dunbar led the Indians in scoring with 21 points as they defeated the Lions, 68-60.

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By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Brendan McCullough (2) soars to the basket during Peters Township’s 68-60 win against South Fayette. McCullough tossed in 17 points in the victory.

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Brendan McCullough (2) puts up a basket during Peters Township's 68-60 win against South Fayette. McCullough tossed in 17 points in the victory.

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Nate Miller

Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Nate Miller (3) makes his move against Dylan Head while South Fayette head coach David Mislan signals in the background. Miller helped Peters Township to a 68-60 win against the Lions.

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Jack Dunbar (45) puts up a basket during Peters Township’s victory over South Fayette, 68-60. He fired in 21 points for the Indians.

Behind a balanced attack, Peters Township (21-4) defeated South Fayette, 68-60, in a WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinal playoff game held Feb. 22 at Bethel Park High School.

Jack Dunbar paced the Indians with 21 points while Brendan McCullough notched 17. Mickey Vaccarello and Nate Miller chipped in with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

“We try to have a balanced scoring attack every night,” Peters Township coach Joe Urmann said. “Some guys are more apt to put in than others. We do try to get the ball in certain guys hands at times. But we rely on balance and guys making plays unselfishly.”

Six different Indians found the scoresheet as their depth was evident even as South Fayette (14-10) stayed within striking distance much of the game.

Elijah Hill was a one-man wrecking crew for the Lions. He pumped in 27 points in the defeat.

“His poise is what impresses me, more than his physicality,” Urmann said of Hill. “He just doesn’t get flustered and finishes around the rim.”

Michael Plasko added 13 points for the Lions, who lost a non-conference matchup, 71-70, on Dec. 20.

Vaccarello helped push the Indians to a nine-point lead early in the third with a nifty low-post basket. Urmann praised Vaccarello and teammate Cam Mills for working to limit some of the damage Hill was inflicting throughout the game.

“He was a tough cover for sure but they did a nice job,” Urmann added. “Mickey is only a sophomore, but he is so strong and a sneaky good athlete.”

Nico Lamonde pulled the Indians to within 45-40 with 2:35 left in the third. But Dunbar extended the lead out to 51-42 when he drilled a three and was subsequently fouled. He finished the four-point play to give momentum back to the Indians.

McCullough then went to work. He scored nine points in the fourth frame. The first two came courtesy of a driving layup that gave PT a 59-48 lead with 5:35 left. Vaccarello and McCullough scored within seconds as the Indians’ lead ballooned to 65-54 with 1:35 remaining.

A Noah Knox pull-up jumper cut the lead to 65-60 but in the final 57 seconds McCullough cashed in on three free throws to provide the final margin of victory.

Lions coach Dave Mislan said his group battled but just could not get over the hump.

“They played better than we did, coached better than we did, they did everything better than we did,” Mislan noted. “We did everything we could to slow them down. Their guards are just so good and physically strong. They executed down the stretch. But again, I’m proud of our guys.”

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