Winchester Thurston, West Greene move into final

After scoring 14 points in the first half of Winchester Thurston’s WPIAL Class 1A semifinal against Sewickley Academy, the Bears’ Gia Thorpe wasn’t satisfied with her performance, so she was the first player back on the court to warm up for the second half.

“I needed to work on my foul shots,” said Thorpe, who was 2 for 3 from the line in the first half.

Thorpe made 8 of 10 free throws in the fourth quarter to seal the Bears’ 56-40 victory at Northgate and earn a spot in the WPIAL championship to defend their title against West Greene Friday at Petersen Events Center.

“Their whole goal, the first day, was ‘We’re going back to the Pete,’” Winchester Thurston coach Monica Williams said. “That was their game plan, that’s what they expected the whole year.”

To get there, the Bears needed Thorpe to step up because Xavier recruit Ayana Townsend was held to just five points. Townsend, however, was not unproductive, though, with 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks.

Thorpe, a senior guard, finished with a game-high 28 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter. She also had 6 steals, 5 assists and 4 rebounds. She was held scoreless in the third before going on a scoring spree in the fourth.

“If you come out with intensity, that’s how you should finish,” Thorpe said.

Sam Smith had nine points, while Warner and Kamryn Lightcap had eight apiece for Sewickley Academy.

Other semifinal

West Greene lost an early nine-point lead to Quigley, then lost Madison and McKenna Lampe when they fouled out in the fourth quarter.

One thing they didn’t lose, though, was the game.

Madison scored eight of her 13 points in the third quarter, McKenna netted a team-high 15 and pulled down 12 rebounds to lead four West Greene players in double figures to help the No. 2-seeded Pioneers (22-2) to a 66-59 win against No. 3 Quigley (15-9) in the other Class 1A semifinal at Peters Township.

With the victory, West Greene earned a spot in the WPIAL championship for the first time.