North Allegheny favored, but Peters is no slouch
Peters Township has lost only three games this season, one by a point and another when its top player did not play because of an illness.
Most years, the Indians might be the favorite to win a WPIAL championship. Just not this season. Standing in the way of them winning their first title is a team that is undefeated and has been considered the best in state since the preseason, one that won the WPIAL Class 6A title a season ago and continues to take down all comers.
It’s hardly a David vs. Goliath matchup, but Peters Township (21-3) will be the unquestioned underdog when it takes on North Allegheny (24-0) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Petersen Events Center.
“Anytime you play the No. 1 team in the state it’s a big challenge. I think we’re up to the challenge,” Peters Township coach Bert Kendall said.
North Allegheny sticks out for a variety of reasons.
• The Tigers are 52-2 since the beginning of last season. Not only are they ranked No. 1 in the WPIAL and state, but they are also ranked No. 20 in the country by USA Today.
• They average 57 points per game, the most in Class 6A, and can lock teams down defensively — they allowed 26 and 20 points in their first two playoff games.
• There is a lot of talent on board. Rachel Martindale is a standout junior guard who averages a team-high 15.2 points per game and is receiving Division I interest. Piper Morningstar, a 6-foot-1 senior guard-forward, is a Radford recruit. Guard Lizzie Groetsch is one of the WPIAL’s top freshmen.
• Spencer Stefko is considered one of the WPIAL’s best coaches. In addition to last year’s championship at North Allegheny, Stefko won two WPIAL titles and a PIAA title at Seton LaSalle.
North Allegheny won at Peters Township, 67-54, on Feb. 8. The Tigers raced to a 10-point first-quarter lead and connected on 12 3-pointers.
“We’re probably going to have to guard them higher on the perimeter and make sure they don’t make as many 3s. That’s a big thing,” Peters Township’s Makenna Marisa said. “We’re going to have to talk on defense. We’re going to have a play a great defensive game in order to win.”
Marisa, a 5-11 junior guard-forward, is one of the WPIAL’s premier players and has scholarship offers from Pitt and Duquesne. Marisa is averaging 23 points per game and scored 25 in a semifinal win against Bethel Park.
Class 5A
Going into the playoffs, it was apparent that this class had at least eight teams capable of winning a title, and that quality depth has proven itself as No. 7 Gateway (22-3) will take on No. 8 Oakland Catholic (17-8) at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Gateway is in the final for the first time since 1982 and is seeking its first title. The Gators have won 14 games in a row, including wins the past two rounds against No. 2 Thomas Jefferson and defending champion Chartiers Valley. The Gators feature senior guard Jordan Edwards, a Niagara recruit, and 6-3 sophomore center Lexi Jackson.
Meanwhile, Oakland Catholic upset No. 1 Trinity in the quarterfinals and No. 4 Mars in the semifinals. Last year’s runner-up is trying to win its first title since 2006. Junior guard Jayde Boyd scored 16 points against Mars.
Look for this game to be low scoring. Statistically, these are the best two defenses in the class. The Section 2 rivals split their regular-season meetings, with Oakland Catholic winning, 39-32, and Gateway claiming a 37-35 win.
Class 4A
When it comes to winning WPIAL championships, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic and Beaver are on opposite ends of the spectrum. North Catholic has won a WPIAL-record 17 titles, while Beaver is making its finals debut.
Despite the disparity in championship tradition, Beaver coach Greg Huston believes his team has what it takes to give the defending champions a fight.
“[Tradition matters] probably a little bit, but at the same time, we have a gritty group of girls who grind it out and are hard workers. They have the right mindset. It doesn’t matter who we play. We’re going in there to win it,” Huston said.
North Catholic (21-3) faces Beaver (18-5) at 7 p.m. Friday. Beaver is riding a ninegame winning streak, the latest triumph being a 53-40 victory against No. 2 Blackhawk in the semifinals. Senior guard Bella Posset, a Robert Morris recruit, scored 20 points and is averaging a team-high 19.
North Catholic is led by sophomore guards Tess
Myers and Kylee Lewandowski and junior forward Dani Short. Myers is the leading scorer with 13.5 points per game. Lewandowski has elevated her game in the playoffs, scoring 23 in the quarterfinals and 20 in the semifinals.
Class 3A
East Allegheny didn’t lose a game last season until falling in the semifinals. After leaping over that semifinal hurdle Wednesday, Amani Johnson and her teammates —this time sporting a 24-0 record — will try to win their school its second title and first since 1999.
Standing in their path at 11 a.m. Saturday will be Bishop Canevin (19-4), the two-time defending champion and No. 1 seed. The Crusaders have not lost to a WPIAL Class 2A team the past two seasons.
This game includes two excellent sister acts. East Allegheny has the Johnsons and Bishop Canevin the Allens. Amani Johnson, a 5-6 senior guard and Kennesaw State recruit, averages 26.2 points per game. Sophomore Amaia Johnson is second on the team in scoring. Brionna Allen is a senior guard who leads Bishop Canevin in scoring with 15.4 points a game. Sophomore Diajha Allen is the starting point guard.
Class 1A