Girls athlete of the week
// The Post-Gazette’s top female performer from the past seven days
The past week: Pinkney had three double-doubles and hit the game-winning shot in two games for the Woodland Hills girls basketball team. She had 16 points and 16 rebounds and made a shot with 10 seconds left in a 46-45 win against Penn Hills. She had 15 points and 12 rebounds and made the winning shot with two seconds left in overtime in a 55-53 victory against Oakland Catholic. She had 15 points and 13 rebounds in a 69-54 victory against Lancaster Mennonite.
Check this out: Pinkney, a 6foot junior forward, averages 15 points a game and had helped Woodland Hills to a 132 record coming into this week. She is a three-year starter who has scholarship offers from Duquesne, Robert Morris, St. Joseph’s and Youngstown State.
You ever hit a game winner before last week? No. I did in practice scenarios, but never in a game. I dreamed about it and thought about it, but never actually did it.
Isn’t hitting a game winner one of the best feelings? Yeah, it is. It gives you an adrenaline rush, and just a real shock of energy and amazement.
Woodland Hills was down for many years. What turned this thing around? It’s like we started to create a culture. More kids are starting to watch our games. We have a bigger audience. We have a stronger team connection. We volunteer at places. We’re starting to become, like, a community family.
Any player you look up to at any level? I look up to Tess Myers (of North Catholic). She’s like a big sister to me.
How about pro basketball, men or women? Breanna Stewart is my favorite of all time. I watch highlights of her all the time. Sabrina Ionescu of Oregon, too. I watch her highlights 24-7. Place you’d like to visit someday? Bora Bora, where you can sleep on top of the water. I’ve seen pictures of it. I’ve always wanted to go there.
Any hidden talents? I can play the piano, the violin, the bass guitar and the drums.
Your first name isn’t after Peyton Manning, is it? Actually, it is (big laugh). When my mom was in labor, there was a football game on and my mom and dad were talking about names and my dad said, ‘Why don’t we just name her Peyton?’ My mom said that’s a boys name, but they used the ‘E’ in the first name. I was going to be named Brooklyn or Page, so it’s good (laugh).