Peters Township takes No. 2 Penn Hills to limit
WEST VIEW – Peters Township missed its opportunity at a couple of shots late in regulation, then allowed Penn Hills to score the first nine points in overtime, as the Indians fell, 58-55, Friday night in a WPIAL Class 6A high school girls basketball quarterfinal game at North Hills.
Makenna Marisa’s shot in the closing seconds was blocked and Penn Hills (21-2) got a three-pointer from Ionie Banner and a steal and layup from Desiree Oliver to grab a 49-44 lead.
Penn Hills, the No. 4 seed, then scored twice more, including another basket by Banner, to go up 53-44 before Lillian Young broke the run with a basket to cut the lead to 53-46.
Marisa, who finished with 23 points, hit four free throws and Young connected on a three-pointer to trim the lead to 55-53 with 55 seconds remaining in OT, but Oliver hit another basket, then after the Indians missed a shot. was fouled and made a free throw to stretch the lead to 58-53 with 23 seconds remaining.
Marisa hit her final basket with 12 seconds left in overtime to make it 58-55 and Penn Hills turned the ball over with three seconds remaining, but Oliver stole the inbounds pass to preserve the victory.
Oliver finished with 27 points for Penn Hills, which advances to the semifinals to face Tuesday, while Tayonna Robertson had 13 points.
“We gave it the old try,” said Peters Township head coach Bert Kendall. “Now we’ve got to root for Penn Hills. That’s the only way we’re going to keep goin.”
Peters Township falls to 14-9 and now must wait to see if it will advance to the PIAA playoffs. The WPIAL will send five teams into the PIAA bracket. If Penn Hills wins the WPIAL title, the Indians would get a rematch in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs.