Undefeated North Allegheny awaits Peters Twp. in 6A title game
After two successful trips to a summer camp at West Virginia University, Peters Township High School girls basketball coach Bert Kendall decided against making another trip to Morgantown, W.Va., this past summer.
Instead, he signed up the Indians for a University of Pittsburgh camp, held at the Petersen Events Center, that runs parallel to the one held by the Mountaineers.
When his players asked why, Kendall told them bluntly, “We are going to start our season playing at the Pete and we are going to end our season playing at the Pete. Coaches say a lot of things, and they don’t always come to fruition, but this one did.”
For second-seeded Peters Township to win its first WPIAL title, it will have to go through prohibitive favorite, top-seeded and nationally ranked North Allegheny (24-0) in the Class 6A championship game, 7 p.m. tonight, at the Petersen Events Center.
“We can play the underdog card a little bit, but we have confidence in our players and confidence in our system,” Kendall said. “We’re approaching this game expecting to win it. We certainly know, and rightfully so, that the undefeated No. 1 team in the state is supposed to win.”
North Allegheny is 52-2 since the beginning of last season. They average the most points in Class 6A (57 per game) and defeated the Indians in a non-section game 67-54 last month. Peters Township (21-3) only trailed by one point, 54-53, with 2:32 remaining in that game despite the Tigers making eight three-pointers in the first half. They made 12 in the game.
“We have to cover the three-point shot better,” Kendall said. “(North Allegheny) had some nice offensive sets that led to those threes, but we’ve learned from that.”
North Allegheny went on a 13-1 run to end the game as foul shots widened the gap in the final minute.
“We also have to finish the game,” Kendall continued. “That was the only game all season that I didn’t think we finished the way we are capable. It got away from us. We have to play 32 solid minutes.”
North Allegheny, the defending WPIAL champion, is led by Rachel Martindale, who is averaging 15.5 points per game. But the Tigers aren’t limited to Martindale as they balance their scoring with what Kendall calls “a little army.” The Tigers rotate eight to 10 players during any game.
Though the Indians haven’t been in a WPIAL championship since 2008, their coaching staff has plenty of big-game experience. As an assistant coach at Bethel Park, Kendall helped the Black Hawks to a runner-up trophy in 2005 and a title in 2013. His two assistants, Samantha Loadman and Katie Kendall, the coach’s daughter, played significant roles as players for Bethel Park in the 2005 run.
“You cannot (make it to the championship) without a team effort,” Bert Kendall said. “It’s every kid on the bench. It’s every assistant coach. It’s administrative support. You can’t get this far without an entire team. We are up for the challenge.”