Feb 19, 2019 3 min read

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PITTSBURGH – Many were under the impression that even though the Trinity High School girls basketball team would be given a lower seed, the Hillers would not play like one.

Entering the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs Tuesday night as the ninth seed, they proved all of those people right.

With a dominating performance from start to finish, Trinity hammered eighth-seeded Penn-Trafford, 55-26, in a first-round game at Mt. Lebanon High School.

“It was our best total game for four quarters, putting it together defensively and on the offensive side,” said Trinity coach Bob Miles. “We finished a lot of shots we were missing earlier in the season. We played under control. That has a lot to do with Riley DeRubbo being back and nearly everybody being together.”

Trinity (12-11) advances to the quarterfinals for the sixth consecutive season and will play undefeated top-seed Chartiers Valley Saturday at a site and time to be determined. It will be the third time the section foes meet. Chartiers Valley won both games in the regular season, neither of which DeRubbo played in.

With a smothering defense, which transitioned into a steady offense, the Hillers started the game on an 11-0 run and led 15-3 after the first quarter.

The only time Penn-Trafford (13-10) crept back to within single digits was when it got to within seven points on a three-pointer from Bella Long with 2:43 left in the second quarter.

But Trinity had an answer for everything.

Freshman Alyssa Clutter started a 8-0 run to end the first half with a three-pointer and a layup, which led to Emily Venick making a three with one second left in the half that gave Trinity a 29-13 lead at the break.

“Before you know it was back up to 14 (points),” Penn-Trafford coach John Giannikas said about the deficit. “That might have been the biggest turning point. After that we could never catch up.”

DeRubbo led the balanced Hillers’ offense in the second half, scoring 11 of her game-high 15 points. She also grabbed seven rebounds.

“We played great,” DeRubbo said, who has only played a handful of games after working her way back from an knee injury.

“I definitely think it was our best performance. Our defense was great. We moved the ball and worked as a team.”

The onslaught continued into the second half when Courtney Dahlquist gave Trinity its first 20-point lead of the game with a layup to make it 33-13 early in the third quarter. The Hillers then ended the third quarter on a 13-point run to lead 49-19.

Dahlquist scored 11 points and secured seven rebounds.

“We thought the first four minutes of the second half would be critical,” Miles said. “We got off to a really good start. I think Penn-Trafford was frustrated. I think our defensive really took them out of rhythm.”

The stifling help defense that Trinity has prided itself on all season, forced the Warriors to settle for multiple outside shots. Bella Long was the only player to have success from the perimeter for Penn-Trafford, making four-three-pointers for 12 points.

“(Trinity) played a complete game. You have to tip your hat to them,” Giannikas said. “They capitalized on every mistake we made. They came out and beat us in every aspect of the game. They played that good of a game.”