Peters Twp. looking toward the postseason
Peters Township’s Nick Valentic is averaging 19.9 points per game for the Indians.
Peters Township’s head coach Gary Goga and the Indians are trying to improve from a 5-17 record last season.
Gary Goga doesn’t want to talk about Peters Township’s road win over Chartiers Valley, its hot start to the season or the shot that almost spoiled a spot in the WPIAL playoffs.
The Indians’ head coach isn’t interested in recalling any of the 22 games during the regular season, which ended with the program returning the Class AAAA playoffs after a one-year drought.
It’s all about looking ahead to the postseason and how Peters Township can grab its first playoff win since 2012.
The paths of the 26 local teams that qualified for the postseason will be revealed tonight at the WPIAL’s basketball playoff pairings meeting.
“Everything that’s happened previously is over with,” Goga said. “We aren’t worried about what happened in the 22 games before this. We’re not looking ahead to what we can achieve. You can’t do anything until you win the next game.”
The Indians (7-7, 14-8) controlled their own destiny entering last Friday’s home game against arch-rival Canon-McMillan. A last-second shot led to a one-point loss, but Upper St. Clair’s victory over Mt. Lebanon led to a playoff berth.
Close games are nothing new for Peters Township. Twelve of its 22 games have been decided by 10 points or less. One year after the Indians were on the wrong side of those close games, they prevailed with timely scoring and defense.
The playoffs can begin as early as Saturday and will conclude with the championship games at Pitt’s Petersen Events Center.
“All 17 teams in the (Quad-A) playoffs want to find a way to get to The Pete and win a championship, but we’re going to take it day by day,” Goga said. “If you look ahead, you’re not going to focus one day in practice, you’re going to have a bad practice and you can’t afford to have bad game. There’s no looking back, either.”
A transition season a year ago, which ended with an 8-14 record, has helped the Indians’ offense develop into one of the best in Class AAAA. They averaged 69.1 points per game during the regular season, which is fourth-best in Quad-A.
Though senior Nick Valentic averages 19.9 points per game, Peters Township has received a balanced scoring effort. Six different players have scored in double figures in a game. The offense has shown flashes of greatness, but defense has been an issue. Peters Township allowed 63 ppg – the third-most in the classification – during the regular season.
“Offensively, we’re always playing well,” Valentic said. “I think we can score at will usually. If we play good defense, I think we can win every game. That’s the main key though is we have to play good defense.”
Goga might not be concerned what’s happened in the past, but the wins and losses will matter when it comes to seeding. Non-section wins over Pine-Richland and North Allegheny, plus the come-from-behind road victory over Chartiers Valley, could have the Indians seeded anywhere from 12-14, likely avoiding a preliminary round game.
Peters Township looked like a team destined for the WPIAL playoffs after winning five of its first seven Section 4-AAAA games, but a few injuries and close losses had the Indians’ playoff hopes resting on the final night of the regular season.
Like its other seven losses this season, the last-second defeat against Canon-McMillan included struggles at the free throw line and on defense.
The Indians hope some minor adjustments could make a big difference in the postseason.
“We’re focusing on the little things,” Valentic said. “We have no idea who we’re going to play yet, but we’re looking forward to whoever it is and we’re focused on getting a win. Defense is the key for us.”
Avoiding distractions and dwelling on the past – good or bad – is a familiar mindset for Peters Township. That’s how the Indians’ 2008-09 team won the WPIAL title Class AAAA.
Goga is instilling the same attitude as they prepare for the postseason.
“It’s an exciting time,” Goga said. “You have to put it into perspective and try to not let the kids get too pumped up. They’ll obviously be ready to play, but if you get too jacked up, you make mistakes and you try to do some things that maybe aren’t what you normally do.”