Dec 26, 2017 7 min read

When Peters Township girls basketball coach Bert Kendall put a challenging early season schedule together, he probably couldn’t have envisioned a better start for the Indians.

Kendall has learned what his group is about during nail-biting victories and dominant performances, resulting in a unblemished record – until last night’s loss to Bishop McDevitt – against teams that are far from pushovers.

As the holiday break has come and gone, there are several local teams in similar positions to Peters Township. And while a break might have been the last thing the Indians wanted, others needed a few days to regroup.

With holiday tournaments and 2018 looming, let’s look at what we’ve learned so far this season and what we can expect in the coming weeks.

Girls

Canon-McMillan: The Big Macs’ two losses came against teams (Trinity and Upper St. Clair) that have combined for a 9-2 record.

First-year head coach Shawn Urbano inherited something every new coach wants: a point guard who can take over a game.

Speedy junior guard Tamara Mathis has been able to do thatfor C-M. Mathis, who started last season, seems even more comfortable in her role of running an offense that is tied for second in Class 6A in scoring (58.7 ppg).

South Fayette: With the much-needed boost from the return of senior Sam Kosmacki, the Lions are looking to challenge in a difficult section with Chartiers Valley and West Allegheny.

With a start they might not have anticipated – the Lions are 2-3 – this would be my bet for a team most likely to turn it around. South Fayette has experience and can get scoring from all five positions.

Trinity: The loss of Observer-Reporter Player of the Year Sierra Kotchman is felt by the Hillers, despite their record saying otherwise.

But you can’t discount the dependability that senior guard Alayna Cappelli and sophomore Riley DeRubbo bring to this team.

The only loss Trinity (3-0, 6-1) has suffered was against Peters Township. The Hillers have big wins over Canon-McMillan and Bethel Park.

The one thing that separates Trinity from others is its ability to put inferior opponents away early.

If the Hillers can find a consistent third scorer, then they could make another deep run in the postseason come February.

Fort Cherry: The Rangers’ record might be inflated because of a schedule that is nothing to brag about.

Give Fort Cherry (3-0, 5-1) credit because it has beaten teams it should have beaten, but the five teams the Rangers have defeated have only seven wins.

We will see if the Rangers are legitimate after section games against Burgettstown, Washington and OLSH in early January.

Chartiers-Houston: Tied with Fort Cherry atop Section 1-AA, defending WPIAL champion Chartiers-Houston (3-0, 4-1) has found its form with four straight wins after losing its opener to Canon-McMillan.

The Bucs have leaned on Temple recruit Alexa Williamson, along with a stifling defense that has only given up 24.5 points per game during their winning streak.

The focus for the Bucs is developing secondary scoring and continuing to get their backcourt more experience.

West Greene: No local team can score faster than the Pioneers.

The most impressive part to the nonstop attack implemented by West Greene (1-0, 6-0) is that the Pioneers never seem to get tired.

The key going for the Pioneers, who should cruise through their section schedule, is making shots so they can set up their full-court press.

West Greene’s average margin of victory is 36.8 points per game. The closest gamewas a 54-45 win over Washington.

Boys

Canon-McMillan: The only people who might have believed the Big Macs would be 4-1 at this point are the players in their locker room.

After losing Britton Beachy, R.J. Bell and Carson Miller to graduation, the Big Macs had several large holes in their lineup to fill entering the season.

But shooters shoot, and C-M has a lot of them.

Canon-McMillan lacks size, but with the Big Macs’ ability to get hot from three-point range they can beat anybody.

Peters Township: Unlike the PT girls team, this is a group that welcomed a four-day break.

Since starting 3-0 with wins over Thomas Jefferson, West Allegheny and Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, the Indians have dropped their last four, including three by at least 10 points.

The glimmer of hope for PT (0-3, 3-4) is its next four games are at home, including a tournament Thursday and Friday nights.

McGuffey: The out-of-nowhere season for the Highlanders last year was no fluke.

McGuffey (2-1, 5-1) is a team to be reckoned with again in Class 4A because of what it does on defense.

The Highlanders have allowed only one team to eclipsed 60 point and that opponent needed overtime to get there.

Only one of McGuffey’s wins could be considered a blowout, and there might not be a local team better in close games.

Senior forward Trent Belleville has become a nightmare to keep off the glass. A player to watch as the season continues is sophomore guard C.J. Cole.

Washington: Nobody knew what to expect from the Prexies after losing its two best players from a season ago, Matt Popeck and Isaiah Robinson.

With only two seniors, Washington (3-0, 4-1) still has to find its way but the start is a promising one.

Junior forward Isaiah Walton is playing big minutes for the Prexies while senior Jordan Swart helps facilitate the offense for the youthful group that leads Section 4-AAA.

Washington will be tested with games this week against Peters Township and Upper St. Clair. The Prexies also have a difficult matchup against Trinity Jan. 6.

Chartiers-Houston: A year removed from an undefeated section record and losing the school’s all-time scoring leader AJ Myers to graduation, the Bucs have continued to find ways to win.

Following a season-opening loss to McGuffey, Chartiers-Houston (2-0, 5-1) has rattled off five consecutive wins behind a senior-dominated lineup led by Cam Hanley.

Hanley, who has eclipsed 1,000 career points, has an uncanny ability to get to the hoop and score from close range.

If the Bucs find more than one consistent scorer, then they could be updating the gymnasium’s basketball banner with another section title.

Fort Cherry: If there is one team that will stand in the way of C-H winning the section, it will be the Rangers, who started the season with three losses.

The Rangers have the best player in the section in senior forward Ryhan Culberson,who makes opponents without an inside presence cringe.

Head coach Dwayne Canton has had a lineup similar to a revolving door around returning starters Nate Higham and Culberson.

He might have found the successful combination because Fort Cherry (3-0, 3-3) hasn’t lost since Dec. 12.