Peters Township shakes off rust, Harrisburg
A Harrisburg player falls down and impedes the path for Isabella Mills during PIAA girls' basketball playoff action. Peters Township overcame the roadblock, 54-34, to advance to the second round. The Indians will face Bethel Park for the fourth time this season in the next round of competition.
Dajahnae Brannon of Harrisburg battles Mackenzie Lehman (24) and Journey Thompson (23) for the rebound during PIAA girls' basketball action.
Makenna Marisa puts the moves on Jalasia Hall, making her jump off her feet, before driving to the hoop for a basketball during PIAA girls' basketball playoff action.
Makenna Marisa drives around Jalasia Hull and to the hoop during PIAA girls' basketball playoff action.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Peters Township’s Mackenzie Lehman battles Harrisburg’s Alayah Cowan for a loose ball during Friday’s PIAA Class 6A playoff game.
MT. LEBANON – Having a week off between winning a WPIAL championship and the first round of the PIAA girls basketball tournament caused some concern for Peters Township coach Bert Kendall.
But having the likes of Penn State-bound Makenna Marisa and a deep and talented lineup should assuage any fears the coach may have had.
The Indians shook off some early rust, and leaned on Marisa and their defense to take a 54-34 win over Harrisburg Friday night at Mt. Lebanon High School. Peters Township (26-0) will face section rival Bethel Park for the fourth time this season Tuesday evening in the second round at a site to be determined.
Marisa finished with a game-high 25 points, 18 of which came in the first half. Isabella Mills chipped in with 13 for the Indians.
Peters Township held Rider recruit Dajahnae Brannon to six points on 2-of-13 shooting. Kiarah Singleton-Green led the Cougars (14-11), of the Mid-Penn Commonwealth League in District 3, with eight points.
“Usually with the week off there is some concern being rusty,” Kendall noted. “We had some issues with ball possession early, but we got better as the game went on.”
Peters Township got it going midway through the first quarter when Marisa shook loose for back-to-back baskets. Her buzzer-beating mid-range jumper gave the Indians a 16-7 lead at the end of the first.
Marisa then took control in the second quarter by breaking down the Cougars press as Harrisburg worked to force turnovers from Peters Township’s backcourt.
“That was pretty much the quickest team defensively we’ve seen all year,” Kendall said. “At the half, we told them to stop trying to dribble past them and move the ball by the pass.”
Singleton’s six second quarter points kept the Cougars somewhat in the contest. But Marisa answered with six points of her own in the frame to help stretch the Indians advantage to 35-17 at the half.
“I thought Makenna played very well this evening,” Kendall added. “Her handling of their pressure was spectacular.”
Also spectacular was the defense the Indians used to stifle the Cougars much of the evening. Harrisburg was held to 10 of 39 from the field and was forced into 16 turnovers. Kendall credited Mills, Journey Thompson (9 points) and others for their work in shutting Brannon down.
“We saw on film that she (Brannon) kind of played into Isabella’s strength’s defensively,” Kendall noted. “We threw Journey at her as well. We did a good job there, for sure.”
From there, the Indians cruised home with their 26th win of the season as they imposed their will defensively in the second half.
Although Peters Township’s shooting was somewhat spotty from the floor (21 of 50), the Indians took care of the ball after the first quarter and only turned it over eight times for the game.
“I was pleased how we got better as the game went on,” Kendall said. “We took care of the ball better. That will help us going forward.”