Quaker Valley gets defensive in Class 4A semifinal win over Indiana

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, February 28, 2018 | 10:03 PM

With its undefeated season and a trip to the WPIAL finals on the line, Quaker Valley led Indiana by just four at halftime.

But the top-seeded Quakers took their defense up a notch, holding the No. 4 Indians to 12 points in the second half en route to a 71-41 victory in the Class 4A semifinals Wednesday at Fox Chapel.

Junior forward Ryan Stowers also had a strong second half, scoring 17 of his game-high 21 points to lead Quaker Valley.

The Quakers (23-0) will have a rematch with New Castle for WPIAL honors at 1 p.m. Saturday at Petersen Events Center.

New Castle defeated Quaker Valley in the 2017 final, 73-58.

Ahead 33-29 at the intermission, the Quakers opened the third quarter with a 16-3 surge.

“I thought we were more comfortable with our defense in the second half,” Quaker Valley coach Mike Mastroianni said. “In the second quarter, we were kind of getting a good feel, then we reestablished it in the third quarter. We clamped down on defense, we weren't tending to some of the things we had wanted to do, initially.”

The Quakers played stellar defense while staying out of foul trouble. Quaker Valley committed just five team fouls during the game.

“I thought they were one of the best offensive teams we played all year,” Mastroianni said of Indiana. “They have three players who can really, really score, so I thought our lockdown was good.”Indiana had brief leads early and was tied 19-all at the end of one quarter. But turnovers on the first three Indians possessions of the second quarter allowed the Quakers to take the lead for good.“We didn't take advantage of our opportunities in the first half,” Indiana coach Greg Lezanic said. “They got up 10, we made that nice, little run to get to within four, and then they just clipped us.”

Stowers scored 11 points to help Quaker Valley toward its 20-7, third-quarter domination.

In the first half, however, Drexel-bound guard Coltrane Washington scored 13 points. He finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Danny Conlan had 17 for the Quakers, 11 in the first half.

Senior Carlos Carter scored 15 points for Indiana (18-6) and pulled down eight rebounds. He had nine points in the first half.

The taller Quakers had a 30-18 rebounding edge.

“We really weren't in a position to rebound,” Lezanic said. “We had probably our best rebounder, Luke Thomas, and Carlos out chasing Washington around the basket, probably 30 feet from the hoop. What an athlete Washington is; what a basketball player.”

Guard Tommy Arbuckle scored 14 for Indiana.

Quaker Valley, in the WPIAL playoffs for the 14th consecutive season, will be going for its second title Saturday, while New Castle will be shooting for its 12th.

The only other Quakers crown came in 1997 when they defeated New Brighton.No. 4 Indiana will next play in the PIAA playoffs on March 9.

George Guido is a freelance writer.

Tags: Indiana, Quaker Valley