Peters Township girls hold off Hempfield rallies to advance in Class 6A playoffs

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, February 23, 2018 | 9:34 PM

Every time Peters Township tried to pull away in the WPIAL Class 6A quarterfinals, Hempfield rallied.

But the Spartans came up one run short.

The No. 2 Indians withstood the challenge that went to the final minutes for a 48-40 win at Baldwin.

“We struggled a little bit shooting in the first half,” Peters Township coach Bert Kendall said. “Whether it was the long layoff with the bye or the excitement of the playoffs, we struggled. But in the fourth quarter with the game on the line, I think we really executed our offense.”

Peters Township (20-3) advances to face Bethel Park, which beat Latrobe, 70-50 — on Tuesday at a site and time to be determined. It is the first trip to the WPIAL semifinals for the Indians since 2010.

Peters Township built an early 8-2 lead as its defense forced six turnovers in the first quarter. But a late three-point play from the Spartans' Sarah Liberatore kept the game close.

Hempfield withstood a 7-0 from Peters Township early in the second quarter and rallied in the final two minutes of the half. Allison Podkul scored on a layup and hit a 3-pointer on the team's final possession of the second quarter.

The Indians led 17-13 at halftime.

“Unfortunately we couldn't score in the first half,” Hempfield coach Lindsy Muchnock said. “Shots just weren't falling. And when shots don't fall for us, we struggle.”

Peters Township's Makenna Marisa, the team's leading scorer at more than 23 points per game, was held to four points in the first half. But the dynamic junior came alive in the second half and finished with 20 points, 10 in the third quarter.

“We defended her the best we could,” Muchnock said. “She made some unbelievable shots in the second half. That is why she is getting recruited by Division I schools.”

The Spartans cut the lead to 31-29 in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter after a Podkul 3-pointer. But Peters Township made three 3-pointers over the ensuing 90 seconds, including a pair from Isabella Mills.

Podkul picked her squad up one last time late in the fourth quarter. The senior scored seven consecutive points to cut the deficit to six. A Jessica Persin 3-pointer cut the lead to 42-39.

After a Peters Township turnover, Podkul was fouled and went to the line. She connected on the front end of a pair of free throws with 2:26 to play.

Hempfield did not score for the remainder of the game.

“We have had a really competitive schedule,” Kendall said. “We have been in a lot of close games. I think of all the close games we have had, we only lost one. I knew they had the look in their eyes that they were going to go and take care of business.”

Podkul led the Spartans (12-12) with 23 points.

Nathan Smith is a freelance writer.

Tags: Hempfield Area, Peters Township