With big 4th quarter, Olivia Pepple hits 1,000 points, leads Penn-Trafford past Latrobe
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Monday, January 15, 2024 | 10:12 PM
Penn-Trafford’s Olivia Pepple smiles with the cheerleaders after scoring her 1,000th career point against Latrobe on Monday.
Penn-Trafford’s Olivia Pepple drives the basket against Latrobe on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Harrison City.
Penn-Trafford’s Olivia Pepple battles Latrobe’s Brylee Bodnar for a rebound Monday in Harrison City.
Penn-Trafford’s Olivia Pepple blocks a shot by Latrobe’s Carley Berk on Monday in Harrison City.
Penn-Trafford’s Olivia Pepple scores past Latrobe’s Addison Toy on Monday in Harrison City.
Penn-Trafford’s Olivia Pepple celebrates with teammates after scoring her 1,000th career point against Latrobe on Monday in Harrison City.
Penn-Trafford’s Olivia Pepple is mobbed by teammates after scoring her 1,000th career point against Latrobe on Monday in Harrison City.
Penn-Trafford’s Lauren Marton drives to the basket between Latrobe defenders Monday in Harrison City.
Penn-Trafford’s Isabella Fontana celebrates after scoring against Latrobe on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Harrison City.
Penn-Trafford’s Elle Visco shoots a three-pointer against Latrobe on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Harrison City.
Penn-Trafford’s Olivia Pepple drives to the basket past Latrobe’s Emry Bridge on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Harrison City.
The Penn-Trafford bench celebrates after a Warriors’ basket against Latrobe on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Harrison City.
Penn-Trafford’s Lauren Marton pulls down a rebound against Latrobe on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Harrison City.
Penn-Trafford’s Isabella Fontana brings the ball upcourt against Latrobe on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Harrison City.
Latrobe’s Elle Snyder works against Penn-Trafford’s Kamryn Pieper on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Harrison City.
Latrobe head coach Mackenzie Livingston watches from the bench during a game on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, at Penn-Trafford.
Penn-Trafford’s Hanna Weishaar drives to the basket against Latrobe on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Harrison City.
Penn-Trafford’s Kamryn Pieper drives to the basket against Latrobe on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Harrison City.
Penn-Trafford’s Lauren Marton battles Latrobe’s Addison Toy for a loose ball on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Harrison City.
Penn-Trafford’s Olivia Pepple battles for a loose ball against Latrobe on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Harrison City.
Penn-Trafford’s Olivia Pepple celebrates with teammates after scoring her 1,000th career point against Latrobe on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Harrison City.
With a steal and a left-handed finish with 1 minute, 30 seconds remaining, Olivia Pepple reached a personal milestone.
When the final buzzer sounded, the senior guard from Penn-Trafford was happier to get a team win.
Pepple scored her 1,000th career point as the Warriors pulled past visiting Latrobe, 51-40, in a Section 3-5A girls basketball game Monday night.
Pepple, a Gannon commit, owned the fourth quarter, scoring 10 of her game-high 14 points in the final eight minutes to become the seventh girl in the program to score 1,000.
“I knew what I needed, but I was more concerned about winning because we want to make the playoffs,” said Pepple, who was 13 points shy of 1,000 coming into the night. “There was added pressure, for sure. Any way I got it would have been fine.”
She converted a three-point play after reaching 1,000 to put Penn-Trafford (8-5, 3-3) ahead 49-38. The Warriors went on to snap a four-game losing streak, while Latrobe (7-7, 3-3) saw its winning streak stopped at five.
“Pep wanted to get (the milestone) the right way. She wasn’t going to take crazy shots,” Penn-Trafford coach John Giannikas said. “Her defense was really good tonight. She is all about team. I have been saying this for a while: She’s a top-tier player, one of the best in the WPIAL.”
Senior Division-I Evansville commit Elle Snyder and senior Belle Blossey tied a team high with 12 points for Latrobe, which led early. Snyder, who fouled out with 1:04 to play, pulled down 11 rebounds for her 13th double-double of the season.
Wildcats coach Mackenzie Livingston credited Penn-Trafford’s defensive play and thought her team became rattled.
“We got stuffed a few times and we lost our heads a little bit,” Livingston said. “We turned the ball over too much and we didn’t execute in the fourth quarter. We executed well in the last five games.”
After the teams played to a 15-15 tie after the first quarter, Penn-Trafford outscored the Wildcats in a cold-shooting second, 10-5, to take a 34-29 edge into the break.
Junior forward Lauren Marton had eight of her 13 points in the first half for the Warriors and also pulled down a team-best 10 rebounds.
Junior Bella Klobucar and sophomore Hanna Weishaar connected on 3-pointers in the second quarter, Klobucar’s to push the lead to seven (22-15).
Latrobe cut it to 26-24 in the third, but junior Paige Temple drove in for a layup, Pepple made two free throws, and Marton scored inside to make it a 34-27 game late in the third.
After Snyder opened the fourth with a basket, the Warriors scored 10 straight points, including a 3 from senior Elle Visco to take a 44-31 lead.
“Our defense after the first quarter was solid,” Giannikas said. “We challenged shots. Our timing was good on our shots. We had some key 3s or takes. Liv took over the fourth quarter.”
The decisive run was punctuated by a pair of coast-to-coast layups by Pepple, the second of which gave the Warriors their largest lead (13) at 44-31.
“Olivia is a very versatile player and she is tough to stop,” Livingston said. “She played some great defense.”
Pepple helped limit junior guard Carley Burk to three points.
Latrobe cut it to eight twice before Pepple’s 1,000th point capped her big final quarter.
Latrobe had more 3-point makes (three) than free-throw attempts (four).
Now Snyder is on milestone watch. She needs 22 to hit 1,000 for Latrobe.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Latrobe, Penn-Trafford
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