WPIAL Class 2A girls final preview: Chartiers-Houston, Vincentian Academy set for title-game rematch

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, February 28, 2018 | 12:15 AM

In a rematch of last year's WPIAL Class 2A girls basketball championship where Chartiers-Houston defeated Vincentian Academy, 47-35, the two teams will square off again at 5 p.m. Thursday at Petersen Events Center.

Top-seeded Vincentian Academy (22-1) has 21 straight wins and a 22-1 overall record.

“The girls are confident and playing well together,” Vincentian Academy coach Ron Moncrief said. “They feel like they can beat anyone, which is the type of attitude we want coming into this game.”

Third-seeded Chartiers-Houston (19-5) comes into the game riding an eight-game winning streak.

“We have been playing good ball lately,” Chartiers-Houston coach Laura Montecalvo said. “We feel we have been challenged lately, and we have been able to finish out those games on top.”

Vincentian Academy breezed through the quarterfinals with a 64-31 win over California, and it was much of the same in the semifinals with a 59-30 win over Serra Catholic.

“We are happy with the way the girls played so far these playoffs, but we are far from done and hoping to carry that momentum into this championship game,” Moncrief said. “(Chartiers-Houston has) one of the best players in the WPIAL that we have to be able to contain, but not forget about the solid pieces they have around her.”

Chartiers-Houston was not as dominant in the first two rounds but found ways to win. In the quarterfinals, the Bucs defeated Leechburg, 52-45, and then went on to defeat Brentwood in the semifinals 54-45.

“It is good to have games like those where you are battle-tested and seeing your girls being able to close it out in the end,” Montecalvo said. “We are putting ourselves in a position to win every game, and continuing to execute down the stretch. That is all we can ask for.”

Both coaches agreed this is a completely different game from last year's championship, with a change of personnel and gameplans, but they know the intensity and revenge factor will be there.

“I think the main focus for us is to be able to defend and limit the second-chance opportunities by getting the rebounds,” Moncrief said. “On offense, we have to be able to handle their pressure and simply execute.”

The game will feature two Division I recruits in Vincentian Academy's 5-foot-10 senior guard Caroline Elliott and Chartiers-Houston's 6-1 senior forward Alexa Williamson. Elliott, a Duquesne recruit, averages 17 points, while Williamson, a Temple recruit, averages 30.5 points and 14 rebounds.

“The most important thing for us in this game is to limit the mental errors that cause turnovers and easy baskets,” Montecalvo said. “And we always want to focus on our defense and make them work for every shot.”

Cody Scott is a freelance writer.

Class 2A girls

Vincentian Academy vs. Chartiers-Houston

5 p.m. Thursday, Petersen Events Center

On the air:Tribhssn.triblive.com

No. 1 Vincentian Academy (22-1)

Coach: Ron Moncrief

No. Player, Position, Height, Year

21 Katie Bartlett, F, 5-11, Sr.

24 Caroline Elliott, G, 5-10, Sr.

30 Olivia O'Brien, G, 5-7, Sr.

33 Marina Eyster, G, 5-8, Sr.

42 Alana Winkler, G, 5-8, So.

No. 3 Chartiers-Houston (19-5)

Coach: Laura Montecalvo

No. Player, Position, Height, Year

2 Madison Simpson, G, 5-9, Sr.

11 Keaira Walker, F, 5-9, Sr.

14 Jules Vulcano, G, 5-10, Sr.

21 Macy Mazutis, G, 5-7, Sr.

24 Alexa Williamson, F, 6-1, Sr.

Title-game history: Vincentian Academy has 10 WPIAL championships, two of which are in Class AA when they went back-to-back in 2001-02. Chartiers-Houston defeated Vincentian Academy for its first WPIAL title last year.

Stat leaders: VA: Elliott, 17 ppg; CH: Williamson, 30.5 ppg.

Notable: Vincentian Academy lost its second game of the season against Philadelphia West Catholic at a tournament in Washington, D.C., and has not lost since. … Division I recruits will face off in this matchup — Vincentian's Elliott (Duquesne) and Chartiers-Houston's Williamson (Temple). … Williamson led the WPIAL in scoring, averaging 30.5 points and 14 rebounds.

Predicted winner: Vincentian Academy

Tags: Chartiers-Houston, Vincentian Academy