WPIAL Class A girls final preview: Top seeds Winchester Thurston, West Greene are familiar foes

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, February 28, 2018 | 11:12 PM

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The WPIAL Class A championship is set with a matchup between No. 1 Winchester Thurston (18-5) and No. 2 West Greene (22-2), teams that were among the favorites from the opening tip this season.

They will face off at 3 p.m. Friday at Petersen Events Center.

Winchester Thurston is coming off its first WPIAL title last year and looking for a repeat.

“Even though we came out on top last year, I felt we could have played better in that championship game,” Winchester Thurston coach Monica Williams said. “I think scheduling games against multiple 6A and 5A teams will help us in a game like this because we know what we will have to do in tougher situations, especially at the end of games.”

West Greene, which won WPIAL softball titles in 2016 and ‘17, is the first team from Greene County to play in a WPIAL girls basketball championship game.

“Being the first school in Greene County to make it to a WPIAL championship is a huge accomplishment, but we have more we want to prove,” West Greene coach Jordan Watson said. “We don't have any seniors on our roster but we have multiple juniors that have been starting since their freshmen years and have made deep runs in softball. I know they can handle the pressure.”

Winchester Thurston will be looking to build off two dominating playoff performances, where it defeated Cornell in the quarterfinals, 53-17 and followed that with a 56-40 win over Sewickley Academy in the semifinals.

“I think we have played well so far these playoffs. The experience from last year should give us a little boost as well,” Williams said. “We know what to expect, particularly with the bigger court, and it is just overall a great atmosphere to play in.”

West Greene used the first-round bye to it benefit, scouting Rochester and then defeating the Rams, 73-45, in the quarterfinals. The Pioneers went on to play a close game against a solid Quigley Catholic team, pulling out a close, 66-59 victory.

“We knew Quigley would be a tough matchup, but it was good for us because we have not played in many close games this season,” Watson said. “It was good to see the girls execute in clutch situations, things you cannot really work on in practice.”

The Class A finalists matched up Jan. 19 at Winchester Thurston, with the Bears coming out on top 58-38.

“We played them well defensively in the game, containing the Lampe sisters,” Williams said. “We had to make some changes defensively specifically for them because you are not going to completely shut them down, but we were able to contain them enough.”

“Playing in their house it was a tough environment,” Watson added. “They are a big team and we simply did not make our shots, but we also definitely give them credit, they are a great defensive team.”

Both coaches know this will be a much different game than the one they played earlier in the season. They will have each made adjustments and will be playing on a neutral court.

“Offensively, I think it is important to just play our game,” Williams said. “Defensively, we want to contest their outside shots, and we will be prepared to make adjustments when needed.”

“In order to have a repeat of our shooting performance in the first matchup, it will be important that we look to make that extra pass,” Watson said. “We have to be able to stay in front of their guards and deny the ball inside. If we can do that, keep the pressure on and limit their second-chance looks, we should be able to put ourselves in a position to win.”

Winchester Thurston is led by 5-foot-8 senior guard Gia Thorpe, who averages 21.3 points, good for ninth in the WPIAL. Senior 6-2 center Ayanna Townsend, a Xavier recruit, averages 15.2 points.

West Greene spreads it out with three juniors averaging double digits — McKenna Lampe at 14.0 ppg, Madison Lampe at 13.7, and Kaitlyn Rizor at 12.2.

Cody Scott is a freelance writer.

Class A girls

Winchester Thurston vs. West Greene

3 p.m. Friday, Petersen Events Center

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No. 1 Winchester Thurston (18-5)

Coach: Monica Williams

No. Player, Position, Height, Year

3 Gia Thorpe, G, 5-8, Sr.

22 Ayanna Townsend, F, 6-2, Sr.

30 Luka van de Venne, F, 5-10, Sr.

33 Nya Nicholson, G, 5-10, Fr.

34 Emma Small, F, 5-11, So.

No. 2 West Greene (22-2)

Coach: Jordan Watson

No. Player, Position, Height, Year

4 Elizabeth Brudnock, G, 5-6, Fr.

10 Kaitlyn Rizor, F, 5-9, Jr.

14 McKenna Lampe, G, 5-4, Jr.

21 Madison Lampe, G, 5-4, Jr.

23 Brianna Goodwin, F, 5-6, Jr.

Title-game history: Winchester Thurston will be looking to repeat last season's WPIAL Class A championship, where it won the first title in school history. This is West Greene's first trip to a WPIAL championship game.

Stat leaders: WT: Thorpe, 21.3 ppg; WG: McKenna Lampe, 14 ppg.

Notable: Last season, Winchester Thurston defeated Cornell, 52-41, in the WPIAL title game. … The two teams played each other Jan. 19 at Winchester Thurston, with the Bears coming out on top 58-38.

Predicted winner: Winchester Thurston

Tags: Winchester Thurston