Latrobe girls speed past Shaler, earn 1st WPIAL playoff win since ’07

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, February 20, 2018 | 9:09 PM

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Latrobe wanted to play fast in its playoff opener. It's the Wildcats' M.O.

And that's what they did to set the tone on the way to their first WPIAL playoff win since 2006-07.

Latrobe went grand prix on Shaler early and put it in park late in a 44-31 victory in a Class 6A first-round game Tuesday night at Plum.

Senior Laura Graytok scored a game-high 18 points and classmate Mackenzie Markle added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the sixth-seeded Wildcats (17-6), who advance to play No. 3 Bethel Park (16-5) in the quarterfinals Friday at a time and site to be determined.

“We wanted to play fast; that's our game,” said Graytok, an American recruit. “Our defense was a lot better than the first time we played them. This feels good to get the win. Now, we want to keep it going.”

Megan Lydon had 15 points to lead No. 11 Shaler (10-13), which also lost to Latrobe earlier in the season, 71-63.

“The last time, we just let them dribble-drive and gave them too many easy baskets,” Latrobe coach Mark Burkhardt said. “Tonight, our defense was the difference. We kept them in front of us. This win is very significant. These girls set the standard for the program.”

Latrobe ran to a 29-15 halftime lead as Graytok scored 13, including seven during a 10-0 run for the Wildcats. Shaler, which had a 6-2 lead early, managed just a pair of free throws in the second quarter.

Shaler, content on shooting 3-pointers in the first half, seemed uncomfortable against the Wildcats' man-to-man defense, and the result was unforced errors that led to easy fast-break hoops for Latrobe.

The Titans could not keep up with the Wildcats, who were unremitting on defense and sealed off drives.

Markle's putback stretched the lead to double figures with 2 minutes, 1 second to go until halftime. Graytok then scored on a break before feeding Markle underneath the rim to stretch the advantage to 12. Graytok's layup at the second-quarter buzzer gave Latrobe a 29-15 lead at the half.

Graytok had five assists.

“Our conditioning really allows us to run like that,” Markle said. “It gives us a good advantage.”

Latrobe had just three field goals in the third but maintained a 36-27 advantage. Shaler could only cut it to nine in the fourth.

“We were up 14 at halftime, so we weren't in such a hurry to score in the second half,” Graytok said.

Latrobe was 6 for 12 from the foul line in the final quarter (12 of 24 for the game) when it had one field goal — a layup by Markle that stretched the lead to 44-29.

Latrobe played keep away late as it used clock, weaving and passing around defenders. Graytok was the conductor.

“I think this is one of the best all-around games Laura has played,” Burkhardt said. “Her ball-handling at the end, she was great up at the top.”

Shaler had five field goals in the first quarter and five in the second half. Latrobe had as many points in the first quarter (15) as it did in the second half.

“We needed to get our confidence back after finishing (the regular season) with a few losses,” Markle said. “This really helped us. We just need to keep up the pace.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Latrobe, Shaler