All-time WPIAL girls basketball championship games No. 6: 1981 Baldwin team upends undefeated Shaler
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Thursday, February 22, 2018 | 7:27 PM
The TribLive High School Sports Network will be counting down the Top 10 boys and girls WPIAL basketball championship games leading up to the 2018 title games March 1-3 at the Petersen Events Center.
TRIBHSSN is the exclusive audio and video home for all 12 WPIAL championship games, which will be broadcasted and video streamed live at TribHSSN.triblive.com.
Here is the fifth installment of a 10-part series ranking the top WPIAL girls basketball championship games in district history.
No. 6: 1981 — WPIAL Class 3A finals: Baldwin 48, Shaler 45
It wasn't David vs. Goliath, but it was close. Shaler was the defending champion, undefeated in the 1980-81 season and carried a 40-game winning streak into the 1981 WPIAL Class 3A girls basketball championship game. Meanwhile, Baldwin finished tied for second when only the top two teams in each section qualified and needed a play-in victory over Bethel Park just to advance to the district playoffs.
After Baldwin grabbed a four-point lead after one quarter, Shaler built up a seven-point lead with only 30 seconds left in the first half before four unanswered points in the final half minute pulled Baldwin to within three at 26-23 at halftime.
The second half was tight, especially into the fourth quarter when the teams went back and forth with the score tied at 39, 41 and 43. With Shaler ahead 45-43 with 35 seconds left, junior Beth Berinti hit a short jumper to tie the game. She then stole the inbounds pass and was fouled. She made one of two shots and, after a Shaler miss, connected on two more free throws to seal the deal for the Highlanders.
Despite a Shaler height advantage, Baldwin won the battle of the boards 39-35. Mistakes were a big factor as well, as the Titans turned the ball over 21 times.
The unexpected championship run for the Highlanders got the ball rolling on a golden streak for Baldwin; the Fighting Highlanders also won the WPIAL Class 3A title in 1982 and 1983, marking the last hardwood titles for the purple and white.
Don Rebel is a TribLive High School Sports Network broadcaster and staff writer. Reach him at drebel@tribweb.com.
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