A-K Valley girls basketball teams hit reset button heading into state tournament

By: Michael Love
Wednesday, March 6, 2024 | 5:30 PM

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Coming off WPIAL consolation wins over Section 1-4A rivals Greensburg Salem and Knoch, the Highlands girls basketball team is preparing for what lies ahead in PIAA tournament play.

The win over the Golden Lions got them in, and the Golden Rams’ victory over Knoch on Feb. 29 solidified the fifth-place position and a date with District 9 champion St. Mary’s at 4 p.m. Saturday.

“Obviously, we didn’t fare as well as we had hoped in the WPIAL playoffs (quarterfinal loss to Laurel Highlands), but it is good that we have another chance with a new tournament,” Highlands coach Shawn Bennis said.

“Coach (Joe) Discello said it’s about breaking it down into mini tournaments. It’s a four-team tournament now, and we hope to be able to get two wins and then battle four more teams. The girls were pretty resilient and played really well against Greensburg. We struggled against Knoch a little bit offensively, but game-in and game-out this year, we’ve focused on playing outstanding defense. If we can keep that going and score the basketball at a better percentage, we will be in good shape, no matter who we play.”

Bennis said that with a week since his team played Knoch, the key has been to keep his players energized and motivated.

Highlands scrimmaged Shady Side Academy on Tuesday, and now the team is in the final stages of prep work for a St. Mary’s team that returns to the state tournament after a one-year hiatus.

The Flying Dutch (21-5) traveled to Knoch two years ago as District 9 champions and left with a 30-point loss.

Highlands (18-7) will make a more-than-two-hour trip to St. Mary’s. Last year was the Golden Rams’ first taste of play in the PIAA tournament, and this time, they hope for a different experience after a 50-42 loss to District 6 champion Penn Cambria at Mt. Aloysius.

“The entire atmosphere last year took us some time to get used to,” Bennis said. “We dug ourselves too big of a hole. I think we were down 18 or 20 at one time before cutting it to four. The big thing was getting that experience and knowing that whoever you play now, it is going to be a battle.”

Raiders and Marauders reunite

There will be new faces on the court Saturday for Bishop Guilfoyle when the District 6 champion Mauraders welcome Riverview for a PIAA Class A first-round game.

The Raiders also will see a couple of familiar faces from when the Riverview and BG girls soccer teams met in a state semifinal in November.

The Raiders (16-8) won in soccer, and BG (24-3) hopes to return the favor in basketball.

“The girls are ready,” Riverview coach Jill Catanzaro said of her team, which will make a 90-minute bus ride to Altoona.

“Bishop Guilfoyle is fundamentally sound. They move the ball well. They play aggressive man. It’s not anything we haven’t seen. Aquinas played a similar game where they have two nice post players and have really strong guards. It is going to be a big challenge, but I know we’re going to go out there and represent Riverview the best we can.”

Riverview’s win over Monessen in the WPIAL quarterfinals two weeks ago punched its ticket to states. The Raiders suffered a 45-37 loss to Aquinas Academy in the third-place game last week.

Bishop Guilfoyle rallied past Williamsburg, 46-42, in the District 6 title game.

The Raiders will make their 10th all-time trip to the PIAA playoffs and first since 2020.

Knights continue PIAA streak

The Knoch juniors and seniors only know what it is like to qualify for the PIAA playoffs.

The Knights will make their third straight appearance at states Saturday with a trip to Erie to face District 10 champion Fairview.

“We have that expectation of getting to the state playoffs and winning games,” said Knoch coach Shane McGraw, who saw the Knights knock out the District 9 champ in the first round the last two years.

“The girls are prepared and are ready to do whatever it takes to get a win on Saturday against a really good Fairview team. The younger girls see now what the expectation is to play well into March.”

Knoch, which lost at No. 3 Elizabeth Forward in the WPIAL quarterfinals, bounced back with a 60-40 home win over Central Valley to clinch its berth to states. The Knights then fell at Highlands in a close fifth-place game.

“We still had the opportunity to play and control our own destiny,” McGraw said.

“The girls were locked in at practice knowing it was a quick turnaround, and they played fantastic against Central Valley. Against Highlands, it was nice to be able to play them, and it was a great opportunity to see where we’re at and how we’ve improved over the year against a really good team.”

Home sweet home

Beyond the humorous side story of St. Joseph facing St. Joseph, Saturday’s PIAA Class A first-round game in Natrona Heights is a matchup of teams that have combined for 46 wins this season and have hopes for a deep run in the state tournament.

The St. Joseph Spartans (21-4), WPIAL runners-up to Union, are glad to be home after traveling to Claysburg near Altoona for last year’s PIAA first-round game against Williamsburg.

“When we were talking about season goals, winning the section and getting to the Pete and winning WPIALs was high on the list,” coach Geoff Dutelle said. “We also wanted to finish high in the WPIAL so we could have a state playoff game at home. That has been part of the evolution for this team. We’re pumped to get to play at home one more time.”

The St. Joseph Wolfpack (25-2), the third-place finisher from District 6, was 0-17 last year. With first-year standout Naomi Crispin, the daughter of former Penn State star and current Nittany Lions men’s assistant Joe Crispin, leading the turnaround, the Wolfpack defeated Bishop Carroll by 23 in the District 6 consolation game last week to secure its spot in the state tournament.

“Their best player is new this year, but I don’t care who you are, to go from winless to 25 wins, that is a huge accomplishment,” Dutelle said.

“They are really solid all the way around.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Highlands, Knoch, Riverview, St. Joseph