Surging Latrobe girls basketball riding high on 7-game winning streak

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, January 25, 2018 | 12:21 PM

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Latrobe has gone away from hosting some girls-boys basketball doubleheaders this season.

Separate nights gives each team the spotlight all to themselves.

The boys' games are often sellouts, forcing game officials to lock the doors and leave people out in the cold.

But the girls team is starting to move the turnstiles, too.

“We always say, wow, look at the crowd,” girls coach Mark Burkhardt said. “They must be here to see the boys. But we've had some crowds too.”

Senior forward Mackenzie Markle said, “The Den was there — for us.” She is referring to the always-raucous student section that can steal scenes during boys games.

The Latrobe girls (13-2) are riding high as they take a seven-game winning streak into Thursday night's home game against Norwin (7-8, 5-2).

The Wildcats are 6-0 in Section 2 and ranked No. 4 in Class 6A. They have not won a section title since 2007.

Latrobe has six section titles, the last coming in 2007. The others were in 1973, '89, '97, '98 and '99.

“We thought we could compete,” Burkhardt said. “We knew it could be an exciting year with the girls we had back.”

Latrobe has shown a propensity for winning close games, the ability to tether strong fourth quarter play and turn momentum into victories — instead of searing defeats.

“We're more calm and we play smarter and make better choices,” senior forward Mackenzie Markle said. “We all believed we could be a good team.”

Guard-oriented Latrobe was 8-14 last season and tied for last place. This worst-to-first story keeps getting better.

“It's another year of maturity,” Burkhardt said. “I think there was some big shock last year with us going to 6A from 4A. New teams, new section. There is more of a comfort level this year with that.”

Piloted by senior guard Laura Graytok, an American University recruit who averages 24.6 points and has scored over 1,400 in her career, the Wildcats can score with any team.

But Graytok has had plenty of help.

Markle and senior guard Shelby Wetzel have been key contributors and leaders.

“Those three seniors lead us on and off the court,” Burkhardt said.

Juniors Kayla White, Carly Augustine and Bethany Havrilla have played valuable backcourt minutes, as has freshman Rachel Ridilla.

Markle is providing a steady 10 points and nine rebounds, and Wetzel has been key defender and go-through player on offense. She scored 14 in a recent win over Penn-Trafford.

Latrobe beat Norwin, 60-45, to break a 20-game losing streak against the perennially strong Knights.

The Wildcats started 6-0 before back-to-back losses to 4A Elizabeth Forward and state-ranked Altoona, another 6A team.

The offense has been there; Latrobe averages 62.2 points a game. But the question at the start of the season was whether the Wildcats could close out games and deal with the pressure of tight fourth quarters.

They have responded to the challenge.

Walls-closing-in games against Fox Chapel, Penn Hills and Shaler, the latter two of which went to overtime, tested the team's mettle and showed its ability to handle duress.

“We don't panic like we did in the past,” Wetzel said. “We feel overdue to finish games. I always say play the game like it's your last.”

Taking care of the ball with the lead, and showing patience when the other team is winning in the fourth quarter, has worked in the Wildcats' favor.

“It's mental toughness,” Wetzel said. “We believe we can do it.”

Foul-shooting has helped too. Any team can seal wins with late free throws and Latrobe has been most effective when it counts.

“We've gotten better shooting fouls every quarter,” Burkhardt said. “The first quarter, we're around 57 percent and we climb up to 70 in the fourth.”

The Wildcats, who played the first seven games of the season on the road, are in the middle of a six-game homestand. The stretch includes 9 of 11 home games in January.

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

Tags: Latrobe