Westmoreland County girls basketball notebook: Penn-Trafford happy to have defensive spark plug back

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Penn-Trafford learned how to play without Torrie DeStefano last season after the then-sophomore guard suffered a season-ending knee injury just six games into the schedule.

Now that she is back, coach John Giannikas clearly prefers life with DeStefano in the lineup.

“It’s great to have her back,” the veteran coach said. “She brings a defensive intensity that we need with her deflections and steals, runs the offense and creates open shots for others. And she finds a way to get her points to help with our team scoring.”

DeStefano, a 5-foot-8 combo guard, was averaging 14 points a game when her injury occurred against Connellsville. She missed 18 games, including the playoffs.

The junior came back and helped the Warriors to a 2-0 start. She had eight points, seven rebounds and nine assists in a 56-40 win over Seneca Valley to open the season. Then she had 11 points and six assists in a 57-47 victory against Allderdice.

She led the Warriors (3-0) with 16 points in Tuesday’s 51-50 win over rival Norwin.

“She leads us with controlling the pace of the game and controls breaking the other team’s pressure by knowing when to pass it or just keep herself to break the pressure,” Giannikas said. “We missed her intensity, and it is great to have it back.”

First win

Three local first-year coaches earned their first win.

For two of them, it happened in their first try.

Jeannette’s Jenna Lusby won her coaching debut, a 38-34 victory over Leechburg, as Nevarah Smith scored 21 points.

Valley’s Tonya Norman, meantime, also won her first game, as the Vikings downed Leechburg, 61-23.

Cornelious Nesbit won his second game as the new coach at Belle Vernon when the Leopards flattened Westinghouse, 64-8.

Tough schedule

Greensburg Central Catholic didn’t shy away from nonsection opponents as it gets ready to play up a class in 3A.

The Centurions, ranked No. 2 in 3A, opened against two-time defending WPIAL champion and Class 4A No. 1-ranked North Catholic and won 64-44.

Then, they took on three-time defending WPIAL champion South Fayette and lost 58-29.

Their third game was set for Wednesday at District 5 champion Berlin Brothersvalley.

The grinder rolls on as GCC will host WPIAL 6A semifinalist Peters Township on Monday.

Peters Township is ranked No. 1 and South Fayette No. 2 in 5A.

Later in the season, the Centurions will face perennial playoff teams Oakland Catholic (No. 3 in 4A) and McKeesport (5A).

Games to watch

Any teams that did not open the season this week will get things started this weekend with a more traditional weekend of tip-off tournaments.

Greensburg Salem will host Ringgold, Hempfield and Mt. Pleasant for a tournament Friday and Saturday.

Greensburg Salem plays Hempfield at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Jeannette, Charleroi and Derry will be at the Monessen tournament Friday and Saturday.

Latrobe will play the host school at the Plum tournament Friday.

Layup lines

The TribLive HSSN preseason rankings had Norwin at No. 2 in 6A, Penn-Trafford No. 3 in 5A and GCC No. 2 in 3A. … Burrell opened with three straight wins in decisive fashion. The Bucs beat Carrick, 57-8, then toppled Steel Valley, 57-9, and South Allegheny, 67-7.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Greensburg C.C., Jeannette, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Valley