WPIAL Class 3A girls final preview: Top seeds Bishop Canevin, East Allegheny to square off

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, March 1, 2018 | 5:46 PM

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Both teams have been laser-focused on playing at Petersen Events Center since the start of the 2017-18 season.

Their wishes have been granted.

Top-seeded Bishop Canevin (19-4) and No. 2 East Allegheny (24-0) will clash at the Pete at 11 a.m. Saturday in the WPIAL Class 3A finals.

Bishop Canevin, a two-time defending WPIAL champion, has reeled in three titles in the past five seasons.

“We are familiar with the Bishop Canevin team,” EA coach Mike Osiecki said. “They are actually a team that can match our speed and tenacity. It will be a grind. We can't let them dictate the game. We have to do what we have done all year that got us to this point of the season. We have to execute our defense and get them to force bad shots. The bottom line is we have to execute all facets of the game.”

East Allegheny, which has posted back-to-back 22-0 regular-season records, is aiming for its second WPIAL title in school history. The Wildcats fell to Neshannock, 34-33, in last year's semifinal round.

Bishop Canevin rolled past that same Neshannock team by a 65-36 score in last year's championship game, and finished as a PIAA runner-up. The Crusaders defeated EA in the second round of the 2017 state playoffs.

“There was such a lopsided advantage on the boards for Bishop Canevin last year; it was ridiculous,” Osiecki said. “The one key advantage we have over them (this year) is size. We gotta use it. We have to own the boards.”

East Allegheny is known for its offensive explosiveness, averaging 64.1 ppg and outscoring the opposition by almost 34 ppg this season. But the Wildcats also own the best defensive average (30.3 ppg) in the entire WPIAL.

“East Allegheny's strength is its perimeter play,” BC assistant Mark Heil said. “We have to control the perimeter on their 3's and dribble penetration. Defensively, EA plays a tough 2-3 matchup zone that can be hard to attack based on the unusual rotations.”

EA is led by Kennesaw State-bound Amani Johnson, a 5-foot-5 senior point guard and fourth-year starter. Johnson has averaged 31.0 and 26.2 ppg the past two seasons, and has racked up 2,199 career points.

“Amani Johnson can do it all; she can shoot and drive it,” Heil said. “EA offensively is best in transition with Amani creating both for herself and her teammates.”

The Wildcats defeated Seton LaSalle, 60-41, and Neshannock, 51-33, in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

“We are a more mature team this year,” Osiecki said, “and Amani has done a wonderful job of leading the team.”

Bishop Canevin, under first-year coach Scott Dibble, averages 55.7 ppg while allowing 40 ppg. The Crusaders have a pair of fourth-year senior starters in guard/forwards Brionna Allen and Lauren Gamble.

Shamyjha Price, a 5-9 junior guard/forward and second-year starter, led BC with 21 points in last year's WPIAL title game. Junior guard Gillian Gustine also had 15.

Allen (15.4 ppg) and Price (14.3 ppg) have averaged close to 30 points between them this season.

“They have a great cast of players, starting with Brie and Shamyjha,” Osiecki said.

BC defeated Laurel, 57-32, and Mohawk, 47-30, in the first two rounds.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Class 3A girls

Bishop Canevin vs. East Allegheny

11 a.m. Saturday, Petersen Events Center

On the air: Tribhssn.triblive.com

No. 1 Bishop Canevin (19-4)

Coach: Scott Dibble

No. Player, Pos., Ht., Yr.

10 Gillian Gustine, G, 5-5, Jr.

12 Diajah Allen, PG, 5-5, Soph.

32 Shamyjha Price, G/F, 5-9, Jr.

33 Lauren Gamble, G/F, 5-8, Sr.

34 Brionna Allen, G/F, 5-7, Sr.

No. 2 East Allegheny (24-0)

Coach: Mike Osiecki

No. Player, Pos., Ht., Yr.

10 Amani Johnson, PG, 5-5, Sr.

11 Amaia Johnson, G/F, 5-8, Soph.

23 Myla Bortoluzzi, G, 5-5, Sr.

23 C'Keiyah Marshall, F, 5-10, Soph.

32 Abby Henderson, G/F, 6-0, Fr.

Title-game history: Bishop Canevin has advanced to the WPIAL finals for four consecutive seasons, and six times since 2012. … The Crusaders captured Class AA titles in 2013 and 2016. …. East Allegheny won its only WPIAL title in girls basketball in Class AA in 19 years ago. …. Bishop Canevin lost to Neumann-Goretti, 62-56, in last year's PIAA finals. …. The Crusaders were state champions in 2013.

Stat leaders: EA: Amani Johnson, 26.2 ppg; BC: Allen, 15.4 ppg.

Notable: Bishop Canevin stormed past the Wildcats, 51-25, in the second round of last year's state playoffs. … EA's leading reserves include 6-foot sophomore center Jiahna Bracy, who transferred from Gateway; senior guard Myairah Carter and freshman forward Jaydah Hunter. … Senior guard Kasey Kaczorowski is the Crusaders' top reserve. … East Allegheny defeated No. 3 Neshannock, 51-33, in the WPIAL semifinal round. Amani Johnson connected for a team-high 16 points for the Wildcats. Amaia Johnson and Bortoluzzi also finished in double figures. … Bishop Canevin beat No. 4 Mohawk, 47-30, in the semifinals. Price (14 points), Allen and Gamble paced the Crusaders.

Predicted winner: East Allegheny

Tags: Bishop Canevin, East Allegheny