 won every game in…){kind=link}
Cold temperatures canceled school the next day for Penn-Trafford, yet the girls basketball team was still on fire.
The P-T Warriors girls basketball team (16-0, 8-0) won every game in the first round of Section 2-5A play and added on their most recent 61-45 win over Greater Latrobe (8-7, 3-3) this Monday.
Head coach John Giannikas credits his team’s success to hard work and unity.
“We have a lot of good leaders, and they all play for each other, so it makes it fun to coach them,” Giannikas said after the Warriors’ 57-34 victory over Greensburg Salem on Friday. “They’re happier for each other’s success more than their own.”
Known for their deep bench, P-T subbed through ten players in their win against Latrobe.
“I know that if I don’t hit two shots, any of the kids sitting on the bench will come and hit two, so it helps build confidence and helps the team all around,” said point guard Torrie DeStefano.
Players from every grade level contribute to the team. Sophomore Izzie Fontana, junior Hanna Weishaar and DeStefano and seniors Kamryn Pieper and Lauren Marton all started against Latrobe. Freshman Raya Johnson was the first sub in.
While the Warriors graduated leading scorer Olivia Pepple, who now plays at Gannon, they regained DeStefano (previously out for knee injury), and freshman Johnson this season.
Johnson scored three three-pointers in the first quarter alone against Greensburg Salem.
“It’s a big accomplishment [to play varsity],” Johnson said. “I’ve been waiting to play basketball in high school.”
DeStefano, who plays point guard, also plays a pivotal role for the Warriors. She led the team with 20 points against Latrobe, scoring 10 of those in the fourth quarter.
We knew we had to beat Latrobe, and we knew we could, so we just did what Coach G told us and it worked,” DeStefano said.
Defensively, P-T has held their opponents to an average of 35 points per game. The Warriors have also had consistent scoring on offense; in 12 out of their 16 games, they have scored in the 50s.
P-T will face their hardest games of the regular season at the end. The Warriors will play home against Indiana on Feb. 6, then travel to Upper Saint Clair on Feb. 8.
“We want to make playoffs and be playing our best basketball going in the playoffs,” Giannikas said.
Last year the Warriors made it to the first round of WPIAL Class 5A playoffs, before being knocked out by Lincoln Park 43-42.
The Warriors will play next at West Mifflin on Jan. 23.
Follow The PT Warrior on Twitter @ptjournalism
Follow Annabelle on Twitter @AnnabelleA_PT