Penn-Trafford girls claim Valentine’s Day victory over Plum 63-46

in Sports

Penn-Trafford girls basketball had never experienced a heartbreaking loss (or any loss this season), and this Valentine’s Day proved no different.
Penn-Trafford’s Bella Klobucar runs back to play defense against Plum. Klobucar led the Warriors with 14 points, including four 3-pointers.

Their love for winning increased even more– the No. 3 Warriors (23-0) continued their undefeated streak, defeating the No. 14 Plum Mustangs (10-13) in the first round of WPIAL Class 5A Playoffs this Friday. 

“We’re having fun on Valentine’s Day,” said senior Bella Klobucar, who led P-T with 14 points. “I love sharing love on the court and with my teammates.”

Despite the Warriors experiencing slow beginnings and endings (only scoring 5 points in the fourth quarter), their dominating hot streaks in the middle and 90 percent free throw accuracy carried them to a 63-46 victory.

Both teams struggled to find the basket at the start. Plum only led 4-2 almost 5 minutes into the first. The Mustangs continued to slowly push the lead, but Klobucar quickly turned the Warriors around. She buried a 3-pointer, encouraging a 12-10 lead by the Warriors at the end of the first quarter. Plum never saw the lead again.

Junior Torrie DeStefano dribbles against Plum in the second half of Class 5A WPIAL Playoffs on Feb. 14. DeStefano scored 12 points for the Warriors, including six made free throws.

The Warriors erupted with a 10-0 run to start the second quarter. Klobucar sank two more 3-pointers, followed by junior Torrie DeStefano’s layup and made free throw.

P-T led 38-24 at halftime after scoring 26 points in the second quarter. 

“It felt really good…It just kind of came to me,” Klobucar said in response to her four 3-pointers throughout the night. 

P-T stayed well ahead of the Mustangs for the rest of the game.

Senior Lauren Marton scored the first points of the second half with a crowd-roaring “and 1.” The Warriors added 20 points during the third quarter, making all four free throws and expanding their lead to 58-35. 

Klobucar hit another 3-pointer in the fourth and the Warriors closed out the game 63-46.

Kamryn Piper and DeStefano both added 12 points for the Warriors. DeStefano went 6-6 on free throws.

P-T advances to face No. 6 seed Thomas Jefferson (19-4) in the quarterfinal round of Class 5A WPIAL playoffs on Wednesday.

“We have to lock in, we have to watch a lot of film, find the tendencies of each player and go from there,” Klobucar said. “We hope to move on from Thomas Jefferson.”

Penn-Trafford head coach John Giannikas high-fives senior Kamryn Pieper during a break. Giannikas was out due to surgery for the Warrior’s last game but has recovered enough to coach in a sling for playoffs.

Fun fact: The Warriors have scored exactly 63 points in four of their last five games

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