Penn-Trafford girls lose overtime heartbreaker in WPIAL quarterfinals

in Sports

Penn-Trafford girls basketball (23-1) made 14 free throws, had four players score over 10 points each and rebounded from a 9-point deficit in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. 

But, they lacked the consistency and successful close shots that No. 6 Thomas Jefferson (20-4) dealt them. Ultimately, the Jaguars knocked off No. 3 P-T after a close 65-60 battle.

Penn-Trafford junior Hanna Weishaar completes a bounce pass. Weishaar led the Warriors with 16 points in the Class 5A quarterfinals against Thomas Jefferson.

The WPIAL Class 5A teams racked up 35 total fouls in the physical quarterfinal matchup at Norwin High School. 

Key players for both teams fouled out: P-T’s starter Kamryn Pieper in overtime and Thomas Jefferson’s Maggie Spell in the fourth quarter. Spell, a dynamic ball-handler and dominant force in the paint, led the Jaguars with 21 points.

Junior Hanna Weishaar pitched in 14 points for the Warriors. Her corner 3-pointer started the game for P-T, and her free throw in overtime was the only additional point for P-T. Her older brother Jack Weishaar plays for the No. 15 P-T boys basketball team, which has advanced to the quarterfinals after upsetting No. 2 Baldwin this Tuesday.

Thomas Jefferson’s Maggie Spell and Riley McCabe high-five in the first half. The Jaguars defeated P-T 65-60 in overtime on Feb. 19 at Norwin High School.

TJ and P-T were neck-and-neck throughout the game; the lead constantly switched back and forth. Even when the Jaguars swelled to a 9-point lead with under three minutes left in the fourth quarter, P-T hustled to tie it 59-59 and head to overtime.

Oakland Catholic transfer, Kaylee DeAngelo, rose to the occasion for Thomas Jefferson. DeAngelo buried two 3-pointers in the first quarter and totaled 11 points.

Rising stars Izzie Fontana and freshman Raya Johnson both capitalized on valuable playing time. Fontana, a P-T sophomore, scored 11 points and defensively locked down DeAngelo in the second half.

P-T point guard Torrie DeStefano and senior Lauren Marton worked together to rotate the ball around the court. DeStefano, with strong defensive transitions, scored 13 points and Marton, with skillful footwork in the paint, added the team’s highest 16 points. 

Penn-Trafford head coach John Giannikas directs his team in the Class 5A WPIAL quarterfinals. Giannikas has coached in a sling since Feb. 6, when P-T defeated Indiana to win Section 2-5A.

P-T has already advanced to PIAA state playoffs following their first-round win against Plum. Brackets have not been determined yet.

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