Peters Township boys fell behind 9-0 in the first four minutes and couldn’t get closer than five the rest of the way, losing to Chartiers Valley in the WPIAL 5A championship game. The Indians hurt themselves, missing 15-of-22 foul shots that could have changed the complexion of the game. Chartiers Valley used a stifling defense to win its 7th WPIAL boys championship, not allowing consecutive scored by the Indians until early in the fourth quarter.
Friday, Bri Morreale buried a wide-open three-pointer with a minute to play as Peters Township rallied from 11 points down to knock off #1 South Fayette and win the WPIAL 5A girls championship. Two minutes earlier, Natalie Wetzel had given the Indians their first lead since the first quarter. South Fayette, trying to win its fourth straight WPIAL title, tied with game on a layup by Cierra Rexrode with 90 seconds left in regulation. Peters got the ball into the hands of Wetzel at the far side of the lane, drawing lots of attention. She found Morreale in the right corner for the game-winning bucket, clanking it home off the rim. South Fayette managed just three points in the final quarter after building a 28-17 lead early in the third. Wetzel led Peters Township with 13 points. Haylie Lamonde had game honors with 19, but just three after hitting a 55-foot buzzer beater to end the first half. Click for WPIAL Brackets
The PIAA playoffs will start Friday, March 7 with brackets due out Sunday afternoon. Peters Township and Chartiers-Houston will send both boys and girls to the state tournaments. They’ll be joined by the Canon-McMillan and Fort Cherry girls.
WPIAL Basketball Championships at Petersen Events Center, University of Pittsburgh
Friday, Feb. 28
Girls 5A #2 Peters Township 40, #1 South Fayette 36
Saturday, Mar. 1
Boys 5A #4 Chartiers Valley 73, #6 Peters Township 66