PIAA girls basketball playoffs: North Catholic marches on with win over Harbor Creek
OIL CITY — Closing out a game is one thing, but equating that to what North Catholic girls basketball turned in Wednesday night would be a huge understatement.
Leading District 10 champ Harbor Creek by nine points entering the fourth quarter, the Trojanettes dropped a 16-1 run to knock out the Huskies via a 57-33 decision in a PIAA Class 4A second-round playoff at Oil City High School.
Only Elise Benim’s free throw with 2:11 left in the game kept Harbor Creek from being shut out in the period.
“It all started with Sarah Loughry’s defense against (Huskies’ Brooke Przybylski, 1,500-plus career points), but she was also able to play the gaps and get her hands on passes from other players,” North coach Molly Rottmann said. “And I think we started getting better looks on the offensive end.”
Brady Wehner, Sam Weir and Loughry each hit a trey to add to North’s onslaught and the Huskies struggled just holding onto the ball with seven turnovers in the final quarter. Their first shot attempt in the period did not come until 2:50 was left on the clock.
“Turnovers were a turning point,” Harbor Creek coach Mark Corey said. “We hang on to a few of those, maybe we make a few baskets to keep it closer.”
Loughry posted a triple-double of 12 points, 10 assists and 10 steals. Wehner scored a game-high 18 points.
Przybylski paced the Huskies with 11 points, scoring just three in the second half.
“We knew their offense runs through her and they like to set screens, a lot of screens,” Rottmann said. “We focused on that and communicating in practice.”
The Huskies remained within striking distance until North’s dominating fourth quarter, but their last lead came early in the first period.
The Trojanettes (24-4) led 16-10 after eight minutes and 25-17 at halftime. North made its first six attempts from the field in the third quarter, but the Huskies managed to hang around, due in part to three treys in the period.
While Corey did not send in any reserves until late in the fourth quarter, North’s Harmony Jones and Kate Vislosky both saw early action and combined to score 11 points.
“They both did a great job,” Rottmann said. “They have good instincts and have made a lot of hustle plays for us this season, diving for loose balls.
“I think we’re hitting our stride.”
North advances to Saturday’s quarterfinal round against the winner of the Clearfield/Blackhawk matchup.
Harbor Creek (22-5) posted the best record in Corey’s 14 years with the team.
HARBOR CREEK 33
Brooke Przybylski 4 0-0 11, Arianna Denning 4 1-2 9, Alexis Janke 0 0-0 0,
Talon King 3 0-0 8, Elise Benim 2 1-2 5, Bailey Janukites 0 0-0 0, Jocelynn Bissell 0 0-0 0, Sarah Mirth 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 2-4 33.
NORTH CATHOLIC 57
Brady Wehner 7 1-2 18, Sam Weir 3 2-2 9, Sarah Loughry 5 0-0 12, Lauren Reitz 3 1-2 7, Harmony Jones 2 1-2 5, Kate Vislosky 3 0-0 6, Anna Lazzara 0 0-0 0, Emma Shoemaker 0 0-0 0, Lyndsay Luff 0 0-0 0, Jolene Condle 0 0-0 0, Maggie Tatar 0 0-0 0, Alexa Stolz 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23 5-8 57.
Harbor Creek 10 7 15 1 — 33
North Catholic 16 9 16 16 — 57
3-point goals: Harbor Creek 5 ( Przybylski 3, King 2); North Catholic 6 (Wehner 3, Loughry 2, Weir).
Saturday: PIAA Class 4A quarterfinal, TBD
