The next step: EF girls, Lady Pioneers, Rams, Greyhounds try to refocus for PIAA playoffs
Rob Burchianti | Herald-Standard
Elizabeth Forward’s Julia Jenkins (right) defends against North Catholic’s Emma Pospisil during their WPIAL Class AAAA semifinal playoff game at North Allegheny on Feb. 25. The Lady Warriors open PIAA play 4:30 p.m. Saturday against Villa Maria at Edinboro University.
Celeste Van Kirk
Monessen’s Devin Whitlock makes a lay up against Vincentian Academy’s Angelo Reeves in their WPIAL Class A semifinal playoff game at the Peters Township High School. The Greyhounds open PIAA play with a 6:30 p.m. game on Friday against Jamestown at Edinboro University.
Adam Brewer
Ringgold’s Luke Wyvratt sets up in the low post against New Castle’s Michael Wells (3) during their WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinal game at North Allegheny on Feb. 23. The Rams open PIAA play with a long trip to Central Dauphin East in Harrisburg on Friday for a 6:30 p.m. first-round game against Bishop McDevitt.
Celeste Van Kirk
West Greene’s trio of 1,000-point scorers Kaitlyn Rizor (10), Madison Lampe (21) and McKenna Lampe fight back tears after accepting their runner-up trophy and silver medals after losing to Rochester, 62-56, last Friday in the WPIAL Class A girls championship final at the Petersen Events Center. The Lady Pioneers open PIAA play Saturday when they meet Kennedy Catholic at Canon-McMillan at 3 p.m. (Photo by Celeste Van Kirk)
Rob Burchianti | Herald-Standard
Elizabeth Forward’s Julia Jenkins shoots a 3-pointer against North Catholic during their WPIAL Class AAAA semifinal playoff game at North Allegheny on Feb. 25. Jenkins hit five 3-pointers for 15 points but the Lady Warriors lost, 64-50. EF opens PIAA play 4:30 p.m. Saturday against Villa Maria at Edinboro University.
Elizabeth Forward coach Krystal Gibbs has already been through it once so she knows it won’t be easy.
It always seems to be difficult for WPIAL basketball playoff teams to refocus and be ready for the PIAA tournament that follows.
More than any other district, winning the WPIAL seems to mean more to most teams than the state postseason.
“It really does,” said Gibbs, who guided the Lady Warriors into the Class AAAA semifinals for the second time this season.
That automatically qualified EF for the PIAA postseason, just as it did four years ago. Gibbs’ 2015 squad suffered a close 66-63 loss to South Fayette in the WPIAL semifinals, then lost in the first round of the PIAA tournament to Mercyhurst Prep, 53-47.
This year Elizabeth Forward (17-8) battled hard but fell to eventual champion North Catholic, 64-50, in the semifinals. Now the Lady Warriors must prepare for District 10 champion Villa Maria (20-3) in the state tournament at Edinboro University on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
Also entering the state playoffs will be Monessen boys in Class A, Ringgold boys in Class AAAA and West Greene girls in Class A.
The Greyhounds (15-9) also play at Edinboro University, but on Friday. They will meet District 10 champion Jamestown (12-11) at 6:30 p.m. The Rams (14-9) have the longest trip of the group as they will face District 3 champion Bishop McDevitt (22-3) at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Central Dauphin East, which is located in Harrisburg. The Lady Pioneers, who have lost in the first round of the PIAA playoffs the past two years, will look to break that drought when they play District 10 champion Kennedy Catholic 3 p.m. Friday at Canon-McMillan.
“I think it’s going to be tough to get them refocused, but we are lucky enough to have the opportunity to not be done today,” Gibbs said following the loss to the Trojanettes “Hopefully, I can play on that a little bit more where like now we’ll really be done, like you have to win to keep going.”
EF senior Julia Jenkins, who poured in five 3-pointers for 15 points against North Catholic, seemed to be ready for the next step in the postseason.
“That was a tough loss but it’s behind us now,” Jenkins said. “We have to look forward to the states. It’s a new challenge for us and I know that we’re going to work even harder and play like we usually do.”
This will be the first trip into the PIAA postseason for all the players on EF’s current roster, and Jenkins feels her team earned its place in the WPIAL final four and the subsequent state berth.
“We worked extremely hard to get where we are today,” Jenkins said. “Staying after practice, shooting before practice, working hard, giving 110 percent every practice.
“That’s what it took to get here.”
Now that they are there, the Lady Warriors, along with the Lady Pioneers, Greyhounds and Rams, will look to extend their stay this weekend.