McKeesport girls rout Penn-Trafford to stay unbeaten since coaching change
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Monday, February 5, 2024 | 9:48 PM
McKeesport’s Madison Hertzler (4) celebrates with Rachael Manfredo after scoring during their game against Penn-Trafford on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Harrison City.
McKeesport’s Rachael Manfredo scores past Penn-Trafford’s Lauren Marton on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Harrison City.
Penn-Trafford’s Olivia Pepple drives to the basket to score between McKeesport’s Rachael Manfredo (20) and Madison Miller during their game on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Harrison City.
McKeesport’s Kaylee Charles battles Penn-Trafford’s Lauren Marton for a rebound on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Harrison City.
Penn-Trafford’s Kamryn Pieper battles McKeesport’s Rachael Manfredo for possession on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Harrison City.
McKeesport’s Madison Hertzler shoots a 3-pointer against Penn-Trafford on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Harrison City.
McKeesport’s Madison Hertzler celebrates a 3-pointer in front of the Tigers bench during a game against Penn-Trafford on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Harrison City.
McKeesport coach Matt Miller watches from the bench suring a game against Penn-Trafford on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Harrison City.
McKeesport’s Brooke Evans scores past Penn-Trafford’s Olivia Pepple during their game on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Harrison City.
McKeesport’s Madison Miller shoots a 3-pointer against Penn-Trafford on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Harrison City.
McKeesport’s Savannah Blosser steals the ball from Penn-Trafford’s Lauren Marton during their game on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Harrison City.
Penn-Trafford’s Olivia Pepple scores past McKeesport’s Rachael Manfredo during their game on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Harrison City.
McKeesport’s Kaylee Charles scores against Penn-Trafford on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Harrison City.
McKeesport’s Brooke Evans scores against Penn-Trafford on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Harrison City.
Penn-Trafford’s Olivia Pepple works past McKeesport’s Madison Miller during their game on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Harrison City.
McKeesport’s Kaylee Charles battles Penn-Trafford’s Lauren Marton for a rebound on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Harrison City.
McKeesport’s Madison Hertzler shoots a 3-pointer against Penn-Trafford on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Harrison City.
McKeesport’s Madison Hertzler celebrates a 3-pointer in front of the Tigers bench during a game against Penn-Trafford on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Harrison City.
A coaching change has not deterred the McKeesport girls basketball team from its ultimate goal.
“We want to win a championship — that comes first,” senior 6-foot forward Rachael Manfredo said Monday night after the No. 2-ranked Tigers had their way with Penn-Trafford, 64-37, in a Section 3-5A game in Harrison City.
This surely did not look like a team in turmoil.
Yes, these Tigers are still very much a factor in 5A. And if they keep playing like this, the players will be making the headlines, not the coaches.
McKeesport (17-2, 9-1), second in the section behind No. 1 Oakland Catholic (20-0, 11-0) — a team they play Thursday — has won six in a row and has not lost since third-year head coach Amy Gumbert resigned last month amidst internal strife over a suspended player and six players reportedly walking out on the team.
Gumbert (59-14), who played on McKeesport’s 1998 WPIAL title team with Swin Cash, guided the team to the WPIAL semifinals in her first two seasons.
Acting coach Matt Miller, the football coach at McKeesport, took over the team, which is 4-0 since, and the normal rotation is back intact.
“We still support coach Amy, but we have all been here and playing together and we have our goals,” Manfredo said. “We were still going to be here as a team as we’re going to stick together.”
A packed-in 2-3 zone that showcased the team’s size and some hot 3-point shooting allowed McKeesport to run out to a 15-0 lead that kept increasing each quarter against the Warriors (13-7, 6-5), who had won six of seven and came in with a 9-1 record at home this season.
It was a 30-point game in the fourth.
“Our girls work hard running that zone, and they keep getting better at it,” Miller said. “We’ve been (scoring) in the 60s in the last couple games, which is good. Our girls are driven. They are happy to be out there on the court. It’s their safe haven.”
Five girls made at least one 3 for the Tigers, with seniors Maddie Hertzler and Maddie Miller connecting on 3 apiece.
The team made nine 3s.
Manfredo led the scoring with 13 points, 5-9 senior Brooke Evans added 12, Miller 11 and Hertzler and 5-10 senior Kaylee Charles nine apiece.
“We played fantastic defense,” Manfredo said. “Our zone is so tough for teams because of our wingspan.”
Senior Olivia Pepple did the heavy lifting for third-place Penn-Trafford, scoring 19 points, including the team’s first 11. She was presented a ball before the game to commemorate her 1,000 career points.
“We put ourselves in such a hole,” Penn-Trafford coach John Giannikas said. “We had a hard time coming out of it. There were careless mistakes, and (McKeesport) made some shots. I thought we’d be better than we showed tonight.”
Penn-Trafford was in trouble early. It trailed 21-6 after the first quarter and fell behind 33-16 at the half despite a closer second quarter.
A 14-4 run by the Tigers in the third, capped by a Miller 3, made it 49-22.
“We have some confident shooters and some smart girls,” Matt Miller said. “We need to shoot it like that.”
Sophomore Olivia Weishaar and junior Kam Pieper made back-to-back 3s for the Warriors’ longest scoring run (6-0), but that only cut it to 51-30.
Penn-Trafford was held to one field goal in the fourth. It was 62-32 on Manfredo’s 3 with 4 minutes, 30 seconds remaining.
“We didn’t move well enough (against the zone),” Giannikas said. “We turned it over. We didn’t create good passing angles, and we were passing up shots. The first time we played them, it was single digits going into the fourth.
“This is a big week for us because we want momentum heading into the playoffs.”
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: McKeesport, Penn-Trafford
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