Penn-Trafford notebook: Warriors fall in girls basketball playoffs

By: Paul Schofield
Sunday, March 7, 2021 | 10:01 AM

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Offensive woes late in the season ended the Penn-Trafford girls basketball team’s promising season.

The Warriors dropped their WPIAL Class 6A first-round playoff game, 46-43, to Baldwin.

Baldwin senior Meghan Dryburgh scored 18 points and grabbed 20 rebounds to lead the ninth-seeded Highlanders

The Highlanders (9-7) paired Dryburgh’s play with a strong defensive effort in the fourth quarter to hold Penn-Trafford to four points and hand the Lady Warriors (10-7) their fifth first-round defeat in six years.

Baldwin finally took control for good early in the fourth with an 8-0 run.

Penn-Trafford senior Allie Prady, who had 16 points to lead the Warriors, hit a 3-pointer to make it 44-42 with 1:07 remaining.

The Warriors appeared to tie the score when junior guard Maura Suman drove in for a layup and was fouled with 38 seconds left.

But a charging foul took away the basket. One official said good basket. Another overturned the call and whistled a charge.

Instead of a three-point play that would have given the Warriors a one-point lead, they gave the ball back.

“I am not going to say it came down to one call,” Penn-Trafford coach John Giannikas said. “We had other chances to score and didn’t take advantage. The refs are doing the best they can.”

Penn-Trafford lost four straight to close the season as the offense went quiet for large stretches.

Prady had four 3-pointers, but she and freshman Olivia Pepple, who scored 14, dealt with face-guarding defense, led by sophomore Bri Swailes.

“In the fourth quarter, we had some good looks. We just didn’t make them,” Giannikas said. “Our defense kept us in the game. I am proud of the kids. They can look each other in the eye and know they gave everything they had tonight. I wouldn’t want to coach a different group of girls.”

Streak ends at 6

The Penn-Trafford hockey team ended a six-game losing streak March 2 with a 3-0 victory against West Allegheny.

The Warriors got goals from Jack McKenzie, Alex Sciullo and Bennett Dupilka. Carter Scholze added two assists.

Goaltender Jack Kerrigan recorded a shutout and made 17 saves.

The losing streak extended to six games on March 1 with an 8-4 loss to Thomas Jefferson.

The Jaguars broke opened a close game by outscoring the Warriors 4-1 in the third period.

Penn-Trafford got goals from Alex Sciullo, Xavier Solomon, Josh Goldberg and Ryan Crombie. Scholze added two assists.

Penn-Trafford (7-5-2) remains one point behind Franklin Regional for second place on the PIHL Class 2A Southeast Division.

Penn-Trafford concludes the regular season with four road games including two against division rivals Hempfield (Thursday) and Latrobe (Monday).

Hohman’s quest continues

Penn-Trafford junior Troy Hohman continued his quest for a PIAA title with a second-place finish at the Class AAA WPIAL/PIAA Southwest Regional at Canon-McMillan Feb. 27.

Hohman finished second to friend and rival Vinny Kilkeary of Latrobe.

Hohman competed in the PIAA West Super Region March 6 at Altoona. The PIAA championships are March 13 at Hershey.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

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