Unbeaten Lady Pioneers draw No. 2 seed
West Greene鈥檚 Jersey Wise heads up court after making a steal against Beth-Center during their game at West Greene on Jan. 24. The Lady Pioneers are the No. 2 seed in the WPIAL Class A playoffs and received a first-round bye. (Photo by Rob Burchianti)
West Greene鈥檚 Elizabeth Brudnock sizes up a shot against Beth-Center during their game at West Greene Jan. 24. (Photo by Rob Burchianti)
Beth-Center鈥檚 Julia Ogrodowski (33) looks for an open teammate as West Greene鈥檚 Katie Lampe (1) defends during their game at West Greene Jan. 24. (Photo by Rob Burchianti)
West Greene went through the girls basketball regular season unscathed and was rewarded with a No. 2 seed at the WPIAL playoff pairings meeting last Tuesday.
The Section 2 champion Lady Pioneers (22-0) were slotted second behind defending champion Rochester in Class 1A and received a first-round bye. The Lady Rams defeated West Greene in last year鈥檚 WPIAL final.
West Greene will begin its quest for a third straight trip to the Petersen Events Center today when it will play the winner of Tuesday night鈥檚 game between section rival Avella (16-6) and Propel Andrew Street (8-14). The site and time were not known at press time.
鈥淲e knew Rochester was the defending champion and had one loss to a great (Class 4A) Central Valley team, so we thought they would get and deserved the No. 1 seed and we were hoping to be No. 2,鈥� said Lady Pioneers coach Jordan Watson, whose squad is accustomed to having a long layoff after the regular season.
鈥淭his is the fourth year in a row we鈥檝e had a bye so we鈥檙e used to it. We鈥檒l scrimmage (Class 5A top-seed) Chartiers Valley Saturday morning because we figure we鈥檙e not going to play anybody better than them in the playoffs, then we might try to get another scrimmage on Monday.鈥�
Watson was surprised to see Avella seeded seventh, according to the brackets.
鈥淚 thought they鈥檇 be higher,鈥� Watson said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e a good, senior-oriented team. We鈥檒l be watching their game. Obviously, the quarterfinal game is the most important because then you鈥檙e guaranteed at least two more more games (by qualifying for the PIAA playoffs). We鈥檒l be ready.鈥�
Joining West Greene and Avella in the Class 1A bracket are two other Section 2 teams, Monessen (15-7) and California (12-10), which finished third and fourth. The two were part of a tripleheader at Peters Township along with the Lady Eagles on Tuesday. Coach Janine Vertacnik鈥檚 Lady Greyhounds were seeded eighth and will play No. 9 Aquinas (9-11) at 5 p.m. Coach Chris Niemiec鈥檚 Lady Trojans were seeded 12th and will play Greensburg Central Catholic at 8 p.m.
Last season Monessen suffered a close, heartbreaking loss in its section finale to Mapletown that left it out of the playoffs, but a year later the Lady Greyhounds are in the postseason and playing well in Vertacnik鈥檚 second year as coach.
鈥淟ast year there were tears of sadness, but this year on senior night there were tears of joy, they鈥檙e so excited to be in the playoffs,鈥� said Vertacnik, who lauded her team for its dedication over the past year, most notably seniors Qitarah Hardison and Zykavia Hairston. 鈥淭hey proved what a little hard work can do. I think they realized the importance of playing in the offseason and that鈥檚 something you have to do if you鈥檙e really serious about basketball.
鈥淚鈥檓 telling them less and less this year. They鈥檙e adapting and doing plays on their own now where last year I had to hand feed them a lot. They鈥檙e confident now and really believe they can play with anybody, and that鈥檚 half the battle.鈥�