PITTSBURGH — The highest two groups in Class 5A Women’ basketball didn’t face one another all season till when it mattered essentially the most in March. No. 1 South Fayette boasted the most effective protection within the classification whereas No. 2  Oakland Catholic owned the highest offense as the 2 squads took heart stage on the Pete.

Led by championship expertise from a 12 months in the past, South Fayette (24-2) pulled away from the Oakland Catholic Eagles (22-4) to say the 5A title for the second consecutive season, 64-49.

With a second championship title, it sends the proficient senior class off on a excessive notice within the WPIAL.

“It means loads, particularly as a result of we’re seniors and we actually needed to get it,” Rachel Black mentioned. 

As anticipated, the Lions noticed massive contributions from Maddie Webber and Ava Leroux. The 2 teammates have performed almost their who lives collectively as their affect was felt towards Oakland Catholic with Leroux scoring 17 and Webber pouring in 16.

“Experiencing one thing like that is actually necessary to us and makes us stronger,” Webber mentioned.

Making a run again to the Pete for the second straight 12 months modified how staff’s approached South Fayette, which altered the Lions’ mentality.

“We’ve been the hunted all 12 months this 12 months,” South Fayette head coach Bryan Bennett mentioned. “We discovered in December that there’s no nights off anymore and there’s a goal on our again. We’re blessed to be right here for 2 consecutive years.”

Oakland Catholic tried to trace down the Lions and spoil a repeat evening. The sport began as a back-and-forth scoring affair. Neither staff settled into the motive force seat, however Oakland Catholic obtained a push from its star, senior Alexa Washington. 

Washington pushed the tempo of play within the first half for the Eagles as she totaled 16 factors. The North Florida commit showcased her abilities together with a clean eurostep and end which tied the sport earlier than the Eagles took the eventual lead.

“I believe us attending to the basket was laborious for [South Fayette] to protect. We now have a fast first step on our staff,” Washington mentioned.

As each groups saved it tight, South Fayette needed to combat by some foul hassle with its high participant. Late within the first quarter, Maddie Webber picked up her second foul and spent a majority of the second quarter on the bench.

“We felt that if we may trip out and preserve the sport shut it was higher to maintain her on the bench and forestall a 3rd foul,” Bennett mentioned. “Thankfully we have now loads of proficient children that stepped up within the second quarter that saved the sport shut. I do know we have been down two on the half, however that was the absolute best final result we may have.”

With Webber trying on from the sidelines, each Ava Leroux and Ryan Oldaker, who got here off the bench for Webber, dropped 4 factors every for the Lions earlier than the quarters’ finish.

“I belief my teammates a lot,” Webber mentioned. “I do know they’re nice gamers, nevertheless it was laborious watching it since you need to be on the court docket.”

“I knew that Maddie was an enormous contributor to the sport,” Leroux added. “I knew we needed to step up as a staff, so I attempted to do the most effective I may. Do what I may management, field out, get rebounds and do the little issues to contribute.”

Trailing by two factors, South Fayette entered the second half and began to grab momentum with Webber again on the ground. The Lions outscored the Eagles 16-8 within the third quarter.

“I instructed them at halftime that I didn’t assume we performed very nicely within the first half,” Bennett mentioned. “Oakland took us out of it and obtained us a bit bit rattled. At halftime, we regrouped and refocused and we performed our recreation within the second half.”

Because the power shifted to the Lions, additionally they fed off of an impressive recreation cleansing up the glass. South Fayetter managed the board, out-rebounding Oakland Catholic 39-18. Leroux registered 13 of these rebounds on the way in which to her double-double effort.

For Oakland Catholic, the scale and athleticism of Leroux (6-foot-3) and Webber (5-foot-11) turned an excessive amount of to deal with.

“It was positively laborious,” Oakland Catholic senior Jill Gallo, who added 10 rebounds herself, mentioned. “I really feel like I ought to’ve been anticipating their fakes. I really feel like general we’re a stronger staff than them bodily, they’re simply actually quick.” 

All through the season, South Fayette has relied on its rebounding and protection – permitting 37 factors per recreation – and because the Lions pulled away, the protection shut the door.

Whatever the final result, Eagles’ coach Eddie Benton, Jr. was pleased with his staff’s accomplishments.

“We have been 22-3 for a cause,” Benton Jr. mentioned. “We consider in every part that we do and we have been simply apprehensive about us being the most effective staff we could possibly be and immediately simply wasn’t sufficient. There’s going to be many extra occasions in our life when it’s not sufficient, and people are the teachings these younger girls get to study.”

Together with Washington’s efficiency, Rachel Haver poured in 15 of her personal. Each Helena Hill and London Creach added seven. 

On the South Fayette aspect, Lainey Yeter dropped in 12. Junior Erica Corridor scored eight with freshman Ryan Oldaker including seven.