OLSH comes up just short in bid for first-ever PIAA title appearance, falls to River Valley 44-38

OLSH's Emma Ficorilli (50) is consoled by a fellow teammate after OLSH falls to River Valley 44-38 in the PIAA 3A Semifinals game Monday night at Kiski Area High School in Leechburg, PA.
OLSH's Emma Ficorilli (50) is consoled by a fellow teammate after OLSH falls to River Valley 44-38 in the PIAA 3A Semifinals game Monday night at Kiski Area High School in Leechburg, PA.

LEECHBURG — The Our Lady of Sacred Heart girls' basketball team fell to River Valley in the semifinals of the PIAA Class 3A State Playoffs on Monday night, 44-38. It was the first ever appearance for the OLSH girls’ basketball team in the PIAA semifinals.

“I’ve been a part of this program for four years,” said OLSH senior Kara Bridge on being a part of the first team to make the PIAA semifinals. “I’ve been on varsity the whole time and it’s really special to be a main role in accomplishing such an accomplishment for the whole OLSH basketball program.”

OLSH's Alyssa Minton (12) knocks the ball away from River Valley's Emilee Staats (11) while attempting to gain control of a rebound during the second half of the PIAA 3A Semifinals game Monday night at Kiski Area High School in Leechburg, PA.
OLSH's Alyssa Minton (12) knocks the ball away from River Valley's Emilee Staats (11) while attempting to gain control of a rebound during the second half of the PIAA 3A Semifinals game Monday night at Kiski Area High School in Leechburg, PA.

Opening up the game, OLSH won the tip and immediately scored on a basket by senior Kyleigh Nagy, but it was tied up by River Valley senior Hannah Artley a minute and a half later. Nagy then found Bridge inside to retake the lead, but that was short lived as River Valley senior Abby Pynos found sophomore Ava Persichetti down low for River Valley.

Overall there wasn’t much scoring in the next three minutes of first quarter, with foul shots making up majority of the points scored in that span and a three-pointer by River Valley junior Rylee Kitner being the difference until under a minute left to go in the first quarter. A 4-0 run though in the quarter’s final minute highlighted by steals from Bridge and Nagy tied things up at 9-9 heading into the second quarter.

OLSH's Kara Bridge (3) goes for a layup during the first half of the PIAA 3A Semifinals game against River Valley Monday night at Kiski Area High School in Leechburg, PA.
OLSH's Kara Bridge (3) goes for a layup during the first half of the PIAA 3A Semifinals game against River Valley Monday night at Kiski Area High School in Leechburg, PA.

OLSH senior Mia Grisafi found Nagy for the second quarter’s first basket, but a 6-0 run from River Valley, highlighted by four points from Kitner gave them a 15-12 lead and forced a timeout from OLSH with 5:15 left in the first half. Both team’s defenses cracked down post timeout, preventing any scoring for the game’s next two minutes.

That broke when Bridge snagged two rebounds and was fouled on a put back attempt when she hit the second foul shot. After a River Valley jumper, Bridge was able to drive to the hoop and also get fouled on the basket making a three-point play and cutting the lead to one at 17-16. Fouls shots and a basket by Bridge ended the half with River Valley leading 20-19 over OLSH with Bridge and Nagy combining for 17 of their team’s 19 points.

OLSH's Kyleigh Nagy (5) drives around River Valley's Ava Persichetti (4) during the first half of the PIAA 3A Semifinals game Monday night at Kiski Area High School in Leechburg, PA.
OLSH's Kyleigh Nagy (5) drives around River Valley's Ava Persichetti (4) during the first half of the PIAA 3A Semifinals game Monday night at Kiski Area High School in Leechburg, PA.

“I think I always give 110% in the game,” said Bridge on her performance. “Especially now, it’s win or go home. If you go home tired at the end of the game, you’re playing it right. I think everyone on the team plays 110%.”

Nagy found Grisafi to start the scoring of the second half, but it was immediately followed by a basket from Persichetti. A three-ball by OLSH’s Emma Ficorilli gave the Chargers a slight lead at 24-22, which was also tied for their largest lead of the game to that point. River Valley took the lead right back, but a three-ball from Grisafi gave it back to OLSH.

OLSH's Mia Grisafi (21) shoots a three point shot after gaining distance from Rover Valley's Ava Persichetti (4) during the first half of the PIAA 3A Semifinals game Monday night at Kiski Area High School in Leechburg, PA.
OLSH's Mia Grisafi (21) shoots a three point shot after gaining distance from Rover Valley's Ava Persichetti (4) during the first half of the PIAA 3A Semifinals game Monday night at Kiski Area High School in Leechburg, PA.

Once again, that small lead was tied up but Grisafi hit another three-pointer to give them their largest lead of the game at 30-27. That was followed by a steal-and-score from Persichetti, but Grisafi found Nagy in the corner for a three-pointer that extended their lead slightly again before it was dropped once more to a point by a Persichetti three. At the end of the third quarter, OLSH led 33-32.

Perschetti crossed the 20-point mark when she connected on an and-one play to start the final quarter but another OLSH three-pointer gave them the lead back. River Valley took it back though, as the two teams continued to trade leads until a three-pointer by junior Emilee Staats forced an OLSH timeout with a River Valley 41-36 lead.

OLSH was forced to start fouling at that point, but remained in the game with River Valley never extending their lead beyond seven. Regardless, OLSH couldn’t complete the comeback and fell to River Valley 44-38.

OLSH's Claudia Ierullo (22) is consoled by McKinley Walsh (2) after OLSH falls to River Valley 44-38 in the PIAA 3A Semifinals game Monday night at Kiski Area High School in Leechburg, PA.
OLSH's Claudia Ierullo (22) is consoled by McKinley Walsh (2) after OLSH falls to River Valley 44-38 in the PIAA 3A Semifinals game Monday night at Kiski Area High School in Leechburg, PA.

“I’m at a loss for words,” said Perscihetti. “Congrats to OLSH for making it this far, obviously a heartbreaker for them. They gave us the greatest challenge and we knew we couldn’t look past this game even though it’s really hard because we’re going to Hershey.

“I’m so thankful for this team and all we’ve done leading up to this,” Perschetti added. “Couldn’t have done it with anyone else and thank God, we made it. We did it.”

River Valley moves on to play Dunmore in the PIAA 3A Girls’ Basketball Championship this weekend. It will be the first championship appearance in the history of the program, as neither of the two school districts in Blairsville and Saltsburg that combined to form River Valley made one previously.

OLSH's Claudia Ierullo (22) shoots a three point shot while being guarded by River Valley's Emilee Staats (11) during the second half of the PIAA 3A Semifinals game Monday night at Kiski Area High School in Leechburg, PA.
OLSH's Claudia Ierullo (22) shoots a three point shot while being guarded by River Valley's Emilee Staats (11) during the second half of the PIAA 3A Semifinals game Monday night at Kiski Area High School in Leechburg, PA.

“Proud of the girls,” said River Valley head coach Richard Brown. “Just resilient… We didn’t panic, I probably yelled more than they did. It was just a matter of relaxing, knowing who we had.”

While being interviewed postgame by the media, OLSH head coach Don Eckerle didn’t feel well, collapsed and was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: OLSH comes up just short in bid for first-ever PIAA title appearance, falls to River Valley 44-38