The basketball hoops at Bethel Park High School appeared to be standard size Wednesday, but when Peters Township plays a game, the Indians see things differently.
“The hoop looks really big out there for all of us right now,” junior star Jack Dunbar said.
Big hoops lead to big wins, and the latest one was the Indians’ biggest in more than a decade.
Dunbar scored 21 points and Peters Township shot a scorching 66% from the field on its way to a 68-60 win against South Fayette in a WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinal.
The win was the 15th in a row for No. 1 Peters Township (21-3), which advanced to the semifinals for the first time since it won its only title in 2009. The Indians will take on No. 4 Gateway (17-5) on Saturday. It has been quite the ascent for a Peters Township program that went a combined 14-23 the previous two seasons.
“None of our kids have ever really been on a journey like this through the playoffs, so they’re excited,” third-year coach Joe Urmann said. “We’re playing hard and things are clicking, so it’s definitely a good time for us.”
Against No. 8 South Fayette (14-10), Peters Township showed off its balance, depth and, more than anything, its ability to put the ball in the basket. The Indians entered the night averaging 73.8 points a game, highest of any team in the WPIAL’s largest two classes. They actually fell short of that total Wednesday, but when your shooting percentage matches Mario Lemieux’s jersey number, you know you’ve had a good night. The Indians finished 26 of 39 from the field, connected on seven 3-pointers, and were 9 of 10 from the free-throw line.
“We just kept our spacing,” Dunbar said. “We were able to drive and kick and that’s just what we do. It’s a drive and kick offense. We were able to keep our spacing and get going.”
Nine players saw action for Peters Township, which subs liberally and is able to create a lot of offense from its defensive pressure. Its press didn’t force South Fayette into many turnovers, but when Peters Township was on offense, it often ended with a point-blank shot at the basket. In addition to Dunbar’s 21 points, Brendan McCullough added 17, Mickey Vaccarello 12 and Nate Miller 10.
“We have some guys who can really fill it up,” Urmann said. “We have some good balance, as well. I know we have some guys who put it in the hoop more than others. Our M.O. and my M.O. is to have a balanced scoring attack. And be hard to guard at multiple positions.”
Elijah Hill scored a game-high 27 points for South Fayette and Michael Plasko chipped in 15. The Lions, who were aiming to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2011, never led. They got within 65-60 following Noah Knox’s basket with 57 seconds left, but McCullough went 3 of 4 from the line down the stretch to salt the game away.
“We fought. We almost got it to that point that would make them nervous, but they kept that little cushion,” said South Fayette coach Dave Mislan, whose team slipped past Shaler in the first round courtesy of a Hill basket in the final seconds. The Lions, who fell to Peters Township, 71-70, in December, had won six in a row.
Peters Township started its pinpoint shooting early and never let up. The Indians were 9 of 11 from the field in the opening quarter and 14 of 22 in the first half when they took a 34-28 lead into the locker room.
“We went into the half feeling pretty good,” Mislan said. “We were down six points. We’ve been there a million times. But we didn’t like them having 34. They shot it so well that we figured it had to come back. We did everything we could to slow them down. Their guards are really good and really physically strong. That was kind of our weakness, and they executed.”
Dunbar, a 6-foot-2 forward averaging 20 points a game, was terrific. Early, it looked as if he could have a monster night, scoring Peters Township’s first 10 points. He cooled off a little after that, but he was still masterful with his ability to score inside and out. He knocked down four 3-pointers, with many of his other baskets coming at the rim.
“Jack’s obviously the shotmaker,” Urmann said. “He can drive it. He can shoot it. He just does things. He makes me really smart with the plays he makes. He’s a heck of a player.”
One of those “making me look smart” moments came on a key sequence late in the third quarter after South Fayette had drawn within 47-42. But Dunbar knocked down a 3-pointer and was fouled. He finished the four-point play to push the Indians’ advantage to nine.
“It was really big,” Urmann said. “And truth be told, I was really close to calling a timeout on that possession. I’m really glad I didn’t. Jack bailed me out with an and-1 three.”
Vaccarello is a promising 6-2 sophomore forward who scored his 12 points off the bench. Urmann said it was a coming-out party for him.
Peters Township is now a win away from earning an opportunity to “party at the Pete.” If the Indians continue to shoot like they did Wednesday and like they have for most of the season, it’s easy to imagine the Indians doing just that.
“It feels really good,” Dunbar said. “We’ve worked for this all season long and we’re just happy to be there. We’re ready to keep going, though.”
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.