“I can’t thank them enough,” he says. “They bring a winning
desire and strong work ethic to practice every day. Their example
certainly rubs off on our team.”
Kendall says that the team’s focus on a collection of statistics
that they branded “the standard” motivates the team to excel.
The girls review their statistics following each game, and then
celebrate when they achieve the standard.
“We focus on achieving the standard, more than the score.
During the games, our coaching staff is always reminding the
team to play to the standard, not to the scoreboard,” he explains.
“I think that the pursuit of the standard, instead of the pursuit of
an undefeated season, has kept us motivated.”
During the season, the girls also took time off the court to
donate to charity by sewing dresses for girls in third-world
countries. For some of the girls, it was the first time they’d ever
used a sewing machine—or even a clothes iron.
“Living in Peters Township, we are quite fortunate,” says
Kendall. “It was heartwarming to see the girls take time out of
their busy lives to learn a new skill and apply it for the good of
less fortunate girls around the world. They made me very proud,
and the girls got to see firsthand what a group of people can
accomplish when they set out to do good things.”
Mills, who will attend Case Western Reserve University next
year, said she was thankful that her team had the opportunity
for redemption, after losing to North Allegheny in last year’s
WPIAL game.
“I am so happy we were able to get there [to WPIALs] again,”
she says. “We had unfinished business and I believe we were
much more prepared and eager for the win this year.”
The girls forged their way to the PIAA Championship final
by defeating Upper Dublin 51-46 in overtime in the semi-finals,
after besting Norwin High School, Bethel Park High School and
Harrisburg High School earlier in the competition.
“Going all the way through the regular season and this
tournament undefeated is a result of everyone playing together
as a team and not being concerned with individual performance,”
says Kendall. “Our players are great teammates that truly care
for each other. For this reason, I couldn’t be more proud of their
championship accomplishment.” ■
T
he Peters Township Girls Basketball team has
made history.
With a 62-49 win over Garnet Valley, the
girls captured the school’s first PIAA Class 6A
Championship title in Hershey on March 22, ending a perfect
30-0 season. The win also marks the first girls basketball team
from Washington County to clinch a state championship,
and only the fourth WPIAL team to win the title with a
perfect season.
“This team has made history with its accomplishments this
year,” says head coach Bert Kendall. “I’m happy for the players,
managers and coaches who truly earned the section, WPIAL
and state championships with a perfect 30-0 record. These girls
were great representatives of Peters Township High School and
our community. They have shown us all that determination
and a commitment to the team can have amazing results. I’m so
proud of them!”
The road to the PIAA championship came after a nail-biter of a
win at the WPIAL competition, where the Indians defeated two-
time defending champions North Allegheny 43-40—with less
than 2 minutes on the clock---to clinch their first-ever WPIAL
Class 6A title on March 2 at Pitt’s Petersen Events Center.
To Kendall, the team’s success is not surprising.
“Team sports require a team mentality—caring for each other,
doing what’s right for the team,” he says. “This year’s squad
exemplified the team concept from day one. While we have some
very talented basketball players on our team, we would not have
had the success that we did without the team culture that was
present all season long.”
One of those star players is 5’11” senior Isabella Mills, who led
scoring for the undefeated Indians throughout the entire season.
At WPIALs, Mills racked up double-digit points, including
making a pair of free throws that gave her team a three-point lead
with less than 30 seconds left in overtime. At the PIAA final, she
put up 14 points and had seven assists.
“It is such an amazing feeling finishing my senior year with a
30-0 perfect season and setting all kinds of records,” says Mills
of the PIAA win. “I knew we were very good, but it is hard to
imagine a perfect season and being the 6A state champions.”
Mills agrees with her coach that the team’s
close bond as a key to its success.
“Our team is like a family and to share this
historic season was incredible. We are so close
on and off the court, so I believe that transfers
to how we play with each other,” she says.
In addition to its unique bond as teammates,
Kendall also credits the team’s myriad of
strengths as a motivating factor.
“Our strength can be attributed to many
things—skilled players, team culture, and a
willingness to get better every day, which means
putting in the extra time on the tasks necessary
to improve,” he says.
He also says that assistant coaches Katie
Kendall and Samantha Loadman play a pivotal
role in the team’s achievements.
The team arrives back home to a crowd of proud PT fans.
PETERS TOWNSHIP
❘
APRIL/MAY 2019
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