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PITTSBURGH — For the past three years, Blackhawk has been searching for a WPIAL Class 4A girls high school basketball championship, coming up short against North Catholic twice and Oakland Catholic last season.
No. 1 Blackhawk gave No. 2 Oakland all it could handle, clawing back from a double-digit deficit in the second half, but fell 51-44, dropping its fourth straight district championship game.
“I am so proud of every team that has come here during my high school career,” Blackhawk senior forward Aubree Hupp said. “Being here four years in a row is something special. We haven’t been able to finish the job, but making it here is impressive and is a testament to our program.”
After coming into the WPIAL Championship game unbeaten, finding success against some of the best competition at all levels that the WPIAL has to offer, Blackhawk (22-1) had an uncharacteristic first half.
Without senior guard Mia Sheesley, who injured her knee in the third quarter of the team’s semifinal game against Elizabeth Forward, Blackhawk had to adjust on the fly without one of its leaders on the floor.
The team shot just 21 percent, connecting on just five shots and turned the ball over 12 times in the opening half.
“When you lose a senior captain like Mia [Sheesley] who has played all of the big minutes throughout the season, it is hard to get acclimated to that game,” Blackhawk head coach Greg Huston said. “That definitely affected us in the first quarter, but I am proud of the way that we got ourselves together through the rest of the game.”
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Out of the gates in the second half, down by a dozen, Blackhawk fought its way back, with the team holding Oakland Catholic to 11 points. Offensively, Blackhawk shot 75 percent from the field, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range.
The team came as close as one point against Oakland Catholic with around six minutes to play, having an opportunity to tie or take the lead, but failed to convert.
Forward Aubree Hupp led the way for Blackhawk, posting a double-double (20 points, 14 rebounds), with Gracen Sehn, Grace Huston, Mia Zachewicz and Ava Elich hitting big shots down the stretch.
“We say it all the time about this group, but they just find a way,” Huston said. “I thought in the third quarter that we did it again. We had players step up like Mia Zachewicz and Ava Elich, who has only played two varsity minutes this season, hitting a big shot. We just couldn’t get it done today.”
Blackhawk may have come out on the losing end again in the WPIAL championship, but it will have a shot to make a run in the PIAA finals, a title it claimed after losing to North Catholic for the WPIAL championship in 2024.
The team will face the third-place team out of District 10 on Saturday, March 7, at a site and time to be determined.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Blackhawk falls to Oakland Catholic in WPIAL 4A girls basketball title game
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No. 1 Blackhawk gave No. 2 Oakland all it could handle, clawing back from a double-digit deficit in the second half, but fell 51-44, dropping its fourth straight district championship game.
“I am so proud of every team that has come here during my high school career,” Blackhawk senior forward Aubree Hupp said. “Being here four years in a row is something special. We haven’t been able to finish the job, but making it here is impressive and is a testament to our program.”
After coming into the WPIAL Championship game unbeaten, finding success against some of the best competition at all levels that the WPIAL has to offer, Blackhawk (22-1) had an uncharacteristic first half.
Without senior guard Mia Sheesley, who injured her knee in the third quarter of the team’s semifinal game against Elizabeth Forward, Blackhawk had to adjust on the fly without one of its leaders on the floor.
The team shot just 21 percent, connecting on just five shots and turned the ball over 12 times in the opening half.
“When you lose a senior captain like Mia [Sheesley] who has played all of the big minutes throughout the season, it is hard to get acclimated to that game,” Blackhawk head coach Greg Huston said. “That definitely affected us in the first quarter, but I am proud of the way that we got ourselves together through the rest of the game.”
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WPIAL Basketball Coverage: Beaver Valley WPIAL basketball playoffs comprehensive coverage
Quips make history: Aliquippa boys basketball wins 15th WPIAL championship
WPIAL 2A Championship Coverage: Sewickley Academy wins sixth WPIAL championship in win over Jeannette
Out of the gates in the second half, down by a dozen, Blackhawk fought its way back, with the team holding Oakland Catholic to 11 points. Offensively, Blackhawk shot 75 percent from the field, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range.
The team came as close as one point against Oakland Catholic with around six minutes to play, having an opportunity to tie or take the lead, but failed to convert.
Forward Aubree Hupp led the way for Blackhawk, posting a double-double (20 points, 14 rebounds), with Gracen Sehn, Grace Huston, Mia Zachewicz and Ava Elich hitting big shots down the stretch.
“We say it all the time about this group, but they just find a way,” Huston said. “I thought in the third quarter that we did it again. We had players step up like Mia Zachewicz and Ava Elich, who has only played two varsity minutes this season, hitting a big shot. We just couldn’t get it done today.”
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Blackhawk may have come out on the losing end again in the WPIAL championship, but it will have a shot to make a run in the PIAA finals, a title it claimed after losing to North Catholic for the WPIAL championship in 2024.
The team will face the third-place team out of District 10 on Saturday, March 7, at a site and time to be determined.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Blackhawk falls to Oakland Catholic in WPIAL 4A girls basketball title game
Continue reading...
