Lady Hawks advance to Pete

Tommy DiRienzo, Staff Writer|February 27, 2020

Evan Manion

Liv Westphal drives to the hoop against Connellsville on Jan. 30 as teammate Riley Miller looks on. Liv will look for many moments like this in the WPIAL Championship game Saturday night.

Remember when Lance Jeter hit a buzzer-beater in 3 OT to defeat neighboring rival Aliquippa in the WPIAL Championship? Or when Andrew Recchia hit a game-winning three-pointer as Mars beat Moon in an out-of-this-world title game?

Well, the Lady Hawks will have the opportunity to make those types of memories Saturday night when they look for their first title since 2013.

The Bethel faithful will take over the Petersen Events Center when the girls play North Allegheny in a much-anticipated, heavyweight clash at 7 p.m.

The girls are looking to cap off an incredible season, a season where they started the year 14-0 and climbed to number one in the state, with a championship. This is something the girls have dreamed of all season and their whole lives.

Star senior Maddie Dziezgowski, who has had a stellar career for the Black Hawks, said: “It was such a great feeling to get the win over Lebo and make it to the Pete with my teammates. We lost our freshman year, so it’s such a great feeling to be able to get back and play for the championship again.”

The 2017 loss was to North Allegheny so the girls are looking forward to getting back to play the Tigers again.

In the postseason, the Hawks defeated Fox Chapel 33-29 and beat Mount Lebanon 35-29.

Senior Mallory Locke said: “We’ve worked so hard for this all season and we deserve this. It’s brought us together the closest we have ever been and everyone has been super supportive and excited, even our community. It’s just been a great experience so far.”

“It’s like a dream to be able to play for a championship with my best friends,” said senior point guard Lauren Mullen.

The Hawks and Tigers have been ranked 1 and 2 in class 6A for the most part of the season, so the game Saturday night is shaping out to be a good one!

Come watch the Lady Hawks as they look to win a championship and give them the support they deserve!

There will be a fan bus for all students who plan on attending the game. It costs $3 to ride the bus and there will be $5 “Pack the Pete” shirts available at BPHS on Friday.