PR Girls Basketball Team Holds Second Place in WPIAL Conference

Pine-Richland girls' basketball coach Molly Copple knew she had a winning team this year.

She looks to senior guards Emily Johanson, Hannah Todorowski and Brittany Byerly, as well as forwards Rachel Verbanac and Kara Peters when she gives credit.

Johanson is the team's leading scorer with more than 300 points this season, which also makes her a scoring leader in the WPIAL. Todorowski, Byerly and Verbanac have scored more than 100 points each this year.

Peters scored more than 70 points and 70-plus rebounds.

"They all spent so much time (working) in the off season to help them progress to this season," Copple said, referring to open gym time, basketball camps and simply playing together. "They worked really hard in the off season to get to where they are."

The team is second in the WPIAL Class AAAA Section 3 conference, behind undefeated Oakland Catholic.

With Monday night's decisive 48-24 victory over North Hills, the Pine-Richland girls basketball team is heading toward the end of the regular season with an impressive 13-7-0 record overall and an 8-3-0 record in the WPIAL Section 3 AAAA conference.

Other teams in the conference are North Allegheny, Shaler, Seneca Valley, Butler and North Hills.

"Another key to our success has been leadership on and off the bench," Copple continued, referring to captains Johanson, Byerly, and forward Megan Evett.

"Coming into this season we knew we had a strong core of leaders. It's a great group, a nice group of girls ... that plays well together," said Copple.

The players support each other, added varsity assistant coach Jenny Malandro.

A key to this year's success?

"We have been really good at getting points on the board and scoring big," said Copple.

Only two games remain in the regular season—a home game against Shaler on Thursday and an away game at Riverside on Monday. Both games will begin at 7:30 p.m.