The Sewickley Academy girls basketball team ran out of time in the quarterfinals of the WPIAL Class A playoffs.
Seventh seeded Sewickley lost Feb. 19 to No. 2 Serra Catholic, 53-49, to drop into the Class A consolation round.
The Panthers overcame a 14-point deficit early in the fourth quarter against Serra to shrink it to three points with 29 seconds to go.
“We played hard,” said Rob Shazer, the Panthers’ coach. “We just ran out of time.
“Serra is a really good, well-coached team that can really shoot the ball. I was proud of our girls for never giving up and fighting to the end.”
Mikeala Mbandi, a 6-foot-freshman frontcourt player, led the Panthers with a double-double, finishing with 18 points and 19 rebounds. Freshman forward Athena Ameredes chipped in with 15 points.
The Eagles, the Section 2 co-champions with Geibel Catholic, boosted their record to 16-6.
“I’m proud of where we are from where we started,” Shazer said. “The Sewickley Academy girls basketball program has a bright future.
“Hopefully, we can still extend this season with a play-in game win. Either way, we’ve had a great season. We are all proud of the girls and what’s to come.”
Sewickley tied for third place with St. Joseph in section play behind Aquinas Academy and Union. Aquinas was the top seed in the playoffs. Union was No. 3; St. Joseph received the No. 5 seed.
“Making it to the playoffs was a very proud moment for our team,” said guard Charlotte Morton, one of six freshmen on the Sewickley roster. “It showed us that all of our hard work throughout the season was paying off, and it really motivated us to push even harder.
“Everyone played a huge role in our success this season, and we wouldn’t have accomplished what we did without everyone’s effort and commitment. When things didn’t go as planned, we never backed down, and we continued to play hard throughout the season.”
Sewickley clinched a PIAA tournament berth with a 57-32 win Feb. 23 in the Class A consolation round against No. 6 West Greene.
“It’s a huge win for the program and what’s to come,” Shazer said. “I’m super proud of these girls and their determination.”
Freshman guard Nina Caputo scored 19 points and Mbandi added 16 for the Panthers, who improved to 15-10. West Greene fell to 17-8.
“I think it is a huge accomplishment for our team to qualify for the PIAA playoffs,” Caputo said. “It shows how much hard work everyone has put in this season. I’m very proud of how we’ve improved throughout the season and competed together. We all work very hard each practice to get better as a team.
“I’m just very grateful and honored for my teammates and coaches. Everyone has supported each other all season, and I am excited to see how far we can go. We will keep the energy and have positivity.”
There are no seniors on the 2025-26 squad at Sewickley and only a few juniors, including Grace Jardini, a 5-7 forward.
“I’m super excited,” Jardini said. “After my past two seasons, I never would’ve thought we would be (playing in the state tournament). I’m really looking forward to having the same experience as my sisters, but hopefully with a medal involved. I really think we’ve grown this season and can make it far.
“I’m proud of how far our team has come. We’ve improved so much from last year, and our record shows it. The progress we’ve made this season is an indication of how we have become friends on and off the court. We know how each other plays, and we can always trust and rely on each other.”