Trib HSSN girls basketball player of the week – Taylor McCullough

School – Peters Township

Class – Sophomore

Height – 5-foot-6

Position – Guard

#Earned – After losing a section game to Baldwin on Jan. 20 for a third straight defeat, the reigning WPIAL Class 5A girls basketball champions were on wobbled legs, slumped against the ropes receiving a standing eight count.

But then something happened and, since that day, Peters Township has played like a caged animal let loose, winning 11 of its last 13 games.

Yes, these aren’t the same Natalie Wetzel-led Indians from a year ago, but the smaller lineup has adjusted with a balanced attack on offense thanks to the play of senior Bri Morreale, junior Maddyn Mehl and sophomore Jordyn Welsh, among others contributing on the score sheet, on the boards and on defense.

However, another Peters Township sophomore has done some of the heavy lifting on offense now that she is back to playing all-out basketball.

Taylor McCullough, who tore her meniscus in her right knee playing soccer over the summer, wasn’t able to play full throttle early in the season, but her improvement and confidence grew as the season went on. Her being back to 100% and the Indians taking off is not a coincidence.

Once the district playoffs began, McCullough was leading the way for postseason success.

She scored a team-high 17 points as No. 12 Peters Township upset No. 5 Plum, 56-46.

In the quarterfinals, the Indians stunned No. 4 Baldwin, 43-36, as McCullough led the way with 14 points.

After a semifinal loss to South Fayette and a consolation loss to Penn-Trafford, the Indians got back on the winning track in the PIAA playoffs with a first round road win at Susquehannock.

Last week in the second round, Morreale led with 18 points while McCullough added 10 points in a victory over Manheim Central.

On Saturday in the state quarterfinals, backcourt mate Welsh was lost early in the game against District 3 champion York Suburban.

McCullough and Mehl picked up the slack by combining to score 37 of their 52 points in a four-point overtime victory with McCullough scoring a game-high 20 points.

Peters Township gets another crack at WPIAL champion South Fayette in the 5A semifinals Tuesday at Bethel Park.

McCullough is a good soccer player and despite already getting Division I basketball offers, she’s not sure yet what sport she will play at the next level.

Her two older brothers, Brendan and Nick, both played basketball and football at Peters Township, and both are now members of the Carnegie Mellon football team.

2026 Trib HSSN Girls Basketball Players of the Week

Week 8 – Aubree Hupp, Blackhawk

Week 7 – Lexi Pearce, Serra Catholic

Week 6 – Payton Newman, Neshannock

Week 5 – Maggie Spell, Thomas Jefferson

Week 4 – Alexis Cashdollar, Mars

Week 3 – Mimi Thiero, Quaker Valley

Week 2 – Erica Gribble, Greensburg Central Catholic

Week 1 – Karis Thomas, Shady Side Academy