Rebecca Droke, Post-Gazette New Castle's Jalessa Sams tries to dribble around Bethel Park's Bridget Bielich during last night's PIAA playoff game at North Allegheny. Click photo for larger image.

Too often, success is measured by what a player does with the basketball.

Points, rebounds, assists are the easiest barometers to gauge contributions.

So how does a player with 4 points, 2 rebounds and 0 assists in a double-overtime game have a performance that stands taller than everyone else's?

By defensively shutting down one of the best players in the state. That's how.

Bethel Park junior Bridget Bielich guarded New Castle senior Jaleesa Sams everywhere the Red Hurricanes' standout went, limiting Sams to nine points. As a result, the Black Hawks (25-4) earned a 48-43 double overtime victory against WPIAL champion New Castle (28-2) last night in a PIAA Class AAAA girls' second-round playoff game at North Allegheny.

Sams was 2 for 9 from the field and 5 for 7 from the free-throw line as Bielich denied, grabbed and muscled the New Castle standout to the point where Sams had trouble freeing space to simply catch an entry pass. Through three quarters, Sams had just three points.

"She is very determined, feisty and looked at this as a challenge," Bethel Park coach Jonna Burke said of Bielich. "In my 12 years coaching, Jaleesa is the best player I've seen and the hardest to have to play and coach against. You can't talk enough about what [Bielich] did out there, really, you can't say it enough."

Bielich's incessant defensive pressure on Sams, a North Carolina A&T recruit, helped Bethel Park advance to Friday's quarterfinals against Upper St. Clair, at a time and place to be determined.

"I felt like I did the best I could," said Bielich, who played all 40 minutes without a rest. "I said to myself, 'Forget about your offense' because I knew my team needed me on defense."

New Castle went cold in the second quarter, going just 2 for 10 from the floor and being held without a field goal for a span of 4:51. That helped Bethel Park transform a two-point deficit after the first quarter into a 22-16 lead at halftime.

The contest entered overtime tied at 38-38. Bethel senior Samantha Loadman, who finished with 16 points, and freshman teammate Danielle McNabb, who had 13 points, were solid for the Black Hawks down the stretch. New Castle guard Ryenn Michaletti, who led all scorers with 22 points, missed a jumper from about 10 feet at the end of the first overtime.

Bethel Park outscored New Castle in the second overtime, 5-0.

The Hurricanes were done in not only by Bielich's defense, but a 13 for 59 shooting performance, a 3-for-29 effort from beyond the 3-point stripe and 20 turnovers.

"We didn't take advantage of any opportunities," a dejected Sams said, her head glaring at the floor. "They just outplayed us."

More Class AAAA

Upper St. Clair 68, Shaler 61: Shaler (17-11) had no answer for Upper St. Clair junior guard Alex Gensler as she scored 31 points to lead the Panthers (24-5) in the game at North Allegheny. Melissa McQuade led Shaler with 29 points and Olivia DiNucci added 22.

Class AA

Greensburg Central Catholic 63, Lakeview 47: Kayla Marghella scored a team-high 17 points, including 11 in the second half, as the WPIAL champion Centurions (23-6) turned away District 10 runner-up Lakeview (26-3) at Knoch. Sheena Aden paced Lakeview with 26 points.