GAME OF THE WEEK: Lady Leopards rally past Elizabeth Forward, 58-48
Jonathan Guth | 缅北禁地
Belle Vernon鈥檚 Rachel Wobrak puts a move on Elizabeth Forward鈥檚 Tamar Herchelroath in Thursday鈥檚 Section 3-AAAA game at Belle Vernon Area High School. Wobrak scored a game-high 26 points in the Lady Leopards鈥� 58-48 victory.
Jonathan Guth | 缅北禁地
Elizabeth Forward鈥檚 Brooke Markland puts up a shot while being defended by Belle Vernon鈥檚 Viva Kreis in Thursday鈥檚 Section 3-AAAA game at Belle Vernon Area High School.
Jonathan Guth | 缅北禁地
Belle Vernon鈥檚 Jenna Dawson drives to the hoop while being guarded by Elizabeth Forward鈥檚 Haven Briggs in Thursday鈥檚 Section 3-AAAA game at Belle Vernon Area High School.
Belle Vernon's Taylor Rodriguez is guarded by Elizabeth Forward's Brooke Markland in Thursday's Section 3-AAAA game at Belle Vernon Area High School.
Elizabeth Forward's Bailie Brinson works inside in Thursday's Section 3-AAAA game at Belle Vernon Area High School.
Elizabeth Forward's Anna Resnik drives to the basket against Belle Vernon's Tara Callaway in Thursday's Section 3-AAAA game at Belle Vernon Area High School.
Elizabeth Forward's Brooke Markland drives to the basket in Thursday's Section 3-AAAA at Belle Vernon Area High School.
ROSTRAVER TWP. 鈥� Ronnie Drennen didn鈥檛 go into detail regarding his halftime speech, but whatever the second-year head coach said must have worked, as Belle Vernon rallied for a 58-48 victory over Elizabeth Forward on Thursday in Section 3-AAAA play at Belle Vernon Area High School in the 缅北禁地 Game of the Week.
鈥淭he halftime speech was really short and sweet,鈥� Drennen said. 鈥淚 thought we did a fantastic job in the second half. I am very proud of our efforts as a group in the second half.鈥�
The Lady Leopards (9-5, 16-6) trailed by 12 at halftime, but outscored the Lady Warriors, 22-11, in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 41-40 heading into the fourth. Belle Vernon had an 18-7 advantage in the fourth. The Lady Leopards took their first lead with 7:05 remaining on a three-pointer by Presleigh Colditz.
鈥淪he (Colditz) is only a freshman, but made a big shot,鈥� Drennen said. 鈥淔arah Reader is another freshman that made some big shots. I call our freshmen, the 鈥榝earless five鈥� because I have five freshmen that our fearless and will doing anything that I ask of them to the best of their abilities.鈥�
鈥淚 think tonight鈥檚 result is the sign of a young team,鈥� Elizabeth Forward coach Krystal Gibbs said. 鈥淲e had a hard time holding on to a lead. I am never a person to say this, but I think the officiating had a big thing to do with tonight. They sucked the life out of us, and that鈥檚 hard, especially for a young team to go up against that adversity. I am very proud of how our team came out and their effort.鈥�
Elizabeth Forward (7-7, 9-11) jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first quarter and had a 13-10 lead heading into the second. The Lady Warriors had a 17-8 edge in the second period for a 30-18 halftime advantage. EF needed a victory to clinch a playoff spot.
鈥淵ou have to give credit to Elizabeth Forward,鈥� Drennen said. 鈥淭hey came out and gave it to us early, and we couldn鈥檛 match it.鈥�
Belle Vernon鈥檚 Rachel Wobrak had a game-high 26 points on eight field goals, including three 3-pointers, and was 7 of 11 at the foul line.
鈥淢uch credit to Rachel Wobrak who played a fantastic game,鈥� Drennen said. 鈥淓very time that she has the ball, I feel like she is going to give us a bucket, whether it鈥檚 a three, a two or on the free-throw line. I am so happy to see her succeed and play the way she did tonight. And what a better send off for a senior.鈥�
鈥淲e knew that EF was going to come in fighting for that playoff spot, but our whole motivation was that we didn鈥檛 want to let them in, and nobody is going to beat us on our home court,鈥� Wobrak said. 鈥淲e just pushed through the adversity to get the win.鈥�
Wobrak scored 12 of the Lady Leopards鈥� 18 first-half points, and she scored 14 in the third quarter. Wobrak was glad to have such a solid performance in what was her final home game.
鈥淭his is my last ever home game and I really wanted to win, and I know my teammates did, too,鈥� Wobrak said. 鈥淭his year, I actually started being a post player because I鈥檓 technically the tallest starting player for varsity, so I knew I had to get molded into that role. Coach gives me free rein to play inside or go outside and take the shot.鈥�
Belle Vernon鈥檚 Jenna Dawson scored 14 points on four field goals (2 three-pointers) and was 4 of 6 at the line.
Elizabeth Forward鈥檚 Haven Briggs had 15 points on six field goals, including three 3-pointers. Teammate Abigail Bickerton added 12 points on six field goals. The Lady Warriors鈥� Ana Resnik chipped in with 11 points on four field goals (one 3-pointer) and was 2 of 4 at the line.