Aquinas Academy rallies past Lady Greyhounds, 34-30
Monessen's Sydney Caterino (2) goes strong to the basket to score a layup past Aquinas Academy's Laura Richthammer (2) during a WPIAL Class A first-round playoff game last season at Peters Township High School.
Darnell Graham
Monessen鈥檚 Jahnell Jackson (11) scores a layup as Aquinas Academy鈥檚 Elizabeth Russell (1) and Jillian Mercer (11) defend during Tuesday鈥檚 WPIAL Class A first-round playoff game at Peters Township High School.
DARNELL GRAHAM RN
Monessen鈥檚 Qitarah Hardison (12) dribbles down court with Aquinas Academy Isabella Hite (40) defending during Tuesday鈥檚 WPIAL Class A first-round playoff game at Peters Twp. High School.
MCMURRAY 鈥� Monessen鈥檚 first playoff berth in six years came to an abrupt halt Tuesday night after its 34-30 loss to Aquinas Academy in the first round of the WPIAL Class A playoffs.
鈥淲e succumbed to the pressure,鈥� said Monessen coach Janine Vertacnik. 鈥淭hey are a young, scrappy and hungry team who fought back, and I give them credit because they wanted it more.
鈥淚 am at a loss for words because, at times, we didn鈥檛 play hard and I am disappointed in the effort of the team.鈥�
The first half was excruciatingly sloppy for both teams as they combined for 44 turnovers before halftime.
Monessen鈥檚 players were new to postseason pressure as was Aquinas鈥� starting lineup, which consisted of four sophomores and a freshman.
Monessen (15-8) raced out to a 13-0 lead after the first quarter, and while the Lady Greyhounds played solid defense, the Lady Crusaders helped with several unforced turnovers.
Aquinas (10-11) finally got on the board with 4:42 to go in the half when Liz Russell hit a free throw, but both teams struggled to score in the second quarter.
Monessen鈥檚 4-3 advantage in the quarter gave the Lady Greyhounds a 17-3 lead at the half.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 play well in the first half and should have been up more,鈥� said Vertacnik. 鈥淲e knew that they weren鈥檛 going to miss their shots forever.鈥�
Aquinas came out more relaxed in the third quarter and it was a huge difference in the game.
The Lady Crusaders used a 19-6 advantage in the third quarter to trim the Monessen lead to 23-22 heading into the fourth quarter, and they took their first lead with 4:21 to play on a basket by 6-foot sophomore Emilia Kartsonas.
Monessen would take its last lead at 29-27 with 2:59 left, but Aquinas outscored the Lady Greyhounds 7-1 to close the game.
Kendelle Weston led Monessen with 14 points, while Kartsonas paced Aquinas with 11 points.
Monessen finished with 29 turnovers and only made 8-of-20 free throw attempts. Aquinas finished with 28 turnovers.
鈥淚f we make more free throws, we win,鈥� Vertacnik said. 鈥淏etween the missed free throws and the turnovers, the pressure got to us.鈥�
Vertacnik had mixed reactions after her team making the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
鈥淚 should be elated, but I am not,鈥� said Vertacnik. 鈥淚 am happy for the seniors because they got to experience the playoffs, but we all wanted so much more.
鈥淲e went from 7-15 to 15-8 and while I am happy with that, this one is going to sting for a long, long time.鈥�
The second-year Monessen coach said the team will look different next year.
鈥淲e lose three starters,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e will be a much different looking team next year and the girls who are returning know that we have to have another solid off-season.鈥�