Undefeated Lady Scots roll past EF, clinch section title
Paul S. Brittain
Southmoreland鈥檚 Delaynie Morvosh takes a jump shot over several Elizabeth Forward defenders during the Lady Scotties鈥� 71-38 home win Thursday night to remain undefeated at 19-0.
Paul S. Brittain
Southmoreland鈥檚 Maddie Moore (23) dribbles past Elizabeth Forward鈥檚 Haven Briggs (4) and teammate Charity Henderson during a Section 3-AAAA game at Southmoreland on Jan. 30. The Lady Scotties became the first basketball team in school history to complete a perfect regular season, going 22-0, and head into the WPIAL playoffs as a No. 2 seed with a first-round bye.
Paul S. Brittain
Elizabeth Forward鈥檚 Abby Bickerton tries to get around the defense of Southmoreland鈥檚 Erika Sherbondy (11) during Thursday鈥檚 game at Southmoreland.
ALVERTON 鈥� In a manner of speaking, the torch was passed from the defending champion of Section 3-AAAA to the new champion on Thursday night.
Unbeaten Southmoreland defeated Elizabeth Forward, 71-38, to secure the Lady Scotties鈥� first section title since 2007. The Lady Warriors finished alone atop the standings a year ago.
Southmoreland (12-0, 19-0) has a two-game lead over McKeesport and holds the tie-breaker with a season sweep of the Lady Tigers.
But, there were no celebrations afterwards, as if it was just another day at the office.
鈥淭he next game up is most important,鈥� said Southmoreland coach Brian Pritts. 鈥淭he past is the past and we鈥檝e got to focus on the present in order to be better in the future. We have to move on and get ready for Belle Vernon (at home on Monday).鈥�
The win completed Southmoreland鈥檚 first sweep of Elizabeth Forward (6-6, 8-9) in girls basketball and EF coach Krystal Gibbs addressed the matter directly.
鈥淭hey are a phenomenal team,鈥� Gibbs said of Southmoreland. 鈥淭hey were not as good when I saw them in a Christmas tournament eight years ago. (Pritts) has brought them so far. They鈥檙e a good team that I think will go pretty far in the playoffs.鈥�
The game was tight for the first few minutes, and junior Anna Resnick gave Elizabeth Forward its only lead at 5-4 on the first of her five treys and 21 total points that led the Lady Warriors.
But the Lady Scotties responded with an 11-point run led by six points from both sophomore Gracie Spadaro and freshman Olivia Cernuto. After Bailie Brinson broke the run with an EF field goal, Southmoreland ran off 10 more points through the early part of the second quarter.
Spadaro had three points, Erika Sherbondy sank a trey, and Cernuto and Charity Henderson scored baskets for a 25-7 lead.
Resnick had six more points in the period, but the Lady Scotties didn鈥檛 allow consecutive baskets to the visitors as they sprinted to a 38-15 halftime lead.
Resnick scored the first four points of the second half before Spadaro accounted for 10-of-12 Southmoreland points on a run that built a 50-19 lead, that essentially put the game out of reach.
鈥淎ll the girls did a good job tonight,鈥� Pritts said. 鈥淭hat was some of the best passing we鈥檝e had all season. The girls worked together. I think we had around 20 assists, which is great. We seemed more relaxed and I鈥檓 really proud of them.鈥�
When asked about Resnick, Gibbs said, 鈥淪he is just a phenomenal athlete. She keeps going no matter what, and only has one speed.鈥�
She added, 鈥淚 think we still need some help to make the playoffs, and a lot of things have to happen. That鈥檚 not where you want to be. You want to be the one to decide your own fate.鈥�
Elizabeth Forward has Yough and rival Belle Vernon remaining on the section schedule.
Spadaro led the Lady Scotties with a game-high 22 points, Cernuto added 14, and Maddie Moore and Delaynie Morvosh just missed double figures with nine points each.