On the defensive: Lady Scots defeat Highlands for 44th-straight home win
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
The Lady Scots鈥� Gracie Spadaro (15) looks for an opening as she drives the baseline in the third quarter of Friday鈥檚 WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinal playoff game against Highlands at Southmoreland. Spadaro scored a game-high 18 points in the Lady Scots鈥� 50-24 victory.
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
The Lady Scots鈥� Delaynie Morvosh scores two of her 11 points despite a hand in her face by Highlands鈥� Jocelyn Bielak (24) in the third quarter of Friday鈥檚 WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinal playoff game at Southmoreland.
The Lady Scots' Olivia Cernuto (10) is fouled by Highlands' Jocelyn Poindexter (44) in the third quarter of Friday's WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinal playoff game at Southmoreland.
Highlands' Shelby Wojcik (22) is unable to stop Southmoreland's Reagan Carson (33) as she drives to the hoop for a layup in the fourth quarter in Friday's WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinal playoff game at Southmoreland.
The Lady Scots' Olivia Cernuto (10) splits Highlands' Shelby Wojcik (22) and Jocelyn Bielak (24) as she drives through the lane for a layup in the fourth quarter of Friday's WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinal playoff game at Southmoreland.
The Lady Scots' Olivia Cernuto (10) dribbles past Highlands' Kalleigh Nerone (4) in the third quarter of Friday's WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinal playoff game at Southmoreland.
The Lady Scots' Delaynie Morvosh (2) shoots over Highlands' Shelby Wojcik (22) in the third quarter of Friday's WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinal playoff game at Southmoreland. Morvosh scored 11 polnts in Southmoreland's 50-24 victory.
ALVERTON 鈥� The Southmoreland defense held the Highlands offense to just one point in the first quarter Friday night as the Lady Scots rolled to a 50-24 victory in the WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinals.
The second-seeded Lady Scots checked off a few boxes with the victory, including advancing to the semifinals for the second consecutive season, securing a PIAA playoff berth and winning a school-record 44th home game in a row.
Southmoreland (18-3) will play Knoch in the semifinals Tuesday at a site and time to be determined. The third-seeded Lady Knights (20-2) defeated Montour, 67-48.
Coach Amber Cernuto said one of the season goals was a return trip to the semifinals. Southmoreland advanced to the final four last year, falling to Quaker Valley, 60-50.
鈥淲e wanted to get past this next step. We wanted to get back to the semifinals, which was our next goal after winning the section,鈥� said Cernuto, adding, 鈥淎nd, hopefully, make it to the final game.鈥�
Highlands (19-5) played solid defense in the first quarter, limiting the Lady Scots to just four points in the first minutes of the quarter. The visitors were unable to take advantage, though, with their first 鈥� and only 鈥� point of the quarter a foul shot with 4:26 remaining.
Southmoreland鈥檚 Gracie Spadaro scored the first two of her game-high 18 points from the opening tap. She added another field goal and a 3-pointer in the first quarter. Elle Pawlikowsky, Kaylee Doppelheuer and Delaynie Morvosh scored one basket each to give the home team the lead after the first eight minutes, 14-1.
鈥淲e started out a little sluggish. The first four minutes were sluggish. I think it was 4-1,鈥� said Cernuto. 鈥淏ut, they stuck with it. They never gave up. They never hung their heads. They stayed focused, ready to go and just finish this game.鈥�
Highlands didn鈥檛 score its first field goal until Jocelyn Bielak did so with 4:22 remaining in the first half. Bielak soon after made her second basket and Highlands matched Southmoreland, not allowing the Lady Scots to pull away. Kate Myers hit a pair of 3-pointers in the late push, finishing with a team-high nine points.
鈥淭hey have three or four phenomenal shooters. They were a little off tonight. That was in our favor,鈥� said Cernuto.
Highlands head coach Jason Kerr was not satisfied with the way the game was being officiated and was his vocal displeasure led to a technical foul late in the half. Maddie Moore hit both free throws as Southmoreland led at halftime, 26-12.
The Lady Scots鈥� pressure at both ends of the floor intensified in the third quarter, allowing the home team to build a 42-19 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
鈥淲e are very solid defensively. We use our length,鈥� said Cernuto.
鈥淭hey are a very good team. We were focused on containing our girl at practice and doing our job, so we don鈥檛 have to help out so much. They like that dribble-drive and kick out to their shooters. We worked on moving our feet and containing their girl on the drive,鈥� explained Cernuto.
The pace slowed in the final quarter with Southmoreland firmly in control. The Lady Scots held the visitors to single digits for the third time, finishing out the game with an 8-5 advantage.
Delaynie Morvosh slid underneath from her normal positioning on the wing, and the move paid off with Morvosh finishing with 11 points. Olivia Cernuto added nine points.
鈥淥ffensively, Delaynie did a nice job getting in the post. Normally, a 3-point shooter, but she moved inside,鈥� said Amber Cernuto.