Tied at the top: Waynesburg hands South Park first section loss, pulls even in standings
Waynesburg Central came within a one-point loss of earning a share of a girls basketball section championship last year and entered this season determined to finish the job.
The Lady Raiders cleared a huge hurdle in that quest against visiting South Park on Tuesday night.
Kaley Rohanna rang up a game-high 28 points, which included a sparkling 17-for-17 performance from the foul line, as Waynesburg handed the Lady Eagles their first loss in Section 2-AAA, 58-53, and pulled into a first-place tie.
Both teams are now 7-1 in the section and 11-3 overall.
鈥淲inning the section is one of our goals and this was a game we needed to have,鈥� Waynesburg coach Dave Sarra said.
Rohanna scored the game鈥檚 final six points from the foul line as the Lady Raiders, who had watched an eight-point lead turn into a one-point deficit, not only moved atop the standings with South Park but also clinched a WPIAL playoff spot.
鈥淕reat players step up in big games,鈥� Sarra said of Rohanna. 鈥淪he plays the game the way you鈥檙e supposed to. She plays offense, she plays defense, she handles the ball, she鈥檚 a leader on the court.
鈥淪he played a disciplined game tonight.鈥�
Waynesburg got several important offensive contributions in addition to Rohanna. Clara Paige Miller and Addison Blair both scored 10 points and Brenna Benke added eight points. Nina Sarra accounted for Waynesburg鈥檚 other two points.
鈥淲e got the ball around,鈥� Dave Sarra said. 鈥淏renna hit some huge baskets for us. She played really well, defensively most importantly. Addison stepped up with some key buckets, and Clara Paige also.鈥�
The game was tied 6-6 after a slow-paced opening quarter. The Lady Eagles took a 22-20 halftime lead but Waynesburg held a 39-38 advantage heading into the final frame.
The Lady Raiders increased their lead to eight twice, on a short jump shot by Benke and a layup by Rohanna which made it 50-42 with 2:52 remaining.
South Park sliced the gap to four but Blair grabbed the rebound of a Rohanna missed shot and scored to put the lead at six.
The Lady Eagles fought back with a seven-point run on five points from Maddie Graham and two free throws from Maya Westelet to go in front 53-52.
Rohanna was fouled on a drive with 50 seconds left and made both foul shots to put Waynesburg back in front to stay, 54-53.
Westelet missed a 3-pointer with Benke grabbing the key rebound which led to two more made foul shots from Rohanna with 20 seconds left for a three-point lead.
鈥淲e hung in there down the stretch,鈥� Sarra said.
Graham and Jordyn Tucciarelli both missed potential game-tying 3-pointers in the closing seconds and Rohanna gathered in the rebound after the latter miss and was fouled one last time with :02.6 on the clock.
The sophomore guard only needed to make one free throw to ice the game but put in both anyhow.
鈥淚 think she hit the rim once,鈥� Sarra said in marveling at Rohanna鈥檚 perfect showing from the foul line. 鈥淥ne bounced off the front and back and in. Everything else was a swish.鈥�
After the final seconds ran out the Lady Raiders jumped on each other in celebration in front of their bench.
鈥淭hey just put in so much time and effort,鈥� Sarra said. 鈥淚鈥檓 so proud of them.鈥�
Graham led South Park with 19 points. Monroe Polis followed with 14 points and Nora Ozimek added eight points.
Waynesburg lost twice to South Park last season, falling at home, 50-41, and suffering a tough 45-44 loss on the Lady Eagles鈥� court in the final section game.
The Lady Raiders lost their first meeting this season on Dec. 21, 66-45, at South Park.
鈥淲e were able to prepare for them this time,鈥� Sarra said. 鈥淭hat first game was a little different. We had some injuries going into it. Kaley was hurt at the time. We only had her for half a game and one practice before our game down there, and we had lost Josie (Horne) for the season.
鈥淭onight we just told them to focus on the things we鈥檝e done all year. It starts at the defensive end for us. I gave them three things: play good gap responsibility, close out on jump shooters and box out. And they did that pretty well.鈥�
The Lady Raiders have four section games remaining, the biggest of which will be at 7 p.m. Thursday against fourth-place Charleroi. Waynesburg won the first meeting in a close road battle, 44-39, on Jan. 3.
鈥淵ou win a big game like this I told them you enjoy it until three o鈥檆lock tomorrow when we step on the floor for practice. Then it鈥檚 back to business,鈥� Sarra said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got to treat the Charleroi game as a playoff game for us.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to prepare like we do, and keep them grounded and ready to play.鈥�