Lady Scots win 61-51, avenge earlier loss to Belle Vernon
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
Belle Vernon鈥檚 Viva Kreis (4) passes to the wing as she is surrounded by the Southmoreland defense in the second quarter of Thursday鈥檚 Section 3-AAAA game.
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
Southmoreland鈥檚 Maddie Moore (32) powers the basket for a layup in the third quarter of Thursday鈥檚 Section 3-AAAA game against Belle Vernon at Southmoreland.
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
The Lady Scots鈥� Olivia Cernuto shoots from the foul line in the third quarter of Thursday鈥檚 Section 3-AAAA game against Belle Vernon at Southmoreland.
Belle Vernon's Presleigh Colditz (11) shoots a layup as Southmoreland's Gracie Spadaro (15) and Delaynie Morvosh defend in the first quarter of Thursday's Section 3-AAAA game at Southmoreland.
Belle Vernon's Viva Kreis (4) tries to dribble between Southmoreland's Gracie Spadaro (15) and Olivia Cernuto during the second quarter of Thursday's Section 3-AAAA game at Southmoreland.
Belle Vernon's Farrah Reader (33) and Southmoreland's Olivia Cernuto (10) battle for a rebound in the third quarter of Thursday's Section 3-AAAA game at Southmoreland.
Southmoreland's Delaynie Morvosh shoots a layup in the fourth quarter of Thursday's Section 3-AAAA game against Belle Vernon at Southmoreland.
Belle Vernon's Kaci Bitonti has her shot blocked by the Lady Scots' Gracie Spadaro during the first quarter of Thursday's Section 3-AAAA game at Southmoreland.
ALVERTON 鈥� The Southmoreland girls not only avenged an earlier loss to Belle Vernon Thursday night, but also grabbed a share of first place in Section 3-AAAA with a 61-51 victory against the visiting Lady Leopards.
Southmoreland, the two-time defending section champs, pulls into a first-place tie with Elizabeth Forward at 7-1. Belle Vernon (12-2) slips into second place with a 7-2 mark.
Elizabeth Forward defeated Mount Pleasant, 43-35.
鈥淏elle Vernon has a fantastic team. It鈥檚 always a battle with them. A little rivalry we have,鈥� said Southmoreland coach Amber Cernuto. 鈥淭hey have tremendous shooters. They have the ability to drive. (Farrah) Reader is strong on the post.
鈥淭hey have a well-rounded team.鈥�
Cernuto said her squad was looking forward to playing the Lady Leopards, especially after losing to Belle Vernon earlier in the season.
鈥淲e wanted to avenge the loss. It was nothing of my doing. The girls were talking about it the last couple days,鈥� said Cernuto.
Belle Vernon coach Kaitlyn Slagus said the game held no surprises the way it played out.
鈥淚 knew it was going to be a really competitive game. That鈥檚 a really great team,鈥� said Slagus. 鈥淪outhmoreland is a very defensively strong team. If you get stops, you have to score at the other end.鈥�
The game was close throughout until the Lady Scots (13-2) pulled away in the final 45 seconds. Southmoreland outscored Belle Vernon in the fourth quarter, 23-14.
The Lady Leopards鈥� Viva Kreis made a 3-pointer with 20 seconds elapsed in the fourth quarter for a 40-38 lead. Olivia Cernuto tied the game on Southmoreland鈥檚 next possession.
Reader made a pair of free throws to give Belle Vernon the lead once again, 42-40, and Olivia Cernuto made another field goal to tie the game.
Olivia Cernuto scored a game-high 21 points.
Belle Vernon鈥檚 Jenna Dawson hit a 3-pointer with around six minutes left in the game for a 45-42 lead, the last time the Lady Leopards held the lead.
Southmoreland鈥檚 Delaynie Morvosh came back with a 3-pointer on the next possession to tie the game, and then Gracie Spadaro hit a pair of free throws about 30 seconds later for the lead.
Spadaro scored 14 points and Morvosh added 10.
Morvosh made another 3-pointer for a 50-45 lead with 4:22 remaining. Dawson hit a 3-pointer to cut Belle Vernon鈥檚 deficit to 50-48, but the Lady Leopards would get no closer in the final four minutes of the game.
Southmoreland closed with an 11-3 run to secure the victory.
Belle Vernon would fall behind, then rally to close the gap, several times in the first three quarters.
Southmoreland led 19-13 after the first quarter, but Kreis hit one of her five 3-pointers to tie the game at 21 early in the second quarter. Kreis led Belle Vernon with 19 points and the five 3-pointers matched her previous best total.
The Lady Scots responded with a 7-0 run for a 28-21 lead. Belle Vernon didn鈥檛 give up, though, closing the second quarter on a 5-0 run to make the halftime score, 28-26.
The third quarter mirrored the first two with Southmoreland managing to gain a little distance, only to have Belle Vernon make up the deficit. The Lady Scots
鈥淚t was a competitive game and that鈥檚 what happens when you have good defense at both ends of the floor. It鈥檚 going to be who makes those last couple baskets,鈥� said Amber Cernuto.
鈥淚 was really proud of the girls they way they played back from those (Southmoreland) leads. Unfortunately, it didn鈥檛 go our way,鈥� said Slagus. 鈥淏ut, our girls played a heckuva game out there and I鈥檓 really proud of that.鈥�
Both coaches agreed the final couple weeks of the season will be a grind.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a long season, but it鈥檚 a tough season,鈥� said Slagus. 鈥淲e had Serra (Wednesday). That was another tough game,鈥� said Slagus. 鈥淲e focus on game-by-game and get ready for the next game.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a long season, but it鈥檚 a tough season.鈥�
Reader grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. The Lady Leopards鈥� Tessa Rodriguez dished out 10 assists and pulled down six rebounds.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not going to be an easy road. It鈥檚 never an easy road in our section,鈥� said Amber Cernuto. 鈥淲e play West Mifflin on Monday. (There鈥檚) always a battle there with them. It鈥檚 going to be a battle and the girls are always up to the challenge.
鈥淲e have West Mifflin, Elizabeth Forward, Mount Pleasant and Yough left. It鈥檚 not easy by any stretch by all means. Each one of those teams has different dynamics and different things that they bring to the table. You have to prepare differently for each team.鈥�
The Lady Scots are seeking their third-straight section crown.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think they are looking towards the end. They are definitely hungry and motivated this year to continue the success they鈥檝e had,鈥� added Amber Cernuto.