Lady Scots’ Cernuto out for season with injury
Southmoreland鈥檚 girls basketball program received an early setback when all-everything guard Olivia Cernuto suffered a severe injury in a soccer game in September.
One of the last pieces of the Lady Scotties鈥� 2018-19 WPIAL runnerup team, Cernuto was the point guard and was on the cusp of reaching 1,000 points for her career.
鈥淚t was tough, and she had many goals in mind,鈥� said her mother and third-year coach Amber Cernuto. 鈥淲e lost three starters to graduation and a fourth one now.鈥�
Those three graduates are 1,000-point scorer Gracie Spadaro, Delaynie Morvosh, and Elle Pawlikowsky.
That doesn鈥檛 mean the three-time defending Section 3-AAAA champions are conceding anything this year.
鈥淲e need to regroup and overcome adversity,鈥� Amber Cernuto said. 鈥淭he girls are tough, and we still have expectations.鈥�
Four seniors remain from the 2019 team.
Forward Maddie Moore (6-0) will now be the cornerstone of the starting lineup. Other seniors are Reagan Carson (5-7), Lily Wasmund, and McKenzie Armstrong.
Juniors include Bea Pawlikowsky (5-5), Lynzee Moore (5-7), Gianna Perbonish, and newcomer Sophie Slater.
Sophomores include Olivia Aumer, Lanie Moore, Izzy Bricker, and 6-foot newcomer Shalynn Morrison, who joins the program from the soccer team.
The freshmen include Jaiden Pierie, Breonna Zaffina, and Leah Moore.
Olivia Cernuto will be on the bench offering encouragement and insight as an unofficial assistant coach.
Amber Cernuto said the team is focused on several goals, including extending a school record 44-game home court winning streak. That string was expected to be challenged by an up-and-coming Yough team on Dec. 2.
Yough and Mount Pleasant dropped to Class AAA this season, but both rivals are on Southmoreland鈥檚 non-section schedule.
The section includes preseason favorite Belle Vernon, Elizabeth Forward, West Mifflin, along with newcomers Laurel Highlands, Ringgold, and Uniontown.
Defense has been Southmoreland鈥檚 strong point, a key in winning a combined eight playoff games over the past four seasons, four of which have come under Amber Weimer鈥檚 coaching.
鈥淭his is a very challenging section. If our girls work hard put in the effort, and keep a positive attitude, we could be in the top four (playoff) teams, and give the others run for their money,鈥� said Amber Cernuto.
鈥淢addie has ball handling skills, an outside shot, and strength inside. We will count on Bea a lot, and Reagan is excited to step up and take on a senior role.鈥�
Amber Cerntuo added, 鈥淚 know we can score, but we will have to change up our mindset on defense, and mix things up here and there.鈥�