Lady Colonials, Fillies win at the 鈥楥orral鈥�
Laurel Highlands had an easier time and Albert Gallatin needed to fend off a late rally, but both girls teams closed 2023 with victories Friday in the Christmas at the Corral tournament hosted by Laurel Highlands.
The host Fillies rolled out to a 22-2 lead after the first quarter on their way to a 67-28 victory over Beth-Center.
Charleroi cut its deficit to five points in the final minute, but Albert Gallatin held on for a 52-47 victory.
The Lady Bulldogs had a difficult time handling Laurel Highlands鈥� full-court pressure and the home team made the most of the turnovers for a 41-13 halftime lead.
鈥淲e want an uptempo game, but we鈥檒l take whatever the defense gives us,鈥� said Laurel Highlands coach Stewart Davis.
Beth-Center regrouped at halftime and came out with more life, fending off the mercy rule for most of the half. The Lady Bulldogs nearly matched their first half point total with 11 points in the quarter.
鈥淚 think the players were a little intimidated (playing a big school). We learned we can play with this team,鈥� said Beth-Center coach Rick Hill. 鈥淲e鈥檙e young. We鈥檙e learning.鈥�
Davis was also pleased with how the point total was distributed with Miya Harris scoring a game-high 19 points. Ayrianna Sumpter scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Aierra Jenkins finished with 13 points and seven rebounds.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e playing together. The way we鈥檙e sharing the ball is great,鈥� said Davis. 鈥淲e were able to get everyone to contribute. The bench was able to knock down shots. They鈥檒l have to play.鈥�
Emma Shashura led Beth-Center with 13 points.
Both teams enter section play next week and the coaches believe the holiday games helped in the preparation. The undefeated FIllies (9-0) play Elizabeth Forward, while Beth-Center faces Carmichaels.
鈥淲e have Elizabeth Forward coming out of the gate,鈥� said Davis. 鈥淲e wanted to sharpen our tendencies in the preseason, run our sets and sharpen our skills.鈥�
Hill said he was happy with how his squad improved defensively heading into section play.
鈥淥ur defense in the preseason has been talking. They are communicating better,鈥� said Hill. 鈥淲hen we are playing good defense, our offense kicks.
鈥淲e鈥檙e growing as a team. We鈥檙e growing and getting better.鈥�
Hill is in his first season and looks for the program to move forward to better days.
鈥淓verything is brand new. I told them you guys are the foundation of this new era,鈥� explained Hill.
The Lady Colonials were rolling early with a 23-8 lead after the first quarter. But Charleroi coach Bob Zynosky changed the defense and held Albert Gallatin to 29 points over the final 24 minutes.
The Lady Cougars actually held a 10-point advantage in the final three quarters.
Charleroi was able to slice the deficit to nine points late in the fourth quarter, and then cut it to seven points and eventually five on Ella Sypolt鈥檚 lay-up with about three minutes left in the game.
鈥淲e went from zone to man-to-man. We had some issues with the zone. That鈥檚 our normal defense,鈥� said Zynosky.
Mya Glisan converted several wide open shots in the first quarter, but had to work for her team-high 23 points against the man defense. Grayce Panos finished with 15 points and Mikayla Shea added 11.
鈥淶one is our normal defense. We were really able to frustrate (Glisan with the man defense),鈥� said Zynosky.
鈥淭hey switched to man. I was excited to see man-to-man so we would work on our sets,鈥� said Albert Gallatin coach Craig Hoone.
Charleroi was also able to produce with its motion offense against Albert Gallatin鈥檚 defense.
鈥淭he layups were going in. We were screening a lot harder and our energy was a lot better,鈥� said Zynosky.
Hoone said foul trouble created issues on both ends of the court.
鈥淲e played in spurts. Foul trouble caused a lot of problems,鈥� said Hoone. 鈥淭he bench did step up. They were ready to go. I owe a lot to them.鈥�
Bella Carroto led the Lady Cougars (4-3) with a game-high 24 points. Ella Sypolt added 13.
Charleroi plays Waynesburg Central in section play next week.
鈥淚 think this game was an eye opener for our girls. When they play, they see how good they can be,鈥� said Zynosky.
The Lady Colonials (0-2, 3-6) have a tough start to 2024 with section road games against Oakland Catholic and McKeesport.
鈥淲e wanted two hard-fought games (in the tournament), and we got it,鈥� said Hoone, adding, 鈥淲e鈥檙e a slow starting team. When we get to January, we make ourselves click a little bit.鈥�
In other tournament action, the Waynesburg Central girls closed the KSA Tournament in Florida with a 43-30 win over North Royalton.
Kaley Rohanna paced the Lady Raiders (9-1) with a game-high 22 points. Addison Blair and Josie Horne both grabbed 10 rebounds.