Lady Greyhounds pull away for 57-22 road win
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
Monessen鈥檚 Madison Johnson drives to the basket as the Lady Gators鈥� Lydia Geary (21) sets up to take a charge in the third quarter of Friday鈥檚 Section 2-A game at Geibel Catholic.
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
The Lady Gators鈥� Emma Larkin is fouled by Monessen鈥檚 Harmony Wynn as she drives to the basket in the first quarter of Friday鈥檚 Section 2-A game at Geibel Catholic.
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
The Lady Gators鈥� Amanda Hoffer (12) hits a jumpshot over the Monessen defense in the first quarter of Friday鈥檚 Section 2-A game at Geibel Catholic.
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
The Lady Gators鈥� Lydia Geary (21) disrupts the shot by Monessen鈥檚 Na鈥橨aziah Carter in the third quarter of Friday鈥檚 Section 2-A game at Geibel Catholic.
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
The Lady Gators鈥� Maia Stephenson scores a layup from an assist by Emma Larkin (22) in the first quarter of Friday鈥檚 Section 2-A game at Geibel Catholic.
CONNELLSVILLE TWP. 鈥� Monessen鈥檚 surge late in the second quarter carried the visiting Lady Greyhounds to a key 57-22 Section 2-A victory against Geibel Catholic.
The victory, coupled with Avella鈥檚 win against West Greene, thrust Monessen (5-1, 11-4) back into the hunt for the section title.
鈥淲e control our own destiny. If we win out, we win the section,鈥� said Monessen coach Janine Vertacnik. 鈥淲e have four games left, with Avella and West Greene at home.鈥�
Geibel slips to 3-3 in the section and 9-9 overall. The Lady Gators also have their playoff future in their hands.
鈥淲e have to win games we should win, plain and simple,鈥� said Geibel Catholic coach Sara Larkin.
Sparked by Na鈥橨aziah Carter鈥檚 3-point shooting, Monessen鈥檚 late first-half run gave the visitors a 30-14 halftime lead.
鈥淣a鈥橨aziah came alive and hit those threes,鈥� said Vertacnik.
Carter, a freshman, finished with 12 points, all on 3-pointers. Hailey Johnson scored 15 points and Madison Johnson added 12.
鈥淏asketball is a game of runs. I felt it was no big deal. If we get one, we鈥檒l be even at halftime,鈥� said Larkin.
Monessen kept pulling away in the second half, leading 46-22 heading into the fourth quarter. The Lady Greyhounds outscored the home team in the final eight minutes, 11-0.
鈥淏oards killed us. We could not get a rebound. That was the difference in the game,鈥� said Larkin. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 give them six chances, especially that many times.鈥�
Monessen鈥檚 defense harassed the Lady Gators, giving freshman Emma Larkin few 3-point opportunities and making her work on drives through the lane. Larkin finished with a game-high 16 points.
鈥淲e try to wear her down. We played a zone with help defense. If she beats one player, we have another to help,鈥� explained Vertacnik. 鈥淲e will not let one kid beat us.鈥�