For Pete鈥檚 sake
Geibel Catholic advances to WPIAL Class A final in OT victory
IRWIN 鈥� For those who follow the Geibel Catholic girls basketball team, the focus from its coaches and players this season was to play for the WPIAL championship at the Petersen Events Center on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh.
There were plenty of highlights, which included senior Emma Larkin breaking the school and Fayette County scoring record, and sophomore Mallory Clemmer recording a double-double per game, as the duo helped lead the Lady Gators to a tie with Serra Catholic for the Section 2-1A championship.
Geibel was proud of its regular season, but the main goal was to play for the Class A title, and the Lady Gators will have that opportunity after defeating top-seeded Aquinas Academy, 52-50, in overtime on Monday night in the semifinals of the WPIAL tournament at Norwin High School.
Geibel finished the regular season at 21-1, as its lone setback was a 51-50 loss to the Lady Eagles in section play on Feb. 5, but the Lady Gators were taken aback when they were selected as the fourth seed in the district tournament, meaning a trip to 鈥淭he Pete鈥� would most-likely involve defeating the Lady Crusaders (20-3) in the semifinals. Geibel defeated Serra Catholic, 64-55, on Jan. 12 in the first meeting.
Geibel edged St. Joseph, 55-53, in the quarterfinals to set the stage for Monday鈥檚 semifinal, which the Lady Gators entered as the underdog.
Clemmer was a force on both ends of the court, as she led the game in scoring with 24 points, had 11 rebounds and four blocks, Larkin scored seven of her 13 points in the fourth quarter to go along with seven assists, and Janiah Darnell scored the game-winning basket and pulled down 13 rebounds to set up the rubber match between Geibel and Serra Catholic for the WPIAL Class A Girls Basketball Championship. Tip-off for the title game is scheduled for 3 p.m.
鈥淚 am unbelievably proud of that crew,鈥� Geibel coach Sara Larkin said. 鈥淭hey continued to be gritty and played great defense. We have to get past the point that Emma鈥檚 the only one that can touch the ball. For some reason, we just want to get it to her, and nobody else but her.鈥�
The Lady Gators鈥� elation turned to concern after the game, as Clemmer was injured in the post-game celebration. The severity of the injury and the status for Clemmer to play on Friday is unknown at press time.
Emma Larkin was Geibel鈥檚 scoring leader this season at 24.8 points per game, but stressed over-and-over this year that she would trade in all those points for a trip to 鈥淭he Pete,鈥� which was evident in the closing stages of Monday鈥檚 game, as she threaded the needle to Darnell for a layup with less than 20 seconds remaining in overtime.
Darnell scored four points, but her rebounding, defense and clutch basket was lauded by Sara Larkin.
鈥淛aniah was calm and composed,鈥� Larkin said. 鈥淪he takes her time and puts the ball in. These girls wanted to get to 鈥楾he Pete鈥� this year. It was 鈥楶ete鈥� or bust for them this year.鈥�
The teams traded turnovers in the final seconds, which provided Aquinas with the opportunity to tie or win the game, but the Lady Crusaders couldn鈥檛 get off a shot and the Lady Gators were able to celebrate the program鈥檚 first trip to the district final since 1999.
鈥淭hankfully, we pulled it together, and they weren鈥檛 able to get a shot off at the end,鈥� Larkin said.
The two teams battled back-and-forth from the opening tip, as the largest lead for either team was a seven-point advantage for Geibel at 37-30 in the final minute of the third quarter. The Lady Gators used an 8-0 run in the third period for a 35-28 lead with 2:09 remaining in the frame.
Clemmer imposed her will early, as she scored eight of Geibel鈥檚 10 points in the first quarter, which usually occurred while she was double and triple teamed. She added six in the second period and six in the third. She had two points in the fourth quarter and a field goal in overtime.
鈥淲e knew that they didn鈥檛 have anybody inside that could match up with her,鈥� Larkin said. 鈥淲e wanted to continue to pound it. We didn鈥檛 get as many looks inside as we wanted. We had a ton of high-post looks, but didn鈥檛 get a lot of block looks, but her rebounding was fantastic, and she put the ball in off those boards, too.鈥�
Emma Larkin had two points at halftime, but scored nine in the second half, including two clutch free throws in the final minute of the fourth and her team clinging to a 44-43 lead.
Aquinas鈥� Rebecca Guillen sank her third 3-pointer to send the game into overtime, but Larkin鈥檚 efforts were noted.
鈥淭hey did a great job of taking the drive away tonight, and taking Emma鈥檚 game out of it, but she did hit a big three for us,鈥� Sara Larkin said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a heck of a team over there.鈥�
Ninth graders Alexa Morgan (six points) and Emaleigh Horn (five points) contributed in the scoring column and on defense for Geibel. The pair has started, and contributed this season, despite their youth.
鈥淓maleigh hit that nice three and Alexa made some big shots for us,鈥� Larkin said. 鈥淛aniah made the game-winning basket, but we need that complimentary scoring, and I鈥檓 glad those girls contributed. Those freshmen have stepped up for us this year.鈥�
Both teams scored 10 points in the opening quarter before the Lady Gators used a 15-13 edge in the second period for a 25-23 halftime advantage. Geibel won the third quarter, 12-9, for a 37-32 lead entering the fourth. The Lady Crusaders forced overtime after outscoring the Lady Gators, 14-9, in the fourth frame.
Tess Duer led Aquinas in scoring with 20 points on eight field goals (two 3-pointers) and was 2 of 3 at the foul line. Teammate Elliot Keverline added 14 points on seven field goals. Guillen had 11 points.