Solid start: Lady Greyhounds defeat Geibel in section opener, 54-42
CONNELLSVILLE TWP. 无毛视频� Monessen carried the play in the first half Tuesday night and maintained the advantage in the second half to open Section 2-A play with a 54-42 road victory at Geibel Catholic.
The Lady Greyhounds (1-0, 4-2) rallied from an early 5-2 deficit for a 17-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The visitors extended the lead to 28-15 at halftime.
Monessen was able to hold the Lady Gators无毛视频� Emma Larkin to 10 points in the first half and didn无毛视频檛 allow other Geibel players to make up the slack by playing an extended 3-2 zone defense.
无毛视频淲e play a 3-2 zone, but we normally press. But, the way (Emma Larkin) dribbles we didn无毛视频檛,无毛视频� said Monessen coach Janine Vertacnik. 无毛视频淭he other girl (Ava Henderson) makes it hard to double up on (Emma Larkin).
无毛视频淭he plan was to contain her. You can无毛视频檛 stop her all the time.无毛视频�
Geibel Catholic coach Sara Larkin said the defense was no surprise, noting her girls did not react.
无毛视频淲e knew what无毛视频檚 coming. We have to execute,无毛视频� said Sara Larkin. 无毛视频�(Defenses) pack the paint. They无毛视频檙e not going to let Emma get to the hoop.
无毛视频淲e didn无毛视频檛 anticipate and we were not moving. But, we will keep working.无毛视频�
Emma Larkin was able to find lanes through the defense in the third quarter and with her movement, the Lady Gators (0-1, 7-3) also were more active on offense.
Larkin无毛视频檚 fastbreak layup made the score 43-36 with 4:36 left in the third quarter, but that无毛视频檚 as close as the Lady Gators would get with Monessen holding a 43-34 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
无毛视频淲e came out in the third quarter and caught fire,无毛视频� said Sara Larkin.
Monessen was able to fend off any late charge, closing with an 11-8 advantage in the final eight minutes.
无毛视频淲e spread the floor in the fourth quarter when they went man-to-man,无毛视频� said Vertacnik.
Hailey Johnson led the Lady Greyhounds with 23 points despite missing time due to foul trouble.
无毛视频淗ailey无毛视频檚 foul trouble hurt us,无毛视频� said Vertacnik.
Vertacnik said her squad left a lot of points on the floor.
无毛视频淲e missed too many shots. We rebounded, but we didn无毛视频檛 block out,无毛视频� said Vertacnik.
Sara Larkin noted the Lady Gators had a solid start to the season, then took a dip in recent games. She hopes to rebound with the heart of the section schedule on the near horizon.
无毛视频淲e started out working strong as a team. Then, we had a loll in a couple games. We stood around and watched Emma shoot the ball,无毛视频� said Emma Larkin. 无毛视频淭hey need to learn that they can无毛视频檛 rely on Emma (to score all the points).
无毛视频淭hey无毛视频檙e young and inexperienced. But, they无毛视频檙e smart enough to make the adjustments.无毛视频�