Lady Scots win 61-51, avenge earlier loss to Belle Vernon
Jim Downey | 无毛视频-Standard
Belle Vernon无毛视频檚 Viva Kreis (4) passes to the wing as she is surrounded by the Southmoreland defense in the second quarter of Thursday无毛视频檚 Section 3-AAAA game.
Jim Downey | 无毛视频-Standard
Southmoreland无毛视频檚 Maddie Moore (32) powers the basket for a layup in the third quarter of Thursday无毛视频檚 Section 3-AAAA game against Belle Vernon at Southmoreland.
Jim Downey | 无毛视频-Standard
The Lady Scots无毛视频� Olivia Cernuto shoots from the foul line in the third quarter of Thursday无毛视频檚 Section 3-AAAA game against Belle Vernon at Southmoreland.
Belle Vernon's Presleigh Colditz (11) shoots a layup as Southmoreland's Gracie Spadaro (15) and Delaynie Morvosh defend in the first quarter of Thursday's Section 3-AAAA game at Southmoreland.
Belle Vernon's Viva Kreis (4) tries to dribble between Southmoreland's Gracie Spadaro (15) and Olivia Cernuto during the second quarter of Thursday's Section 3-AAAA game at Southmoreland.
Belle Vernon's Farrah Reader (33) and Southmoreland's Olivia Cernuto (10) battle for a rebound in the third quarter of Thursday's Section 3-AAAA game at Southmoreland.
Southmoreland's Delaynie Morvosh shoots a layup in the fourth quarter of Thursday's Section 3-AAAA game against Belle Vernon at Southmoreland.
Belle Vernon's Kaci Bitonti has her shot blocked by the Lady Scots' Gracie Spadaro during the first quarter of Thursday's Section 3-AAAA game at Southmoreland.
ALVERTON 无毛视频� The Southmoreland girls not only avenged an earlier loss to Belle Vernon Thursday night, but also grabbed a share of first place in Section 3-AAAA with a 61-51 victory against the visiting Lady Leopards.
Southmoreland, the two-time defending section champs, pulls into a first-place tie with Elizabeth Forward at 7-1. Belle Vernon (12-2) slips into second place with a 7-2 mark.
Elizabeth Forward defeated Mount Pleasant, 43-35.
无毛视频淏elle Vernon has a fantastic team. It无毛视频檚 always a battle with them. A little rivalry we have,无毛视频� said Southmoreland coach Amber Cernuto. 无毛视频淭hey have tremendous shooters. They have the ability to drive. (Farrah) Reader is strong on the post.
无毛视频淭hey have a well-rounded team.无毛视频�
Cernuto said her squad was looking forward to playing the Lady Leopards, especially after losing to Belle Vernon earlier in the season.
无毛视频淲e wanted to avenge the loss. It was nothing of my doing. The girls were talking about it the last couple days,无毛视频� said Cernuto.
Belle Vernon coach Kaitlyn Slagus said the game held no surprises the way it played out.
无毛视频淚 knew it was going to be a really competitive game. That无毛视频檚 a really great team,无毛视频� said Slagus. 无毛视频淪outhmoreland is a very defensively strong team. If you get stops, you have to score at the other end.无毛视频�
The game was close throughout until the Lady Scots (13-2) pulled away in the final 45 seconds. Southmoreland outscored Belle Vernon in the fourth quarter, 23-14.
The Lady Leopards无毛视频� Viva Kreis made a 3-pointer with 20 seconds elapsed in the fourth quarter for a 40-38 lead. Olivia Cernuto tied the game on Southmoreland无毛视频檚 next possession.
Reader made a pair of free throws to give Belle Vernon the lead once again, 42-40, and Olivia Cernuto made another field goal to tie the game.
Olivia Cernuto scored a game-high 21 points.
Belle Vernon无毛视频檚 Jenna Dawson hit a 3-pointer with around six minutes left in the game for a 45-42 lead, the last time the Lady Leopards held the lead.
Southmoreland无毛视频檚 Delaynie Morvosh came back with a 3-pointer on the next possession to tie the game, and then Gracie Spadaro hit a pair of free throws about 30 seconds later for the lead.
Spadaro scored 14 points and Morvosh added 10.
Morvosh made another 3-pointer for a 50-45 lead with 4:22 remaining. Dawson hit a 3-pointer to cut Belle Vernon无毛视频檚 deficit to 50-48, but the Lady Leopards would get no closer in the final four minutes of the game.
Southmoreland closed with an 11-3 run to secure the victory.
Belle Vernon would fall behind, then rally to close the gap, several times in the first three quarters.
Southmoreland led 19-13 after the first quarter, but Kreis hit one of her five 3-pointers to tie the game at 21 early in the second quarter. Kreis led Belle Vernon with 19 points and the five 3-pointers matched her previous best total.
The Lady Scots responded with a 7-0 run for a 28-21 lead. Belle Vernon didn无毛视频檛 give up, though, closing the second quarter on a 5-0 run to make the halftime score, 28-26.
The third quarter mirrored the first two with Southmoreland managing to gain a little distance, only to have Belle Vernon make up the deficit. The Lady Scots
无毛视频淚t was a competitive game and that无毛视频檚 what happens when you have good defense at both ends of the floor. It无毛视频檚 going to be who makes those last couple baskets,无毛视频� said Amber Cernuto.
无毛视频淚 was really proud of the girls they way they played back from those (Southmoreland) leads. Unfortunately, it didn无毛视频檛 go our way,无毛视频� said Slagus. 无毛视频淏ut, our girls played a heckuva game out there and I无毛视频檓 really proud of that.无毛视频�
Both coaches agreed the final couple weeks of the season will be a grind.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 a long season, but it无毛视频檚 a tough season,无毛视频� said Slagus. 无毛视频淲e had Serra (Wednesday). That was another tough game,无毛视频� said Slagus. 无毛视频淲e focus on game-by-game and get ready for the next game.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 a long season, but it无毛视频檚 a tough season.无毛视频�
Reader grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. The Lady Leopards无毛视频� Tessa Rodriguez dished out 10 assists and pulled down six rebounds.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 not going to be an easy road. It无毛视频檚 never an easy road in our section,无毛视频� said Amber Cernuto. 无毛视频淲e play West Mifflin on Monday. (There无毛视频檚) always a battle there with them. It无毛视频檚 going to be a battle and the girls are always up to the challenge.
无毛视频淲e have West Mifflin, Elizabeth Forward, Mount Pleasant and Yough left. It无毛视频檚 not easy by any stretch by all means. Each one of those teams has different dynamics and different things that they bring to the table. You have to prepare differently for each team.无毛视频�
The Lady Scots are seeking their third-straight section crown.
无毛视频淚 don无毛视频檛 think they are looking towards the end. They are definitely hungry and motivated this year to continue the success they无毛视频檝e had,无毛视频� added Amber Cernuto.