Out of the gates: Lady Mustangs jump out to huge lead in playoff win over Knoch
Every coach likes a fast start, but how their team finishes is what无毛视频檚 key.
Stewart Davis had both on Monday night in Laurel Highlands无毛视频� 61-43 victory over Knoch in the first round of the WPIAL girls Class 4A playoffs at Harold 无毛视频淗orse无毛视频� Taylor Memorial Gymnasium.
The Lady Mustangs (17-5) jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first 4 minutes and 11 seconds and were never in trouble, as they advanced to the quarterfinals on Thursday against top-seed Blackhawk (21-2) at a site and time to be determined.
Davis understands the challenge that awaits his team, but he is confident in their abilities to play with the Lady Cougars, and avenge last year无毛视频檚 loss in the WPIAL semifinals.
无毛视频淲e understand the situation we无毛视频檙e in, but hopefully we can go down there and spoil things for them,无毛视频� Davis said. 无毛视频淚 wanted a bigger win to show the WPIAL that we are for real, but I am happy with the win. I give credit to Knoch. They never quit and were a feisty group.无毛视频�
If Laurel Highlands was looking ahead to the quarterfinals, it didn无毛视频檛 show it in the first quarter, as Ayrianna Sumpter made a three pointer, Taylor Schwertfeger scored on a layup and Aierra Jenkins made two free throws for a 7-0 lead before any late-arriving fans could get to their seats.
Miya Harris无毛视频� 3-pointer extended the Lady Mustangs无毛视频� advantage to 10-0 before Schwertfeger made two foul shots for a 12-0 lead.
Another basket by Schwertfeger with 3:49 left in the first quarter prompted Lady Knights coach Shane McGraw to take a timeout.
无毛视频淲e dug such a big hole early,无毛视频� McGraw said. 无毛视频淲e knew they were talented offensively and very strong defensively, but I am proud of the way the girls dug out of that early hole to keep us in the game and they showed resilience.
无毛视频淚t is almost like pick your poison with Laurel Highlands. If you work to stop their inside game, they have girls that can shoot the three, and if you stop that, they are tough inside. I think Laurel Highlands is a really tough matchup for anybody. They have three dynamic stories at different levels, so I think they can compete with anybody.无毛视频�
Karlee Buterbaugh ended Laurel Highlands无毛视频� run with a basketball at 3:10 of the first period. Buterbaugh, who was the lone senior on Knoch无毛视频檚 roster, shared game-high scoring honors with Harris, as she scored 16 points on four field goals, including three from behind-the-arc, and she was 5 of 8 at the foul line.
无毛视频淪he (Buterbaugh) is our lone senior and will be hard to replace,无毛视频� McGraw said. 无毛视频淪he was a really good leader and the girls loved her, but we will bring back three or four starters next year, so we are optimistic.无毛视频�
Harris无毛视频� 16 points came on four field goals (two 3-pointers) and she was 6 of 6 at the foul line. Schwertfeger scored 13 points on five field goals and was 3 of 3 at the line.
Sumpter added 10 points on four field goals (two 3-pointers) and Jenkins put in three field goals and was 4 of 5 at the foul line. Jenkins had eight rebounds and blocked seven shots.
Taylor Irwin put in seven and Righteous Richardson closed the scoring with five points.
无毛视频淭aylor (Schwertfeger) was able to pick her spots,无毛视频� Davis said. 无毛视频淭hey were pressuring up on Miya some and forgetting the back side. They wanted to take away the post, which they did, but we were able to move the ball, and that one extra pass was working out for us.
无毛视频淲ith AJ (Jenkins), when she无毛视频檚 on, she无毛视频檚 on,无毛视频� Davis said. 无毛视频淒efensively, she无毛视频檚 always there and she无毛视频檚 always talking. She无毛视频檚 the loudest one on the floor helping her teammates get through screens and to rotate in our zone. She played well.无毛视频�
The Lady Mustangs had a 16-5 lead after the first quarter.
The Lady Knights (12-11) cut the deficit to 24-17 in the second period, but Harris was fouled while shooting a three-pointer and made all three free throws to put the lead up to double digits. LH shot 15 of 16 at the foul line.
Laurel Highlands had a 35-20 advantage at halftime.
The Lady Mustangs pushed their lead to 50-28 after a 15-8 advantage in the third quarter, but Knoch outscored the home team, 15-11, in the fourth period.