Lady Pioneers hold off Sewickley, advance to semifinals
West Greene's McKenna Lampe (14) hits a layup as Sewickley Academy's Kendall Lightcap (5) defends during last Friday night's WPIAL Class A quarterfinal playoff game at Canon McMillan High School.
West Greene's Elizabeth Brudnock (4) looks to shoot as Sewickley Academy's Bre Warner (25) defends during Friday night's WPIAL Class A quarterfinal playoff game at Canon McMillan High School.
West Greene's Madison Lampe (21) attempts to dribble between Sewickey Academy's Kendall Lightcap (5) and Bre Warner (25) during Friday night's WPIAL Class A quarterfinal playoff game at Canon McMillan High School.
CANONSBURG 鈥� Sometimes being a No. 1 seed is tough.
As the top seed you usually face an extended layoff, as well as pressure and heightened expectations from fans and having a target on your back for your opponents.
The West Greene girls basketball offense wasn鈥檛 its usual self and struggled throughout the game, but the Lady Pioneers forced 25 turnovers and made enough plays late to secure a 56-46 win over Sewickley Academy in the Class A quarterfinals last Friday night at Canon-McMillan High School.
鈥淲e were out of sync on offense, but you have to expect these types of games in the playoffs,鈥� WG coach Jordan Watson said. 鈥淚t will always come down to defense in the playoffs. If we can get to the mid-50s, then I like our chances. These are going to be possession-type games.鈥�
With the win, the Lady Pioneers (21-2) advanced to the semifinals and clinched a PIAA playoff berth for the third year in a row. West Greene faced No. 5 seed Vincentian Academy, a 53-38 winner over Clairton, on Tuesday night with a spot in today蘑菇视频 WPIAL championship game on the line. The result of that game was not known at press time (see the game story on greenecountymessenger.com).
鈥淚 think rebounding will be key against Vincentian,鈥� Watson said. 鈥淲e have to attack the boards and we can鈥檛 watch the ball. It蘑菇视频 about desire and effort on the boards. We really have been focusing on us and what we need to do in a game no matter who we play. It will be a dogfight Tuesday.鈥�
McKenna Lampe scored 10 of her 18 points in the first quarter to lead West Greene on a cold-shooting night. The Lady Pioneers has been averaging close to 67 points a game, but they did have to overcome being off for the last 15 days.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 our best game, but we were able to gut this one out for a win,鈥� Lampe said. 鈥淎ctually this type of game motivates us because it was so tight and physical. I think this type of game will help out and we will learn from it. You can鈥檛 underestimate any opponent.鈥�
Kaitlyn Rizor and Madison Lampe scored 12 points apiece for West Greene, while Elizabeth Brudnock chipped in with nine.
鈥淲e knew playing them a second time would be more difficult,鈥� said Rizor, referring to West Greene蘑菇视频 58-29 win over Sewickley on Jan. 31. 鈥淲e knew them, but they knew us. It was physical and we just had to rely on our defense.鈥�
Breanna Warner totaled 26 points for the Lady Panthers (12-8).
After Brudnock hit a 3-pointer to start the scoring for the Lady Pioneers, the upset-minded No. 8 seed sprung together six unanswered points and forced West Greene into a timeout.
鈥淚t蘑菇视频 hard to simulate a playoff atmosphere after that type of layoff,鈥� Watson said. 鈥淵ou can scrimmage and have tough practices, but nothing gets you ready for the playoffs. We were a little shell-shock early on, but we just had to settle down. This group has a lot of experience.鈥�
West Greene responded after the timeout and ended the quarter on a 14-4 spurt for a 17-10 lead.
Madison Lampe launched a pair of 3-pointers to jump-start the offense at the beginning of the second quarter, as the Lady Pioneers outscored Sewickley 15-8 and carried a 32-19 lead into halftime.
The Lady Panthers opened the third frame with an 11-2 run to trim the deficit down to 34-30, but West Greene answered with three straight buckets, by Rizor, Brudnock and Brianna Goodwin. Sewickley tallied the final basket of the quarter, but West Greene led 40-32.
鈥淭hey are a really good team,鈥� Rizor said. 鈥淚 think our press wore them down. We rely on our press to get turnovers and to get our transition game going. Our defense has to carry us in the playoffs. Offense can come and go, but your defense has to be there every night.鈥�
After the Lady Pioneers began the final quarter with an 8-4 spurt, Sewickley got back into the game with an 8-2 rally that made the score 50-44 with 2:05 left.
West Greene held Sewickley to just two points the rest of the way, and also was effective at the free throw line to seal the victory. The Lady Pioneers were just 2-for-10 at the foul line through the opening three quarters, but went 10-for-13 at the charity stripe in the final eight minutes.
鈥淲hen our big three (Rizor and the Lampe twins) get 40-45 points in a game, I like our chances,鈥� Watson said. 鈥淭heir big girl (Warner) got her points, but we shut everyone else down. We didn鈥檛 want anyone else beating us.
鈥淚t蘑菇视频 the playoffs, it蘑菇视频 all about surviving and advancing.鈥�