Feb 14, 2008 By Dave Stofcheck 2 min read

McKEESPORT – Taylor Fulton and Raven Metz scored 13 points each, as West Mifflin knocked off Southmoreland, 48-19, in WPIAL Class AAA first-round playoff action Wednesday night on the campus of Penn State-Allegheny. Leading 19-13 at halftime, West Mifflin (22-3) took control of the game with a 14-3 third-quarter advantage.

“We wear people out,” said Lady Titans coach Phil Shar.

“They (Southmoreland) had some spring in their step in the first half, but the second half was different.”

With the victory, West Mifflin moves on to the quarterfinals, where it will face the winner of tonight’s game between Ringgold and Blackhawk.

Southmoreland (18-7) trailed just 10-9 after one quarter, and by six points at the half. But the Lady Scots committed 19 of their 29 turnovers over the final two periods, and made just three shots from the field over the game’s final 16 minutes.

“West Mifflin is super athletic,” said Lady Scots coach Brian Pritts. “We knew we didn’t match up with their athleticism.

“In the first half, we did a wonderful job of slowing down the tempo and boxing out and holding them to one shot.

“But I think we put so much emphasis on defense, we forgot to score.”

Monica Poupakis added eight points for West Mifflin, while Jessica Pritts chipped in seven points and a team-high six rebounds.

Jamie Henry led Southmoreland with eight points, and she pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.

Trailing 10-3, Southmoreland closed the first quarter with a 6-0 run, highlighted by two Amanda Gross free throws, and baskets by Miranda Mills and Henry.

Leading 23-14, West Mifflin ran off an 8-0 run midway through the third quarter to take a 31-14 lead.

After a Henry basket with 6:56 to play made it 35-19, West Mifflin scored the game’s final 13 points.

“Brian really had them prepared well,” Shar said.

“They stayed in that 2-3 zone and tried to make us throw it up from the outside. But we were just bigger, stronger and quicker than they were.”

After a preliminary round victory last week, Southmoreland now has victories in the postseason in back-to-back years, with last season’s win being the school’s first ever.

“Nobody expected us to be here,” Pritts said.

“We lost Vanessa Abel and Anna Kaufman and that’s 45 points we graduated. But we went 18-7, made it to the playoffs and won a game.

“I’m very proud of the kids.”