Lady Trojans rebound with 70-17 win over Geibel
COAL CENTER — After a 0-3 start for the California girls basketball team this season, the Lady Trojans regrouped and played a fundamentally sound game in all phases and routed Geibel Catholic, 70-17, Thursday night in both squads’ Section 3-A opener.
The two-time defending section champion faced three tough non-section opponents to start the year in Keystone, Slippery Rock and Frazier.
“We had no panic or desperation heading into tonight’s game,” Cal coach Chris Minerd said. “The first three games were against some tough opponents and we were trying to find our identity. I only have two returning starters and we just didn’t play well in those games. We didn’t dwell on it too much and the girls knew the real season started tonight with the section opener.”
The Lady Trojans (1-3, 1-0) were able to capture its first win of the 2015-16 campaign with a steady, pressing defense and a well-balanced offense that saw 10 players reach the score sheet.
Cal was led by three players in double figures, as Jenna Miller and Bailey Vig scored 14 points apiece and Marissa Bitoni chipped in with 13.
“Perhaps our identity is our balance on offense,” Minerd said. “In my years of coaching I always wanted three players in double figures. It doesn’t matter who gets the points, but we need that balance. We got a lot of contributions from our bench and we passed the ball well. We don’t have the height we had last year, and our goal on defense is to hold teams to under 40 points.”
Grace Nowicki was the high scorer for the Lady Gators (0-3, 0-1) with nine points.
“Cal is a good team and there’s a reason why they are a two-time defending section champion,” Geibel Catholic coach Patrick Blackstone said. “We have to improve our reaction time and our ball movement on offense. Our press breaker was 10 times better than the last two games, so we are calming down a little when we are faced with pressure. It’s a work in progress.”
After the teams exchanged baskets to start the contest, the Lady Trojans broke away from a 6-4 lead with a 12-2 rally to end the opening quarter. Cal had six different players score a point in the first period.
Cal opened the second quarter with a 16-4 spree, headlined by a pair of treys by Olivia Porter. The home team ended the first half by scorring nine of the final 12 points for a 43-13 lead at halftime.
The Lady Trojans started the third period with nine consecutive points and after a free throw by Geibel’s Piper Scarry, Cal invoked the 40-point mercy rule and running clock with a pair of foul shots from Miller.
Cal held a 19-1 edge in the third quarter and with the running clock in effect in the fourth quarter, the home team took an 8-3 scoring advantage in the final eight minutes of play.
Both teams will be back in section action on Monday, as Cal travels to Avella and Geibel hosts Monessen.
“We hope this is a kick-starter for us,” Minerd said. “Now every game matters and this is a competitive section. There is no room for error and the last two seasons we had to go undefeated in section play to win the section. Jefferson is right there with us and I think both West Greene and Fort Cherry are off to hot starts.”