Lady Gators show their resilience in 41-31 win over Waynesburg Central
Evan Sanders
Geibel Catholic’s Grace Nowicki (left) drives to the hoop, keeping away from Waynesburg Central’s Lauren Rose during Wednesday’s game in the Geibel Tournament in non-section girls action at Geibel Middle/Senior High School.
Evan Sanders
Geibel Catholic’s Grace Nowicki drives to the hoop and draws the foul on Waynesburg Central’s Claire Garber during a non-section girls game at Geibel Catholic.
Waynesburg Central’s Elle Hampson (right) drives to the hoop against Geibel Catholic during a game last year at Geibel Catholic.
Evan Sanders
CONNELLSVILLE TWP. — Geibel Catholic’s girls basketball team learned a few things about itself on Wednesday night. The Lady Gators played almost the entire fourth quarter without senior leader Grace Nowicki, who fouled out with 18 points at the 7:44 mark.
Instead of wilting to the pressure, Geibel Catholic used a 9-3 run to build a 40-25 lead over Waynesburg Central (0-6) on the way to a 41-31 win in the first night of the Geibel Catholic Holiday Tournament.
“I’m proud of the way we had to learn situational basketball,” said Geibel coach Patrick Blackstone.
“And I’m pleased with the way everyone became a leader and put the game on themselves. Our defense helped extend leads twice. I’m very proud and happy with the outcome.”
Geibel Catholic (3-3) lost starters Nowicki, Gabby Kolencik, and Gabby Yourish on fouls, while Waynesburg Central had starters Claire Garber and Elle Hampson in foul trouble by halftime.
“Claire and Elle and even Shea (Echegaray) were in foul trouble,” said Waynesburg coach John Garber. “We’re very young and inexperienced. We’re learning every game. We played hard offensively and defensively and cut the lead to eight, but never got closer.”
Neither team came out strong as the first quarter ended in a 4-4 deadlock. But after Waynesburg took its third and final lead on a Shay Echegaray free throw to start the second quarter, the Lady Gators went on an 8-0 run led by six Nowicki points and two more points from Yourish.
Bree Echegary’s basket interrupted the run before Geibel scored the final three points of the half on an end-to-end dive by Piper Scarry and a Nowicki free throw for a 15-7 lead.
Geibel Catholic slowly widened the lead in the third quarter before after Waynesburg cut the lead to 21-13 in a Bree Echegaray rebound basket, and again at 30-22 on three points by Julianna Fowler to end the period.
Nowicki made it 31-22 in a free throw, but fouled out less than a half minute later.
But Yourish drove to score and Sidney Anderson scored three points to build a 36-23 lead. Minutes later, Hannah Geary and Anderson scored baskets to build an insurmountable 40-25 lead.
Bree Echegaray led Waynesburg with eight points.
The Lady Raiders will play Propel Andrew Street in tonight’s 6 p.m. consolation game while Geibel Catholic will play Southmoreland in the championship game at 7:30 p.m.