Konek pours in 34 as Lady Scotties roll past AG
Southmoreland's Cali Konek (2) shoots an open 3-point attempt against Albert Gallatin during the Southmoreland Tip-Off Tournament on Friday night. Konek hit six 3-pointers on her way to a game-high 34 points in the Lady Scotties' 75-23 victory.
Southmoreland's Cali Konek (2) launches a 3-pointer as Albert Gallatin's Kylee Myers (2) defends during the Southmoreland Tip-Off Tournament on Friday night. Konek hit six 3-pointers while scoring a game-high 34 points in the Lady Scotties' 75-23 victory.
Albert Gallatin's Bryn Bezjak (23) tries to dribbles around Southmoreland's Carissa Cyphert (13) during the Southmoreland Tip-Off Tournament on Friday night.
Albert Gallatin's Abby King (25) can't stop Southmoreland's Maggie Moore (32) from scoring inside during the Southmoreland Tip-Off Tournament on Friday night.
Southmoreland's Cali Konek (2) passes around Albert Gallatin's Cassie Fisher (11) to teammate Carissa Cyphert (13), who would then score during the Southmoreland Tip-Off Tournament on Friday night. Cyphert had 10 points in the Lady Scotties' 75-23 victory.
Southmoreland's Maggie Moore (32) scores inside against Albert Gallatin as teammate Sarah Pisula (24) looks on during the Southmoreland Tip-Off Tournament on Friday night.
Albert Gallatin's Abby King hits a 3-pointer for the Lady Colonials' first points of the game late in the first period as Southmoreland's Maggie Moore defends during the Southmoreland Tip-Off Tournament on Friday night.
Southmoreland's Maggie Moore (32) tries to block a shot by Albert Gallatin's Anajeah Harris (0) during the Southmoreland Tip-Off Tournament on Friday night.
Albert Gallatin's Abby King (25) looks to pass as Southmoreland's Cali Konek (2) defends during the Southmoreland Tip-Off Tournament on Friday night.
Rob Burchianti | Herald-Standard
Southmoreland’s Cali Konek drives strong to the hoop to score as Albert Gallatin’s Bryn Bezjak (23) contests the shot during the Southmoreland Tip-Off Tournament on Friday night.
Rob Burchianti | Herald-Standard
Albert Gallatin coach Ellen Hildebrand (second from right) talks to her team during the Southmoreland Tip-Off Tournament on Dec. 8, 2017.
Southmoreland coach Brian Pritts (kneeling) talks to his team during a timeout in their game against Albert Gallatin at the Southmoreland Tip-Off Tournament on Friday night.
ALVERTON — Cali Konek is playing for her third girls basketball team in three years so there may have been some concern as to how she would fit in with Southmoreland for her junior season.
Konek had no problem adjusting to her new teammates and her abundance of talent was on full display Friday night.
The 5-foot-7 point guard hit six 3-pointers and poured in a game-high 34 points as the Lady Scotties rolled over Albert Gallatin, 75-23, in the Southmoreland Tip-Off Tournament nightcap.
Maggie Moore turned in a double-double for the Lady Scotties with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Carissa Cyphert added 10 points, including a 3-pointer.
“I feel like I fit in well with my team,” said Konek, who also had five assists. “I’m here to make them better and also play good myself. Tonight was really fun and I was really excited to play for the first time (with Southmoreland).
“I have a lot of expectations for myself and my team as well.”
Even though Konek’s shooting touch was slightly off early on, the Lady Scotties surged to an 18-3 lead after one period as their defense smothered the Lady Colonials.
That pleased Southmoreland coach Brian Pritts even more than his team’s offensive production.
“I like the energy and the intensity the girls played defense with tonight,” Pritts said. “We’ve been preaching it. We know we have kids that can put the ball in the basket. What’s going to win tight games is playing good defense. We try to switch things up, we try to move, we try to be active. I thought they did a really nice job in the game tonight.”
Konek’s first official game with the Lady Scotties — she scored an incredible 1,045 points as a freshman at Imani Christian and played for Riverdale Baptist in Maryland last season — was impressive to Pritts as well.
“When Cali’s out there you have a good flow to the game,” Pritts said. “She knows how to play. It doesn’t have to be her shooting and scoring. She didn’t have a point and we were up 15-0. She distributes and she sees the floor well. She does a lot of the little things.
“It was a good game tonight. I’m happy with the way we came out and played.”
Albert Gallatin didn’t get on the board until Abby King hit a 3-pointer with 38 seconds left in the opening period. Lady Colonials coach Ellen Hildebrand used three early timeouts to try to get her team in gear, to no avail.
“I was trying to get them to run something together,” Hildebrand said. “I think we got a little rattled. They came at us really hard and kind of got us out of our rhythm. We really weren’t running any of our plays.
“But that’s an exceptional team. They’re going to have a good season. I tell my team there’s nothing wrong with losing to a better team. I just feel like we could play better than we played, and that’s what I’m disappointed about.”
The Lady Scotties bumped their lead up to 38-14 at halftime and then out-scored AG 24-3 in the third period for a 62-17 advantage. That frame ended when Konek dribbled up court in the final seconds and then swished an NBA-distance trey at the buzzer.
“She has range,” Pritts said, with a chuckle.
“She’s a great player,” Hildebrand said. “I saw her when she was a freshman with Imani Christian. I feel like she’s a missing piece for that team.”
Southmoreland dominated inside. Sarah Pisula and McKenzie Pirl each grabbed six rebounds in addition to Moore’s 10 boards.
“I thought Maggie played really well tonight,” Pritts said. “She scored when she had to score, she rebounds, she’s jumping. I’m really happy with her progress.
“I think all the kids played well. We’re a team. It’s not one person. We’re playing together. We do have some weapons.”
Kylee Myers led Albert Gallatin with five points. Janelle Johnson and Anajeah Harris followed with four apiece. Myers, King and freshmen Bryn Bezjak and Olivia Miller each hit a 3-pointer for AG.
Southmoreland Tip-Off Tournament
Albert Gallatin 3-11-3-7 — 23
Southmoreland 18-20-24-13 — 75
Albert Gallatin: Kylee Myers 5. Southmoreland: Cali Konek 34, Maggie Moore 14, Carissa Cyphert 10. Records: Albert Gallatin (0-1), Southmoreland (1-0).