Filles rally past Lady Colonials, 67-60, for first win of season
Evan Sanders
Laurel Highlands’ Gianna Johns (3) and Albert Gallatin’s Abby King battle for possession of a rebound during Monday’s Section 3-AAAAA girls basketball game at Albert Gallatin High School.
Albert Gallatin's Cassie Fisher (11) drives to the hoop past Laurel Highlands' Mia Fuller (32) during Monday's Section 3-AAAAA girls basketball game at Albert Gallatin High School.
Evan Sanders
Albert Gallatin’s Hailey Siba (12) and Laurel Highlands’ Taylor Eagle battle for a rebound during the first half of Monday’s Section 3-AAAAA girls basketball game at Albert Gallatin High School.
YORK RUN — Laurel Highlands used a strong fourth quarter to rally for a 67-60 Section 3-AAAAA girls basketball victory over the Lady Colonials at Albert Gallatin High School on Monday night.
The Fillies (1-5, 1-13) and coach Kenny Riddell earned their first victory of the season after outscoring the Lady Colonials, 20-9, in the fourth.
“This was a 100 percent team effort and all the credit goes to the girls,” Riddell said. “We are just happy to see all the hard work pay off and I am very proud of them.”
Albert Gallatin (0-6, 3-8) held a 51-47 lead after three, but Laurel Highlands used a 10-2 run in the first 2:35 to take a 57-53 lead.
Meg McDonald opened the quarter with a drive to cut the deficit to 51-49, and Kylie Miller tied the game at 51-51.
Miller put the Fillies ahead, 54-51, with a 3-pointer, and after the Lady Colonials’ Monica Saunders scored inside for two of her team-high 21 points, McDonald nailed a 3-pointer.
McDonald led all scorers with 22 points on nine field goals, including one 3-pointer, and was 3-of-3 at the foul line. Miller added 15 on five field goals, including one 3-pointer, and was 4-of-5 at the line.
“Meg (McDonald) put us on her back tonight,” Riddell said. “She was on fire shooting the ball.”
Albert Gallatin cut the lead to 63-58 with 2:37 remaining when Emily Mocccaldi connected on two free throws but LH was able to finish the game off at the foul line. Moccaldi scored 11 points on three 3-pointers and two free throws.
Laurel Highlands shot 9-of-15 at the line as a team, and Riddell was proud that his team limited its turnovers in the second half.
“Without looking at the numbers, I would say we did a better job of taking care of the ball in the second half,” Riddell said. “We forced it a bit in the first half. I think we came out with a little bit of jitters. I didn’t see the numbers but I feel like we did a pretty good job of hitting our free throws.”
Both teams shot well coming out in the first, and the Fillies took a 19-18 lead heading into the second. McDonald scored nine of her 22 in the first and Saunders scored eight in the opening frame.
“I think we have to be more disciplined in certain situations in running the offense we want to run,” Albert Gallatin coach Ellen Hildebrand said. “I think sometimes they don’t realize they don’t have to take that transition shot. We are learning how to win and how important every possession is.”
The Lady Colonials outscored Laurel Highlands, 18-10, in the second for a 36-29 halftime lead. Moccaldi made two 3-pointers in the quarter and freshman Abby King, who scored 15 for Albert Gallatin, tallied six in the second.
“Abby (King) has had some good games for us,” Hildebrand said. “We also start a sophomore in Anaejah (Harris), but she got in some foul trouble early, and then got in foul trouble again. I thought we needed more intensity in certain situations, especially towards the end of the game.
“This team has come a long way and we are in games and battling. We just have to understand certain situations.”
The Fillies used a 18-15 advantage in the third to trail by four (51-47) heading into the final frame.
“We just kept fighting and I am very proud of the girls,” Riddell said. “We got a good job out of Taylor (Eagle) tonight, as well as Gianna (Johns). I thought Mia (Fuller) did a real nice job on defense tonight.
“Taylor (Smith) has so much composure I forget she is a freshman. Kylie (Miller) had excellent ball handling. Jenna (Wingrove) and Brooke (Kusniar) came off the bench, and Ayanna (Harris) gave us a bucket and played really good defense. I am probably forgetting somebody, but like I said, it was a total team effort.”
Laurel Highlands travels to Greensburg Salem (4-2, 6-7) for a section game on Thursday, while the Lady Colonials look for their first section victory when they host Uniontown (2-4, 3-9) on Thursday. Both games are scheduled to tip-off at 7:30 p.m.