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Dax Thomas State Farm clinches regular-season title

By Bill Hughes for The 3 min read
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Bill Hughes

Lee Suipply’s Keira Boff goes in for a layup against Duda Farms during J. Budd Grebb Memorial Basketball League action on Wednesday.

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Lee Supply's Aislyn Lee drives to the hoop against Duda Farms in J. Budd Grebb Memorial Basketball League action on Wednesday.

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AMD Industries coach Bill Wagner uses a timeout during J. Budd Grebb Memorial Basketball League action to teach his players, including Kinlee Whited (3), Bailey Vig (2) and Lindsay Steeber (seated) on Wednesday.

CALIFORNIA — The girls division of the J. Budd Grebb Memorial Basketball League concluded its regular season Wednesday night, and Dax Thomas State Farm clinched first place without even playing a game.

With BV Dairy Queen (6-4) forced to forfeit to Dax Thomas State Farm (9-1) due to lack of players as several are on vacation and another is in a national AAU tournament in Atlanta, AMD Industries (8-2) had little to play for except pride in its 60-41 win over Cedarbrook (2-8).

“It is good to end the regular season with a win and hopefully the girls are ready for the playoffs,” said AMD coach Bill Wagner. “We will have everyone back from vacation so that helps.”

Had BV DQ downed Dax Thomas, AMD could have forced a tie for the regular season crown.

Dax Thomas coach Dan Kovatch was informed Tuesday that his team would not play.

“We had a few players leave for vacation so we would have had a short bench,” he said. “We never like to win this way, but now we have to get ready for the playoffs.”

AMD was paced by Bailey Vig (California) with 23 points while Kinlee Whited (Beth-Center) added 12, Grace Henderson (Belle Vernon) had 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Lindsay Steeber (Belle Vernon) had eight points, six rebounds, and six assists.

Megan Kollock (Greensburg Salem) led Cedarbrook with 28 points while Sarah Stitch (Serra Catholic) gave her normal defensive effort.

“I saw a lot of improvement in all of the girls from the start of the season especially considering none of them are from the same school,” said Cedarbrook coach Dennis Stitch. “They continued to hustle and play to the end and you can’t ask for anything else.”

Lee Supply (6-4), which had already clinched the fourth and final playoff spot, downed Duda Farms (2-8) 41-29.

Duda Farms head coach Larry Cash talked about his young expansion team’s first season.

“I have seen growth throughout the season,” he said. “That is what is most important and hopefully they carry it on to their respective seasons for their schools.”

Up 8-7 halfway through a defensive-minded first half, Lee Supply scored the last 12 points of the half to take a 20-7 lead at the intermission.

Keira Boff (Belle Vernon) and Love’ Porter (California) led Lee supply with 14 points each while Kendall Shaporka (Frazier) lead Duda Farms with eight points.

The playoffs start Monday night with AMD taking on BV DQ at 7 p.m. and Dax Thomas playing Lee Supply at 8:30 p.m.

Championship Wednesday will consist of the consolation game at 7 p.m., the All-Star recognition at 8 p.m. and the championship game at 8:30 p.m.

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