AMD Industries, DQ advance to Grebb League girls final
Ed Thompson
AMD Industries’ Farrah Reader (left) is defended by Dax Thomas State Farm’s Jordan Petrucci during Monday night’s Budd Grebb Memorial Basketball League girls semifinal game in California. Reader totaled 13 points and 16 rebounds in AMD’s 59-49 victory.
Dairy Queen's Kaelyn Shaporko looks to shoot while being guarded by her sister, Duda Farm's Kendall Shaporka, during Monday night's Budd Grebb Memorial Basketball League semifinal game in California. Dairy Queen won, 65-41, to remain unbeaten and advance to the girls final.
AMD Industries Kaelyn Venick attempts to drive past Dax Thomas State Farm's Mandy Trainer during Monday's Budd Grebb Memorial Basketball League semifinal game in California.
The semifinals of the Budd Grebb Memorial Basketball League are in the books, and a new champion is guaranteed to be crowned.
Dax Thomas State Farm (7-4), the defending champion, fell to AMD Industries (8-3) 59-49, in a game that was way closer than the final score indicated.
“We went cold in the second half,” said Dax Thomas head coach Tom Rodriguez. “But I am proud of the girls and they gave their all.
“AMD hit shots when they had to and made free throws down the stretch.”
AMD coach Bill Wagner was pleased with his team’s performance.
“The girls played hard and made plays when we needed them,” Wagner said. “Our teams are so even, and every girl that played did well, especially Farrah Reader.
“For her to only be going into eighth grade and playing like she did against older girls, she is going to be something special.”
Reader, a member of a highly-touted Belle Vernon Area class that includes Jenna Dawson, played loud but spoke softly after the game.
“I was nervous before the game but once we started, I was alright,” she said behind a shy smile.
“It felt good out there and I am happy that we won and are playing for the championship.”
Reader finished with 13 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks.
Kaelyn Venick (Trinity) and Ashley Guidone (Thomas Jefferson) joined Reader in double figures with 17 and 11 points, respectively, while Maddy Trainer (TJ) paced Dax Thomas with a game-high 23 points.
Neither team led by more than four points in the first half, and a Reader layup at the buzzer gave AMD a 28-26 lead at halftime.
Reader picked up her fourth foul with 10:25 to play in a tied game at 36-36, and Dax Thomas started to pull away.
The defending champs were up 48-42 with 5:09 to play, but did not hit a basket the rest of the way and a 9-0 run by AMD gave it a 52-48 with 3:07 to play.
Down 48-43 with 5:09 on the clock, Guidone and Venick hit three-pointers on consecutive possessions to give AMD a 49-48 lead they would never relinquish with 4:27 to play.
A Rachel Wobrak (BVA) free throw at 2:56 made it a one-possession game at 52-49, but AMD hit seven-of-eight free throw attempts down the stretch to seal the game.
In the other semifinal, top-seed and undefeated Dairy Queen (11-0) advanced with a 65-41 win over Duda Farms (4-7).
“We started slow but was able to turn defense into offense,” said DQ coach Melanie Greco. “We moved the ball well and have one more game to go.”
“We played hard tonight and I am proud of the girls,” Duda coach Larry Cash said. “We were in it until there was about eight minutes to play and that was a great team that we played tonight.”
Brooke Poling (Frazier) led DQ with 21 points, Olivia Greco (Beth-Center) scored 15 and Chloe Jaworski (Mt. Pleasant) added 10 while Sierra Twigg (Frazier) paced Duda with 12 points.
AMD and DQ face off for the championship Wednesday night at 9 p.m.
The consolation game between Dax Thomas and Duda Farms will begin at 7 p.m. with All-Star recognition taking place at 8 p.m.