Lady Trojans bow out of PIAA basketball playoffs
The California girls had a tough time adjusting to Coudersport’s height advantage Friday night and the Lady Trojans’ season came to an end with a 50-23 loss at St. Mary’s High School in the first round of the PIAA Class AA basketball playoffs.
California finishes the season with an overall record of 15-9. The Falcons (21-3) advance to the quarterfinals and will play Reynolds (15-10) on Tuesday. Reynolds defeated Serra Catholic, who shared the Section 3-AA title with Greensburg C.C., one game ahead of the Lady Trojans, 36-19. Greensburg C.C. lost to Bishop McCort, 54-38.
The Lady Trojans fell behind early and never recovered. Coudersport led 19-9 after the first quarter and 27-10 at halftime. California scored only one point in the second quarter.
“We played in spurts. They are a good team. They hurt us on the boards,” said California coach Chris Minerd. “The biggest difference was their size. That was the biggest thing.”
“Offensively, they would pound it in. We didn’t have the power to stop it,” continued Minerd. “We needed to be perfect on offense. You can’t score 23 points and win a game. We were hoping for some balance, but we couldn’t sustain it.”
Coudersport ran a box-and-1 at the Lady Trojans’ Bailey Vig, holding the senior to just four points. Love’ Porter led California with nine points.
Shaelyn Black, a 6-foot junior, led the way in the first 16 minutes for Coudersport with 16 points. She finished with a game-high 19.
Haley Keck was also in double figures for the Falcons with 14 points.
“Greensburg Central Catholic sent us game film on them,” Minerd said of his scouting report on Coudersport’s height, adding, “That was nice of them to do.”
California spent Thursday night in DuBois to cut down travel time to St. Mary’s High School on the day of the game. Coudersport, the District 9 champion, was able to play closer to home in the first round and the officials were also from the district.
“We did not get the benefit of the doubt from the officials in the first half. The girls played timid,” said Minerd. “It was a perfect storm, so to speak.”
Coudersport outscored the Lady Trojans in the second half, 24-13, with the late points the result of California fouling in an attempt to get back in the game.
The playoff loss was not only the last game for six seniors (Vig, Porter, Ina Helmick, Grace Roberts, Lainey Stewart, Jordayna Whitesnake), but also for Minerd, who will step down as coach.
“There are a lot of kids I coached their whole career. I started with some in middle school,” said Minerd. “It was the right time to walk away.
“The team far exceeded my expectations this year.”
PIAA Girls Basketball Sum
Class AA
First Round
at St. Mary’s HS
California 9-1-8-5 — 23
Coudersport 19-7-10-14 — 50
California: Love’ Porter 9, Bailey Vig 4. Coudersport: Shaelyn Black 19, Haley Keck 14. Records: California (15-9), Coudersport (21-3).