Inexperienced Cal girls fall to Sewickley Academy
California’s Makayla Boda drives to the basket against Sewickley Academy’s Kendall Lightcap during Tuesday’s WPIAL Class A first-round playoff game at Canon-McMillan High School.
California’s Camari Walden tries to dribble through Sewickley Academy’s Kamryn Ligghtcap (right) and Kendall Ligghtcap during Tuesday's WPIAL Class A first-round playoff game at Canon-McMillan High.
California’s Sydney Smichnick takes it to the basket against Sewickley Academy during Tuesday's WPIAL Class A first-round playoff game at Canon-McMillan High School.
California’s Makayla Boda beats the Sewickley Academy defense down the floor during a WPIAL Class A first-round playoff game at Canon-McMillan High School last season.
CANONSBURG — California started four underclassmen Tuesday night in its WPIAL Class A first round playoff game with two freshmen, a sophomore and a junior in the lineup along with senior Dajah Gudel.
The postseason inexperience became more obvious as the game went on and Sewickley Academy, the eighth-seed, downed the Lady Trojans, 56-30.
“The effort was there and the girls did not back down,” said first-year California coach Chris Niemiec. “We were in it until we got into foul trouble and slowly but surely, they pulled away.
“They went to a trap, we panicked a little bit and our inexperience at this level showed.”
California (10-11) finished with 22 turnovers, while Sewickley Academy turned it over half as many times.
The Lady Trojans were the aggressor in the first quarter and it showed as they went to the line six times in the opening four minutes.
California led 8-4 with less than two minutes to go in the first quarter, but the Panthers hit three free throws to close the quarter.
Leading 8-7 heading into the second, the Lady Trojans went cold. The Lady Panthers opened the quarter on a 17-2 run and led 25-13 at the half as the Lady Trojans only hit two baskets in the frame.
Sewickley Academy (12-7) put the game away early in the third as it opened with an 11-0 run to make the score 36-13. California had more turnovers (eight) than shot attempts (six) in the quarter and the Lady Trojans trailed 40-21 heading into the fourth quarter.
California fought until the end and with less than a minute to go, Niemiec subbed out Gudel, who received a nice ovation from the California faithful.
She then received a hug from Niemiec, as well as from his assistant and brother, Barry.
“She is 6-foot tall and about 100 pounds,” Niemiec said through laughter. “She plays with every ounce that she has, dives on the floor more than any guard and gives everything she can.”
Niemiec said the experience from the game will help the future.
“We will build on this and we have six freshmen coming in,” he said. “Numbers will help us, but for this season as a whole, I think we exceeded expectations despite being so young.
“We lost five starters from last year and we will continue to try to get it back up.”
Makayla Boda led Cal with seven points, while Kamryn Lightcap led Sewickley Academy with 19 points.