Strong starts in first, second halves lead Fillies past Lady Colonials, 59-44
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Laurel Highlands’ Taylor Smith guards Albert Gallatin’s Kylee Myers during Thursday’s Section 3-AAAAA game at Albert Gallatin High School.
Laurel Highlands' Allison Lowery and Albert Gallatin's Anajeah Harris battle for a rebound during Thursday's Section 3-AAAAA game at Albert Gallatin High School.
Laurel Highlands' Megan McDonald puts up a shot while being defended by Albert Gallatin's Janelle Johnson during Thursday's Section 3-AAAAA game at Albert Gallatin High School.
Albert Gallatin's Abby King drives for a layup in front of Laurel Highlands' Kylie Miller during Thursday's Section 3-AAAAA game at Albert Gallatin High School.
Laurel Highlands' Allison Lowery posts up in front of Albert Gallatin's Abby King to grab a rebound during Thursday's Section 3-AAAAA game at Albert Gallatin High School.
Laurel Highlands' Kylie Miller passes to Taylor Smith while being watched by Albert Gallatin's Kylee Myers during Thursday's Section 3-AAAAA game at Albert Gallatin High School.
Laurel Highlands' Allison Lowery passes to a teammate while being defended by Albert Gallatin's Abby King and Cassie Fisher during Thursday's Section 3-AAAAA game at Albert Gallatin High School.
Albert Gallatin's Abby King looks to pass while being watched by Laurel Highlands' Taylor Smith (3) and Lori Miller during Thursday's Section 3-AAAAA game at Albert Gallatin High School.
Albert Gallatin's Anajeah Harris drives to the basket while being guarded by Laurel Highlands' Kylie Miller during Thursday's Section 3-AAAAA game at Albert Gallatin.
Laurel Highlands' Lori Miller jumps up in front of Albert Gallatin's Cassie Fisher during Thursday's Section 3-AAAAA game at Albert Gallatin High School.
Laurel Highlands used runs of 10-0 in the first half and 11-0 in the second en route to a 59-44 Section 3-AAAAA victory over Albert Gallatin on Thursday at Albert Gallatin High School’s Gymnasium.
The Fillies (2-10, 3-19) avenged a 59-46 setback to the Lady Colonials (2-10, 7-14) on Jan. 15. AG was celebrating Senior Night.
“We knew they were going to be short-handed at the guard spot coming into the game, so we kind of tailored our gameplan to attack that a little bit,” Laurel Highlands coach Mark “Mookie” John said. “It definitely worked and we got out to a big lead, and we held that big lead for most of the game.
“The girls never gave up all year long, and kept focusing on getting better every day. I have to give credit to our girls, and certainly to Coach (C.J.) Gaddis and Coach (John) Robinson for just keeping after it every day.”
Laurel Highlands jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter before Albert Gallatin’s Abby King scored to stop the bleeding at 4:03 of the first. King led her team in scoring with 15 points on six field goals, and was 3 of 5 at the foul line.
The Fillies held a 9-7 edge after the run for a 19-9 lead after the first.
The Lady Colonials outscored Laurel Highlands, 16-11, in the second, and took a 25-22 lead, but the Fillies ended the quarter on an 8-0 run for a 30-25 halftime advantage.
“We went down, 25-22, and went on an 8-0 run to end the half,” John said. “And that was within the last 55 seconds.”
Laurel Highlands came out with an 11-0 run to start the third, and held a 41-25 lead after Taylor Smith’s putback before Albert Gallatin’s Kylee Myers made two free throws at 5:14.
“We knew that we had to come out hard in the third quarter, and we just lacked that intensity,” Albert Gallatin coach Ellen Hildebrand said. “There are critical points in a game where we need to make the right play, and we have not being able to execute in those situations. We have to learn how to win.”
Smith scored a game-high 22 points on nine field goals, including two 3-pointers, and was 1 of 2 at the foul line.
“Taylor (Smith) had a fabulous game tonight,” John said. “She did a great job of controlling the game and the tempo, and she’s done that all year. Taylor, as a sophomore, had an awesome year. Her commitment and dedication is there. She is a terrific scorer and plays well with Allison Lowery, who is not just a heck of an athlete or a person, but a heck of a competitor.
“I told her in practice the other day that I don’t remember a man at Penn State Fayette, a boy at Laurel Highlands or California, or a girl at Laurel Highlands that goes after a rebound stronger than anyone I’ve been around.”
The Fillies finished the third on a 12-5 run to push their advantage to 53-32 heading into the fourth.
The Lady Colonials outscored Laurel Highlands, 12-5, in the fourth.
Laurel Highlands senior Kylie Miller scored 14 points on six field goals, including two 3-pointers. Fellow senior Megan McDonald added 10 points on four field goals, including one 3-pointer, and was 1 of 1 at the line.
“What we really want to take into the offseason is the legacy that the seniors left behind,” John said. “The way that they worked and the way their attitudes were throughout the year to do whatever they could to make the team better.
“Megan McDonald, the guts that she demonstrated being out a month and a half and not playing or practicing. She had an injured knee. She said she wanted to suit up on Senior Night, and we talked to her parents, her doctor and our athletic trainer. She felt well enough to keep playing, so her guts and her determination fueled a spark to get us through the last two games.
“Kylie Miller asked if she could speak to myself, Coach Gaddis and Coach Robinson to ask what she can do better to help the team win.”
Albert Gallatin’s Olivia Miller scored 14 on four field goals, including two 3-pointers, and was 4 of 4 at the line.
The Lady Colonials honored seniors Myers, Christy Thorton, Cassie Fisher, Hailey Siba, Janelle Johnson and Gabby Taylor prior to tip-off.
“We were commending our seniors on how far they’ve come,” Hildebrand said. “My first year here, we could barely score 12-14 points a game, and we could have made the playoffs this year. We felt like we could have also had a winning season and won out, but we had some injuries and things like that, but that is what being on a team is about. You have to overcome adversity. We can only learn from our mistakes and continue to grow.”
Albert Gallatin also honored the Fillies’ McDonald and Miller.
The Lady Colonials were without starter Bryn Bezjak, who broke her finger against Connellsville on Jan. 29.
The Lady Colonials travel to California (10-4, 13-6) on Monday in a non-section game at 7:30 p.m.