Top-seeded York Catholic girls cruise to quarterfinals win
At the end of three quarters of Friday's District 3 Class AA quarterfinal round girls' basketball game between York Catholic and Oley Valley, the visiting Lynx had scored 19 points and Irish freshman Kate Bauhof had scored 20.
It was that kind of night for the top-seeded Irish, who rolled to a 58-28 victory and a spot in the semifinal round against No. 4 Trinity. The Shamrocks (13-9) beat No. 5 Wyomissing, 47-32.
On mobile? Click here to view photo gallery
The Irish (21-4) and Trinity will play on Monday at Dallastown High School at 7:30 p.m.
On Friday, York Catholic had nine different players score points, led by Bauhof's 20.
"It was exciting, because if you lose, you're done," Bauhof said. "Everybody was pumped up."
That win-or-go-home mindset was exactly what Irish head coach Kevin Bankos wanted his players have Friday as the team tries to win their 10th district crown in a row.
"If you don't win this one (game), all the rest is irrelevant," Bankos said. "The good thing about the runs that we have had is we have learned to manage the process."
The ninth-seeded Lynx (12-12) led for a total of 15 seconds after Amanda Rizzuti's 3-pointer at the 7:25 mark of the first quarter gave the visitors a 3-2 lead.
York Catholic's Marissa Ressler answered with a jumper to give the Irish a 4-3 lead and the home team never trailed from there.
In a span of less than 1:30, York Catholic moved its lead from three points to 12. Bauhof started the run with a 3-pointer, stole the Oley Valley inbounds pass and converted the ensuing layup.
"She's not a freshman to us anymore. She's a varsity basketball player," Bankos said of Bauhof.
He would add, "She likes these moments and she shot well tonight."
After the first quarter, the Irish led 21-9 and held a 38-17 advantage at halftime.
The Irish dominated offensively, defensively and on the boards. Offensively, the team recorded double digits in three of the four quarters and Hannah Laslo and Madison Dormer each scored 10 points.
Defensively, York Catholic forced 22 Lynx turnovers and held the visitors to single digits in every quarter.
York Catholic out-rebounded Oley Valley, 35-12. The five Irish starters recorded 21 rebounds, led by Laslo's eight.
"The theme of this run is that we are going to have to rebound well," Bankos said. "It's really about our guards rebounding and I was pleasantly pleased."
About the only thing the Irish didn't do well on Friday was execute from the foul line, where they finished just 2-for-19.
"I have no idea what went wrong. This is our homecourt and we should have been better," Bauhof said. "I don't know if we were nervous or what."
Oley Valley had just three players register points, led by Rizzuti's 21. The senior was 4-of-4 at the foul line and drained five 3's.
On Monday, the Irish face Trinity for the second time this season. The two teams squared off to start the season, with York Catholic grabbing a 51-47 win.
"It's an old rivalry. They are well coached. They are going to give us everything they got," Bankos said.
York Catholic 58, Oley Valley 28
OLEY VALLEY (28)
Kauffman 0 0-0 0, Wood 0 0-0 0, Sonon 0 0-0 0, Aulenbach 0 0-2 0, Matuszak 2 1-2 5, Amanda Rizzuti 6 4-4 21, L. Moyer 0 0-0, E. Moyer 1 0-0 2, Meunrer 0 0-0 0, Renninger 0 0-4 0.
Totals — 9 5-12 28.
YORK CATHOLIC (58)
Lehr 1 0-0 2, Kate Bauhof 8 0-1 20, Duchek 0 0-1 0, Madison Dormer 5 0-1 10, Ressler 3 0-2 6, Carroll 1 0-0 2, E. Laslo 2 0-4 4, Salter 0 0-0 0, Sterner 0 1-2 1, H. Laslo 5 0-0 10, Siple 1 1-4 3, Desseyn 0 0-2 0.
Totals — 26 2-19 58.
Oley Valley9829—28York Catholic2117812—58
3-point goals — OV 5 (Rizzuti 5), YC 4 (Bauhof 4).