Mustangs' 2nd-half run pushes back Dallastown
Luckily for South Western, it didn't need the same heroics that its junior varsity team needed to defeat Division I stalwart Dallastown on Thursday night.
The Mustangs junior varsity team beat the Wildcats in exciting and controversial fashion earlier in the night, when Missy Klecker hit a buzzer-beating jumper as time expired right after her team had been awarded a timeout when Dallastown appeared to have possession.
The varsity game seemed headed toward a similar ending, as the two teams traded baskets in the first quarter and went to halftime with the Mustangs leading 20-19. But South Western (3-1, 2-0 YAIAA Division I) started the second half on an 8-0 run and coasted to a 44-33 win, its first victory against Dallastown in more than five years.
“We talked about just settling down and we did some good stuff that second half," South Western coach Kevin Klunk said. "We talked about how there’s no six-point basket, there’s no 10-point basket. Little by little, we got stops on defense and went down and scored. That’s how we’re gonna have to play.”
It was the second straight division game in which Dallastown came out flat to start the second half and let the game get away.
“We’ve got to figure out how to keep the same energy and rhythm that we had before halftime," Wildcats coach Mary Manlove said. "We’re playing a lot of young kids, it’s new. It’s not gonna happen overnight, it’s not gonna happen in four games. But I guarantee these kids are working hard and staying positive.”
South Western freshman Taylor Geiman led all scorers with 18 points, including nine in the first quarter.
“She’s incredible," Manlove said of Geiman after seeing her play in person for the first time. "I have not seen a talented player like that in quite some time. She’s a six-foot guard that can make anything from the outside and she changes the dynamic inside; she blocks shots, she’s aggressive, she’s mobile, she has a handle that’s better than a point guard. And she makes other kids around her better, she’s not selfish. She’s phenomenal.”
Shipley added 10 points for the Mustangs, and Samantha Miller led Dallastown with 11 points.
South Western looks to keep its perfect Division I record alive when it visits Central York on Friday. Dallastown will host Spring Grove.
South Western 44, Dallastown 33
South Western (44): Taylor Geiman 6 5-9 18, Jacey Shipley 2 6-8 10, Laykin Feeser 2 2-3 6, Taylor Gough 2 2-2 6, Lily Soullaird 2 0-0 4. Totals - 14 15-22 44.
Dallastown (33): Samantha Miller 5 1-2 11, Julia Sutton 2 4-6 8, Natalie Gettle 1 2-2 4, Samantha Smith 1 0-0 2, Lily Jamison 1 0-0 2, Brianna Robinson 1 0-0 2, Sabrina Stough 1 0-0 2, Lyndee Anders 1 0-0 2. Totals - 13 7-10 33.
Dallastown_ 7 _ 12 _ 9 _ 5 _ — _ 33
South Western_ 10 _ 10 _ 14 _ 10 _ — _ 44
3-point goals: South Western 1 (Geiman), Dallastown 0.
JV score — South Western 37-36.