York Catholic boots Bermudian on the boards
The Bermudian Springs players knew they had their work cut out for them ahead of Friday's girls' basketball game against York Catholic.
Although Bermudian returns three senior starters to York Catholic's one, the Eagles came in averaging 23.2 fewer points per game than the Irish.
York Catholic used dominant rebounding to snuff out any hope for the Eagles, earning a 59-31 win.
"Going in, we knew we had to own the boards, and make the outlet pass ahead for transition," Bermudian head coach Kari Cover said.
But at halftime, the Irish held a 31-13 edge on the boards and led 28-14.
"The key for us was controlling the boards and taking whatever the defense gave us," York Catholic head coach Kevin Bankos said.
What the Bermudian defense gave them was plenty of looks in transition in the first 16 minutes.
"The first half, we didn't do well (limiting transition)," Cover said.
Thirty seconds in, junior Kate Bauhof, the only returning starter for the Irish, came up with a steal, raced into the frontcourt, and found Katy Rader for a baseline jumper.
The Irish threw in some nice work in the half-court offense in the following possessions.
After another Rader layup, Bauhof received and inbound pass from Kara Duchek and scored to make it 6-0 at the six-minute mark.
The Irish made it three scoring possessions in a row when Duchek passed to a cutting Jania Wright for another layup.
"Tonight, when we ran the offense, the kids did a good job of executing," Bankos said.
York Catholic trapped after baskets early, and forced the Eagles to play up-tempo.
"If we had the open look (we wanted to play fast)," Cover said. "But we knew we had to slow it down, get good shots, and take time off the clock to prevent (York Catholic) from scoring."
Trailing 15-2, Bermudian's Kenzie Farley was fouled shooting a 3 at the first-quarter buzzer.
She completed the daunting task of hitting three free throws while all alone on the court.
York Catholic extended the lead when Bauhof converted two defensive rebound-to-coast-to-coast drives into four points late in the second.
The teams traded baskets in the third before York Catholic's reserves put on a show in the fourth.
Gabby Emeigh scored eight points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Eagles.
"We've struggled with shooting," Cover said. "I think it's gonna develop. We have inexperienced players, a lot of underclassmen having confidence issues. The best thing is that it's early and that's something that is very fixable."
York Catholic (59)
Kate Bauhof 6 6-6 18, Duchek 1 0-0 2, Kepner 2 0-1 4, Reed 0 0-0 0, Brier 1 1-6 3, Jania Wright 5 2-3 12, Sterner 0 0-0 0, Emily Laslo 5 1-2 11, Strayer 1 1-1 3, Rader 2 0-0 4, Citrone 1 0-0 2, Lake 0 0-0 0. Totals - 24 11-19 59.
Bermudian Springs (31)
Kuykendall 0 0-0 0, MacKenzie Farley 4 5-5 14, Yacapsin 1 1-2 3, Yinger 2 0-2 4, E. Lambert 1 0-0 2, Wolf 0 0-0 0, Boyer 0 0-0 0, Emeigh 2 3-10 8, Smith 0 0-0 0, P. Lambert 0 0-0 0. Totals - 10 9-19 31.
York Catholic _15 _13 _15_16_ — _59
Bermudian Springs _5 _9 _12_5_ — _31
3-point goals: YC 0. BeS 2 (Farley, Emeigh).
JV score — York Catholic 36, Bermudian Springs 14