Tai's time
PLUM — Thomas Jefferson went cold while Mars' Tai Johnson remained red hot.
The Planets' junior guard exploded for 35 points, including nine in a pivotal fourth quarter, as Mars stayed alive in the PIAA Class 5A girls basketball playoffs with a 61-53 second-round win Wednesday at Plum High School.
“I just try to stay locked in and focused,” Johnson said. “I have confidence because I know I've put the work in. I try to translate that to playing in games.”
Thomas Jefferson coach George Vlassich heard Johnson loud and clear Wednesday night.
“She's a pure shooter,” he said, “but you go out to the perimeter to guard her and she just blows right by you. She has a great first step.”
Johnson left the game late in the fourth quarter with leg cramps, but the outcome had already been decided.
The leg cramps are a nagging problem for Johnson.
“My calves felt different today, I could feel it coming on,” she said. “I'm just glad it didn't happen earlier in the game.”
Johnson had already scored 26 points by the time the fourth quarter rolled around with the Jaguars clinging to a 44-43 lead.
Bella Pelaia and Lauren Wasylson hit a basket and two free throws, respectively, to hand Mars a 47-44 lead. Jenna Clark answered with a bucket for the Jaguars, but Johnson followed with seven straight points, including a conventional 3-point play, pushing the Planet lead to 54-46 with 2:35 to go.
“I can't say enough about Tai's performance,” said Mars coach Dana Petruska. “She came to play today.”
Just as important as Johnson's scoring touch was for Mars, so was the team's defense, which limited the Jaguars to just one field goal and three total points in the first 6:50 of the final quarter.
“We had a six-point lead at halftime (33-27) and we told our kids that we needed to build on it,” said Vlassich. “We had some good looks, but missed the shots. Mars got the momentum and ran with it.”
The Jaguars were just 3-of-16 shooting in the fourth quarter, not nearly enough to keep up with Johnson and Co.
“Nichole Sommers (senior guard) is such a tough defender for us,” Petruska said. “She's not the quickest or fastest, but she's not afraid to stick her nose in there.”
The first half was back and forth, but Marina Petruzzi and Jenna Clark scored six points in the final 30 seconds to give TJ a 33-27 lead at halftime.Clark led the Jaguars (21-5) with 21 points. Wasylson added 12 and Pelaia 10 for the Planets.“They are a great team,” Petruska said of the Jaguars. “They can all handle and shoot the ball.”Mars (21-6) will play Gateway in Saturday's state quarterfinal.THOMAS JEFFERSON 53Jenna Clark 9 3-3 21, Becca Mascaro 0 2-4 2, Shaylor Williams 3 0-0 7, Marina Petruzzi 7 2-6 19, Alyssa D'Angelo 1 0-0 3, Casey Gedman 0 1-2 1. Totals: 20 8-15 53.MARS 61Tai Johnson 14 4-4 35, Alek Johnson 1 0-0 3, Lauren Wasylson 2 6-8 12, Ellie Coffield 0 1-6 1, Bella Pelaia 4 2-2 10, Regan Kramm 0 0-0 0, Nichole Sommers 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21 13-20 61.Thomas Jeff. 13 20 11 9 — 53Mars14 13 16 18 — 613-point goals: Petruzzi 3, D'Angelo, Williams; T.Johnson 3, Wasylson 2, A.JohnsonSaturday: PIAA 5A Quartterfinal, Mars vs. Gateway, site and time TBA
