Lesson found in a loss
JACKSON TWP — Seneca Valley coach Rob Lombardo has a vision of what his girls basketball team could be like in a couple of years.
He hopes it resembles the Shaler squad the Raiders faced Thursday.
The Titans scored the game's first 10 points and 23 of the first 24 on their way to a 65-27 Section 3-AAAA victory.
The Titans had four seniors in the starting lineup and seven on the roster while Seneca Valley had three senior on the roster and just one, Angie Lalonde, in the starting lineup.
“They've been building that team for three years,” said Lombardo. “These are growing pains. ... We didn't represent ourselves well tonight. The next two years, we'll make strides and then maybe we'll be in the catbird's seat.”
The Raiders couldn't handle the Titans' full-court press, which resulted in turnover after turnover.
Shannon Powell and Hilary Sauer had six points apiece in helping Shaler (8-2, 3-1) build that 23-1 lead with 33 seconds left in the first period.
The Raiders (4-6, 0-3) closed out the frame with a 3-pointer by Karlei Fronzaglio and a pair of free throws by Bri Sieminski.
The Titans opened the second quarter with two free throws by Val McQuade, then baskets by Ashley Domachowski and McQuade to take a 29-6 lead. The held a 36-11 advantage at the break.
Titans coach Eric Mozzetti used 10 players in the first half and eight of them scored.
His depth gives him the opportunity to substitute with experienced players, and Mozzetti isn't shy about pulling those who aren't giving the required effort.
“We won't allow them to let up,” said Titans coach Eric Mozzetti. “They gotta understand you're doing what's best for them.”
The Titans received 16 points from Hilary Sauer, 11 off the bench from Kate Potter — including all three of the Titans' 3-pointers — and 10 points from McQuade.
The Raiders had 10 players score, led by Alyssa Miller's five points.
“Eric's done a great job,” said Lombardo. “He has the type of program we want to build.”
SHALER 65Hilary Sauer 4 8-8 16, Ashley Domachowski 3 0-0 6, Val McQuade 4 2-3 10, Haley Sauer 1 0-0 2, Shannon Powell 3 1-2 7, Aila Bradford 0 0-0 0, Lauren Edwards 0 0-0 0, Paige Quinn 1 0-0 2, Courtney Bauer 0 0-0 0, C.J. Harris 1 1-2 3, Kelly Barry 3 0-0 6, Kate Potter 3 2-2 11, Abby Conrad 1 0-0 2. Totals: 24 14-17 65.
SENECA VALLEY 27Julia Vandrak 1 0-0 2, Karlei Fronzaglio 1 0-0 3, Angie Lalonde 0 0-0 0, Alex Karika 2 0-0 4, Abby Trzeciak 1 1-3 3, Brooke Clifford 1 0-0 2, Kaitlyn Eagle 0 0-0 0, Alyssa Miller 2 0-0 5, Kelly Hensler 0 0-0 0, Katie Brown 0 0-0 0, Mary Kate Fullerton 1 0-0 3, Bri Sieminski 0 2-2 2, Amanda Geiger 1 1-2 3, Ally Sanderbeck 0 0-0 0.
Totals: 10 4-7 27.
Shaler 23 13 23 6—65Seneca Valley 6 5 10 6—273-point goals: Shaler 3 (Potter 3); Seneca Valley 3 (Fronzaglio, Miller, Fullerton).
Monday: Seneca Valley at Pine-Richland
