Rottmann snares win No. 500
CRANBERRY TWP — Confetti was thrown. Team photos were snapped shortly after a commemorative plaque was presented. It was a ceremony of such that is not usually seen in so early in the state tournament.
In overpowering visiting Penn Cambria, 52-36, in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A playoffs Tuesday night, North Catholic coach Molly Rottmann picked up her 500th win with the Trojanettes.
However, it wasn’t the time for her to look back on her decorated girls basketball coaching tenure, which includes 10 WPIAL championships in 24 seasons. If you ask Rottmann, there’s more work to be done. And a lot more celebratory cake in the cafeteria to be eaten.
“It’s nice, but I wanted that win,” Rottmann said. “They (Penn Cambria) were scrappy. They were all over the place. They were absolutely causing us some issues and ... wearing us down.”
The Panthers (17-10) employed a defensive press the entire game, platooning players in an attempt to keep them fresh. At first, it didn’t appear to faze the Trojanettes, who sunk five of their initial eight shots and gained an 11-4 edge early.
In a two-and-a-half-minute span to close the opening quarter, the guests flipped the script, embarking on an 11-4 run of their own to level the scoreboard. The Panthers swished three of their four total treys during that stretch.
Junior Dacia Lewandowski and sophomore Alayna Rocco righted the ship not long into the second period, giving their team a five-point lead that would stretch to as much as nine before halftime.
The Panthers would claw back within four points twice in the third, but Rocco and junior Tori Drevna promptly responded with baskets on the following possessions.
As time went on, Penn Cambria ran out of steam. North’s Lewandowski (14 points), Rocco (16), and Drevna (15) all found their grooves.
“They come with a wealth of returning experience and then, (with) their composure on the floor, they just do a nice job,” Rottman said of Lewandowski and Rocco. “We expect a lot out of them at both ends of the floor.”
Any chance for the Panthers to make a late push evaporated as they missed on the first 12 tries they put up in the final frame. The Trojanettes (20-5) pushed their advantage to 19 points before Penn Cambria scored with 1:30 to go.
The triumph is a good start for North, which is seeking its first state crown since 2016. For now, Rottman is looking for win No. 501. Her Trojanettes will hone in on Lakeview, who defeated Avonworth, 34-27, Tuesday night.
“We’re just going to take it one game at a time right now,” Rottmann said. “It’s cliche, but it’s the truth.”
PENN CAMBRIA 36
Emily Hite 4 0-1 10, Daijah Lilly 3 2-5 8, Abby Crossman 3 0-0 7, Devon Cornell 2 0-1 4, Izzy Andersen 1 0-0 3, Marah Saleme 1 0-0 2, Bailey O’Donnell 1 0-0 2. Totals: 15 2-7 36.
NORTH CATHOLIC 52
Alayna Rocco 7 1-2 16, Tori Drevna 6 1-1 15, Dacia Lewandowski 5 4-6 14, Anastasia Peterson 2 0-0 4, Anna Waskiewicz. Totals: 21 7-12 52.
Penn Cambria 15 6 11 4 — 36
North Catholic 15 11 14 12 — 52
3-point goals: Penn Cambria 4 (Hite 2, Crossman, Andersen); North Catholic 3 (Drevna 2, Rocco)
Friday: North Catholic vs. Lakeview
