Running Away
BUFFALO TWP — It’s the kind of run North Catholic’s opponents have been on the wrong end of many, many times.
In the latest case, it turned a tight Section 1 4-A girls basketball game into a runaway for the Trojanettes.
Trailing host Freeport 9-5 midway through the first quarter Monday night, North hit the Yellowjackets with a tidal wave in the form of a 35-7 run that used up the rest of the first half.
The Trojanettes went on to post a 66-28 victory.
“I thought we shared the ball incredibly well,” said North coach Molly Rottmann. “We were able to make that extra pass in transition and got some good looks from the outside.”
For the game, the Trojanettes shot 39 percent (nine of 23) from 3-point range, with Alayna Rocco sinking four of them.
“We knew it was going to be a challenge because they run the court very well,” said Freeport coach Fred Soilis. “They pressed us, but I thought we handled it well. Where we lost the game was in transition, gave up too many baskets, but that’s easily fixable.”
North (5-2, 2-0) began it’s impressive run with a 3-pointer from Sarah Loughry with 3:44 left in the first quarter. Fittingly, it ended with another trey, from Anna Waskiewicz, just before the halftime buzzer to give the Trojanettes a 40-16 lead.
North welcomed back junior guard Ava Walker, who missed all of last year with a knee injury. She came off the bench to score four points. As a freshman two years ago, she averaged 10.3 points and six rebounds per game.
“She was cleared to play last week and has gotten in just two practices,” Rottmann said. “We’re easing her back into things, but she’s just going to make us even more versatile.”
Rocco led all scorers with 22 points and Dacia Lewandowski added 11. Waskiewicz had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Freeport (3-5, 1-1) received 11 points from Melaina DeZort.
“Our record is not indicative of how well we played,” said Soilis. “Our first two losses were both by one point to Plum and Fox Chapel.
“The girls are giving a great effort. We’re playing much more as a team and the difference from last year is like night and day. I think we’re realizing how good we can be.”
NORTH CATHOLIC 66
Sarah Loughry 4 0-0 9, Anna Waskiewicz 4 1-2 10, Dacia Lewandowski 4 2-2 11, Alayna Rocco 9 0-0 22, Tori Drevna 1 0-0 3, Kaitlyn Tavella 1 2-2 5, Ava Walker 2 0-0 4, Annabelle Pawlowicz 1 0-1 2. Totals: 26 5-7 66.
FREEPORT 28
Jaden Gaillot 1 1-2 3, Natalie Volek 1 0-0 2, Morgan Croney 1 0-0 3, Ava Soilis 1 2-4 4, Melaina DeZort 4 1-2 11, Tess Keller 2 0-0 5, Brooke Kmetz 0 0-0 0. Totals: 10 4-8 28.
North Catholic 18 22 15 11 — 66
Freeport 10 6 6 6 — 28
3-point goals: North Catholic 9 (Rocco 4, Lewandowski, Waskiewicz, Loughry, Drevna, Tavella); Freeport 4 (DeZort 2, Croney, Keller).
Thursday: Seneca Valley at North Catholic
Dec. 27: Freeport at St. Joseph Tournament
