Dynamic Duo
NORTH HUNTINGDON TWP — Sophomore Alayna Rocco and junior Dacia Lewandowski have been key components of North Catholic’s team this whole campaign.
Their presence hasn’t been more vital than it was in Tuesday night’s PIAA Class 3A girls basketball quarterfinal showdown with Forest Hills. The tandem combined for 48 points in a 60-52 triumph, vaulting the Trojanettes into the semifinal round.
Rocco’s determined first-half scoring effort prevented the Lady Rangers (21-8) from running away with the contest. She netted 15 of North’s 24 points before the break.
“Alayna kept us in it in that first half,” Trojanettes coach Molly Rottmann said. “Dacia took over from there in the second half and gave us that little push over the top.”
At halftime, North (22-5) had yet to hold a lead. The Trojanettes’ offense had trouble getting settled and the team retreated into the locker room down by seven points.
“We shot really poorly, which led to them (Forest Hills) rebounding and getting into transition,” Rottmann said. “We were struggling with the transition defense.”
Held to four points in the initial 16 minutes, Lewandowski pulled her crew to within two by ringing in the second half with an and-one and following it with another useful trip to the stripe and a basket. The run was interrupted for a minute or so as the Lady Rangers pushed their edge back to five, but once the Trojanettes found their footing, Forest Hills wobbled.
“We all knew we had to play in attack mode,” said Lewandowski, who wound up bucketing 22 points on the night. “We didn’t want to end the season short.”
A string of Rocco baskets on three subsequent possessions helped North climb ahead for the first time with 2:58 to play in the third frame. The Trojanettes wouldn’t trail again after Rocco responded to a Forest Hills and-one with a traditional three-point play of her own on the other end, evening the score at 40.
“When they surged back, we just couldn’t find any rhythm,” Forest Hills coach Carol Cecere said.
Tori Drevna’s trip to the line with 5:38 to play gave North the lead for good. Including her pair of free throw makes, the Trojanettes outscored the Rangers 14-6 in the late going, with three of Forest Hills’ points coming on an inconsequential trey with seconds left.
“As a team, we had to stay poised and stay confident,” Lewandowski said. “In the first half, we didn’t shoot as well, which (happens) in big games. In the second half, we just knew to kick it in.”
Rocco paced all scorers with 26 points. Drevna added another 10.
For the fourth time this season, the Trojanettes will cross paths with section rival Freedom, who pulled out a 56-50 victory in the waning moments of their quarterfinal matchup with River Valley.
FOREST HILLS 52
Lexington Koeck 7 2-5 18, Remingtyn Smith 5 2-3 13, Addison Schirato 5 2-6 12, Arissa Britt 2 0-2 4, Anna Burkey 1 0-0 3, Alexis Henderson 1 0-0 2. Totals: 21 6-16 52.
NORTH CATHOLIC 60
Alayna Rocco 11 4-6 26, Dacia Lewandowski 7 8-13 22, Tori Drevna 3 3-3 10, Carys Mundy 1 0-0 2. Totals: 22 15-22 60.
Forest Hills 15 16 11 10 – 52
North Catholic 10 14 18 18 – 60
3-point goals: Forest Hills 4 (Koeck 2, Smith, Burkey); North Catholic 1 (Drevna)
Friday: PIAA Class 3A semifinal, North Catholic vs. Freedom
