Lady Hilltoppers are ready to run...
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THE CHOPS
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- Joined: October 24th, 2003, 10:42 am
- Location: SCOTTDALE, PA.
Lady Hilltoppers are ready to run...
Hilltoppers ready to run....
THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT
The Westmont Hilltop girls basketball team has reached a new plateau, but an old nemesis still stands in the way.
Last season, the District #6-(AA) champion Westmont squad entered the P.I.A.A. playoffs with great expectations and high hopes only to fall to Greensburg Central Catholic in the first round.
Today the Hilltoppers have their spot in the Western Final and a trip to Chocolatetown on the line.
Their opponent? Greensburg Central Catholic in an 8 p.m. battle at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Fieldhouse.
"Greensburg Central Catholic, we lost to them last year in the first round of interdistricts at Johnstown," said Westmont coach Jodi Hillegass. "They made it to the Western Final last year."
The Lady Centurions, who started the season with a 7-5 mark, lost to Avonworth in the District #7 championship game before marching past their first two opponents in the P.I.A.A. playoffs, Riverview 73-48, in the first round, and 49-37 over Bishop Guilfoyle.
Greensburg squandered a 22-point third-quarter lead against Elite Eight opponent Lakeview before escaping with a 49-46 victory. The District #10 champs held the Centurions without a basket in the final 9:10 of the game and outscored them 20-3 in the fourth before losing on a last-second block.
Westmont, which lost to Bishop Guilfoyle in the District #6 title tilt, downed Girard, 56-38, belted District #7
champ Avonworth, 56-46, and edged North East, 55-52, in the quarters. But the Hilltoppers also let a big lead get away in the third quarter against the Lady Grapepickers.
The Centurions are led by 5-foot-10 sophomore Ashley Henderson, who Hillegass labels as quick in the point guard slot while the Westmont coach says Maggie Gibson, a 6-1 junior forward, is a real strong force. Gibson had 13 points and 13 rebounds against Lakeview while Henderson added 12 points.
The other starters for Greensburg are 6-1 junior guard Lauren Donahoe, 5-8 junior guard Alex Palcic and 5-7 sophomore guard Kayla Marghella, who went down with a knee injury against Lakeview.
"Last year Donahoe hit three 3's against us and killed us," Hillegass said. "They're big and athletic. They're quick and they go pretty deep on their bench. This is going to be a tough challenge for us."
Key bench players for the Centurions are guard Jill Gregory, who supplied 10 points against Lakeview, guard Danielle Rickard and forward Christie Bettle.
The Westmont players have put the effort of the team ahead of individual performances, with girls unselfishly filling positions and playing roles as required.
When the Hilltoppers lost starter 6-2 junior forward Alison Buchan in the opening round against Girard, 5-10 senior guard Deanna Roberts came in to fill the slot.
"Deanna Roberts now is enjoying being a starter, and she's stepped up her play," said Hillegass. "She was the sixth man all year. She didn't like that much, but she gave that up for the team. Now, she's really stepped up. She averaged about four points all year, but since the playoffs have started she's averaging nine a game."
Against North East, Westmont was led by 5-11 sophomore forward/guard Kelly Britcher, who scored 21 points while Roberts added 10.
The other starters for Westmont include 5-7 senior point guard Kaitlin Urban, who runs the show and distributes the ball for the Hilltoppers but can also step up and score for the team.
Kristen Maurer, a 5-9 senior guard/forward and 5-10 junior forward/guard Katie Lintner round out the starting rotation for Westmont and each has made contributions at key times during the playoffs.
Off the bench, 5-6 junior guard Ali Battaglia nailed a pair of key 3-pointers in the fourth quarter against North East while 5-8 sophomore Natalie Sheehan and 5-5 sophomore Karlee McQuillen provided tough defensive efforts.
Nicki Waligora, a 5-11 senior forward, has been injured much of the season but has been cleared to play for the Hilltoppers and gives the team added depth at the forward position.
The Centurions were able to use a loss to Bishop Guilfoyle last year to fuel their success past the Lady Marauders in the second round.
Can Westmont apply the same formula?
"That's one of the things we're using as motivation," Hillegass said. "They're the one's that knocked us out last year, and I've been keeping an eye on them all year."
"THE CHOPS".
THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT
The Westmont Hilltop girls basketball team has reached a new plateau, but an old nemesis still stands in the way.
Last season, the District #6-(AA) champion Westmont squad entered the P.I.A.A. playoffs with great expectations and high hopes only to fall to Greensburg Central Catholic in the first round.
Today the Hilltoppers have their spot in the Western Final and a trip to Chocolatetown on the line.
Their opponent? Greensburg Central Catholic in an 8 p.m. battle at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Fieldhouse.
"Greensburg Central Catholic, we lost to them last year in the first round of interdistricts at Johnstown," said Westmont coach Jodi Hillegass. "They made it to the Western Final last year."
The Lady Centurions, who started the season with a 7-5 mark, lost to Avonworth in the District #7 championship game before marching past their first two opponents in the P.I.A.A. playoffs, Riverview 73-48, in the first round, and 49-37 over Bishop Guilfoyle.
Greensburg squandered a 22-point third-quarter lead against Elite Eight opponent Lakeview before escaping with a 49-46 victory. The District #10 champs held the Centurions without a basket in the final 9:10 of the game and outscored them 20-3 in the fourth before losing on a last-second block.
Westmont, which lost to Bishop Guilfoyle in the District #6 title tilt, downed Girard, 56-38, belted District #7
champ Avonworth, 56-46, and edged North East, 55-52, in the quarters. But the Hilltoppers also let a big lead get away in the third quarter against the Lady Grapepickers.
The Centurions are led by 5-foot-10 sophomore Ashley Henderson, who Hillegass labels as quick in the point guard slot while the Westmont coach says Maggie Gibson, a 6-1 junior forward, is a real strong force. Gibson had 13 points and 13 rebounds against Lakeview while Henderson added 12 points.
The other starters for Greensburg are 6-1 junior guard Lauren Donahoe, 5-8 junior guard Alex Palcic and 5-7 sophomore guard Kayla Marghella, who went down with a knee injury against Lakeview.
"Last year Donahoe hit three 3's against us and killed us," Hillegass said. "They're big and athletic. They're quick and they go pretty deep on their bench. This is going to be a tough challenge for us."
Key bench players for the Centurions are guard Jill Gregory, who supplied 10 points against Lakeview, guard Danielle Rickard and forward Christie Bettle.
The Westmont players have put the effort of the team ahead of individual performances, with girls unselfishly filling positions and playing roles as required.
When the Hilltoppers lost starter 6-2 junior forward Alison Buchan in the opening round against Girard, 5-10 senior guard Deanna Roberts came in to fill the slot.
"Deanna Roberts now is enjoying being a starter, and she's stepped up her play," said Hillegass. "She was the sixth man all year. She didn't like that much, but she gave that up for the team. Now, she's really stepped up. She averaged about four points all year, but since the playoffs have started she's averaging nine a game."
Against North East, Westmont was led by 5-11 sophomore forward/guard Kelly Britcher, who scored 21 points while Roberts added 10.
The other starters for Westmont include 5-7 senior point guard Kaitlin Urban, who runs the show and distributes the ball for the Hilltoppers but can also step up and score for the team.
Kristen Maurer, a 5-9 senior guard/forward and 5-10 junior forward/guard Katie Lintner round out the starting rotation for Westmont and each has made contributions at key times during the playoffs.
Off the bench, 5-6 junior guard Ali Battaglia nailed a pair of key 3-pointers in the fourth quarter against North East while 5-8 sophomore Natalie Sheehan and 5-5 sophomore Karlee McQuillen provided tough defensive efforts.
Nicki Waligora, a 5-11 senior forward, has been injured much of the season but has been cleared to play for the Hilltoppers and gives the team added depth at the forward position.
The Centurions were able to use a loss to Bishop Guilfoyle last year to fuel their success past the Lady Marauders in the second round.
Can Westmont apply the same formula?
"That's one of the things we're using as motivation," Hillegass said. "They're the one's that knocked us out last year, and I've been keeping an eye on them all year."
"THE CHOPS".