Jaguars’ balance bites Armstrong

By JOSE NEGRON

jnegron@yourmvi.com

It might not have won Thomas Jefferson a title Tuesday, but a solid defensive effort certainly brought the fifth-seeded Jaguars one step closer as they rolled past No. 12 Armstrong, 47-23, in the first round of the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs at Mt. Lebanon. 

“We did our job defensively,” Thomas Jefferson head coach Lisa Fairman said. “We were prepared for what they were going to run, so I felt that we executed our gameplan defensively. 

“I would have liked to have seen more defensive boards and a little bit more transition because I think that’s something we do very well, but for some reason we didn’t get as many transition opportunities as I would have liked.” 

To complement their strong defensive showing, the Jaguars (17-6) featured balance on the offensive side of ball. 

Four players finished with nine points or more, as Dalaney Ranallo led the way with a game-high 11 points. Graci Fairman poured in 10, while Alyssa DeAngelo and Maddy Trainer each finished with nine. TJ’s fifth starter, Lydia Shaw, contributed on the defensive end and finished with five points. 

“That’s huge, that’s what it really takes (to win games) because I don’t really think you can zone in on one or two particular players on our team. If you do, we’ve got two or three other kids that are capable of knocking down shots,” Lisa Fairman said of her team’s balance. “When we do that, it’s hard to defend. That’s something we have to do consistently.” 

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