Lee Supply rolls past Edward Jones
By JOSE NEGRON
jnegron@yourmvi.com
With just over three minutes left in the first half of its Mon Valley Independent Summer Basketball League contest against Edward Jones Wednesday night, Lee Supply found itself entrenched in a back-and-forth battle.
Then, Kaitlyn Slagus’ squad flexed its muscles by going on a 10-0 run, one that gave it a lead it wouldn’t relinquish in a 52-23 victory at Marx’s Court Time Sports Center in Elizabeth Township.
“I think they really just settled down,” Slagus said of the run, one of three significant ones her team went on in the win. “It was back-and-forth for a long time and I was really hoping that once we got on a run, we would capture the momentum. Once we could see the ball go through the hoop once, that was all we needed.”
Lee Supply’s first large run came a minute after a pair of free throws from Yough’s Makayla Dixon gave Edward Jones a 16-13 advantage.
With 3:01 on the clock, Belle Vernon Area’s Jenna Dawson hit a 3-pointer and added a floater a minute and a half later to put Lee Supply on top at 18-16.
Thomas Jefferson’s Caraline Summer hit a trey and her TJ teammate Graci Fairman followed up an offensive board with a bucket to finish off the run and give Lee Supply a 23-16 edge at halftime.
Lee Supply (2-0) continued its offensive onslaught into the second half as it opened the frame on a 13-1 run to push its lead to 36-17 with 10:44 to go. During the spurt, Dawson scored five of her 12 points, while California’s Ca’Mari Walden added four of her six.
Edward Jones (1-1) ended Lee Supply’s run with a 2 for 2 showing from the free throw line by Trinity’s Alyssa Clutter, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft. She finished with a team-high 12 points. Yough’s Laney Gerdich added nine for Edward Jones.
Clutter scored Edward Jones’ final six points, while Lee Supply ended the game on a 14-0 surge.
Fairman scored Lee Supply’s last six points and matched Dawson with 12 points. A whopping 10 Lee Supply players finished with at least two points.
“It’s awesome to have that much balance on this team,” Slagus said. “Knowing that any player you put in has the ability to put the ball through the hoop is awesome.”
While Edward Jones will now prepare for a matchup Monday with AMD Industries, Lee Supply will turn its attention to the defending champions from Dax Thomas State Farm.
“I think this gives the girls a lot of confidence. They were just talking about how excited they are to be 2-0 to start the year,” Slagus said. “State Farm is the reigning champion, so we have to go in knowing how good they are and how many girls they have returning from last year. It’s exciting to know we have a little momentum.”
AMD Industries 51,
Monessen Florist 36
The Trinity duo of Kaylin Venick and Eden Williamson combined to score 32 points in AMD’s victory over Monessen Florist Wednesday.
Venick finished with a game-high 17 points, while Williamson added 15 for AMD (2-0).
Hannah Pugliese of Penn Hills led Monessen Florist (0-2) with 11 points.
AMD held a 30-14 edge at halftime before being outscored by one in the second half.
Monessen Florist takes on Cedarbrook Monday, while AMD faces Edward Jones.
D.T. State Farm 61,
Cedarbrook 38
Dax Thomas State Farm rebounded from its season-opening loss by throttling Cedarbrook.
State Farm (1-1) held a commanding 34-13 lead at halftime and outscored Cedarbrook, 27-25, in the final 16 minutes.
Thomas Jefferson’s Lydia Zoglmann scored a game-high 15 points for State Farm. Ella Cupka of Brentwood had 14 and Serra Catholic’s Chloe Pordash added nine.
Elizabeth Forward’s Amanda Bedzik finished with 12 points to lead Cedarbrook (0-2). Katie Hoff of Our Lady of Sacred Heart chipped in with nine.
State Farm resumes play Monday against Lee Supply. Cedarbrook faces Monessen Florist.
