Lifeless Leps on losing end against Scotties

By JEREMY SELLEW

jsellew@yourmvi.com

No life, no energy. That was Belle Vernon Area’s downfall Thursday.

On the other side of the court, Southmoreland was full of life for the second straight game.

Three players scored in double figures for the Scotties and sophomore Maddie Moore scored eight points and ripped down 12 rebounds in a 48-34 win on the Leopards’ floor.

“We started the season a little sluggish,” Scotties head coach Amber Cernuto said. “Now, the past two games we’ve really started to play within ourselves and everyone is accepting their roles and stepping up. They played really well.”

The Scotties dominated the boards and played with passion, just two games after suffering their first loss of the season to West Mifflin. It was a performance Cernuto was proud of.

Gracie Spadaro finished with a game-high 18 points, Olivia Cernuto added 12 points and Delaynie Morvosh netted 10.

“Those three girls each know that when one of them is having an off night, they back each other up and the others step up,” Amber Cernuto said. “Tonight, Delaynie was a little distant early on. She got back into the game in the second half and played really well.”

For the Leopards, Taylor Rodriguez scored a team-high 14 points and Viva Kreis added 10. But for most of the game, it seemed as if the Leopards were in a walk through and lacked physicality.

“Our energy level was way too low,” BVA head coach Kaitlyn Slagus said. “In the first half, we missed so many layups and it didn’t look like we wanted to be out there.

“Throughout the game, we really struggled boxing out. When it comes down to it, we need to be tougher. We needed girls in the game that wanted to find a body and box someone out underneath.”

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