McKeesport girls top OC; No. 2 Chartiers Valley up next
By Ashley Chase
MVI Sports
A “total team effort” led to a convincing 59-43 victory for No. 7 McKeesport as the Tigers knocked out No. 10 Oakland Catholic to advance to the WPIAL 5A girls basketball quarterfinals.
A trio of Tigers – sophomore Avionna Menifee and seniors Carmen Coles and Haley Hertzler – combined for 46 of the team’s 59 points, while six total players made their way onto the scoresheet.
“I thought today was just a complete game,” said Tigers head coach Eric Smith. “We never really had lapses. We’ve had such balance, that’s just the mentality that they have. We won this game, not today, but through hard practices.”
The first quarter didn’t produce a wealth of offense.
Oakland Catholic (11-10) got into foul trouble in the quarter, sending the Tigers’ Menifee to the charity stripe where she earned her first five points of the game.
McKeesport (16-4) used its press and quick hands on defense to force turnovers and earn transition opportunities.
Early in the first, Coles raced in to score after a steal and pass by Menifee. The Eagles made back-to-back baskets and leading scorer Alexa Washington knocked down a three to make it 11-7.
With a minute left in the first, Madison Hertzler drove and finished a lay-in and was fouled. She completed the three-point play and brought the Tigers back within one. Oakland Catholic led 11-10 at the end of the first.
After a Washington basket that gave the Eagles a 17-12 advantage, the Tigers went on the prowl.
McKeesport used an 8-0 run in a two-minute span to reclaim the lead for the first time since midway through the first.
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