Scotties take a bite out of ’Hounds

By Dean Dellamalva Jr.

MVI Sports

The same problems that plagued the No. 6 Monessen girls team all season came out in full force in its WPIAL Class A playoff game against No. 11 Union. 

As a result, the Hounds season is over after suffering a 39-24 loss at the hands of the Scotties Thursday.

Union (10-10) was led by Elise Booker who had 14 points. Zoe Lepri had eight points and 17 rebounds, and Kendall Preuhs snared 11 boards to pace Union.

Shooting woes, terrible free throw shooting and no rhythm doomed Monessen (9-12) as did an untimely technical foul called on senior Sydney Caterino.

“We were out of sync and Sydney with her technical (foul), it changed the whole momentum of the game,” Greyhounds coach Janine Vertacnik said. “I have one senior and I have to take her off the floor and it changes everything.”

At the time, Monessen was still in the game, trailing 22-16 in the third quarter. Caterino was tied up under the basket with another player as a foul was called. The technical came as Caterino pushed Union’s Kayla Fruehstorfer.

Fruehstorfer hit both free throws, something the Hounds struggled with all night. Monessen went 8 for 22 at the charity stripe while Union went 17 of 25.

Another factor in the game was field goal shooting. The Scotties defense packed it in on defense, not allowing the Hounds to penetrate. Monessen made only eight field goals in the contest.

“One of the keys for us is to play defense, we try to get after it, and free throws tonight, we stepped to the line and knocked them down,” Union coach Rob Nogay said. “Defensively I thought we played well, missed some box outs on the back side, but I think all in all, we were looking to keep them out of the key and stay packed in so they couldn’t penetrate.”

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