Eagles fly into WPIAL semis
By JEREMY SELLEW
jsellew@yourmvi.com
Second-seeded Serra Catholic started fast and never let up, easily advancing to the WPIAL semifinals with a 60-37 win over No. 10 Carlynton Thursday on the Eagles’ home floor.
The Eagles led 17-4 after the first quarter and 35-14 at the half as their pressure defense forced the Cougars (10-10) into 18 first-half turnovers.
“We got off to a really fast start,” Serra Catholic coach Bill Cleary said. “Our defense forced a lot of turnovers, we finished better at the basket and we were able to knock down our shots. We were able to do what we like to do.”
The Eagles jumped out to a 7-0 lead after Nicole Pawlowski knocked down a 3-pointer three minutes in. After Carlynton’s Naima Turner got her team on the board, the Eagles went on a 10-2 run to close out the quarter behind a drive to the basket by Chloe Pordash and a second trey by Pawlowski.
“The one thing different in this game is we were able to get the ball into the post and kick out to our shooters,” Cleary said. “South Side Area really packed it in on us and we weren’t able to do that Tuesday.”
Pordash, who led the Eagles with a game-high 15 points, buried a three to start off the second and make the lead 20-4 before Turner scored a transition layup for Carlynton.
But freshman Cate Clarke and sophomore Caroline Malandra continued sparking the offense for the Eagles (15-0) in the second.
Clarke scored five straight points, hitting a jumper and finishing off a three-point play, and Malandra had five straight at one point with a layup and a 3-pointer.
“Our practices have been pretty competitive,” Cleary said. “We have three groups and I was happy I got to get all three into the game. But when girls like Caroline and Cate come in, we don’t miss a beat. They get a lot of confidence playing with the upperclassmen.”
Carlynton’s Chloe Williams scored the final five points of the half on a pair of free throws and a three-point play to close the final 16 minutes.
“We’re a balanced team, so it’s really tough for teams to defend us and key on one player,” Cleary said. “We had a few turnovers in that first half, but I think it was a matter of us being a little too unselfish. We have to make sure we’re not passing up good shots or layups.”
Cleary also lauded the play of senior forward Chloe Honick, who finished with 10 points and had a double-double, grabbing 10 rebounds.
She scored the first six Serra points in the second half to kick off a 10-1 run for the Eagles.
“Chloe never gives up on a play. She’s in there diving for balls, battling on the boards … she’s always on the floor and on the boards,” Cleary said. “Her and Rylee (Campbell) are tough in the post. Today, Chloe did a good job finishing around the basket.”
Pordash drained another 3-pointer with 3:19 left in the third quarter, it was the last basket in the frame for the Eagles. But they still led 48-21 after three.
Pordash canned another shot from behind the arc to kick off the fourth and Lida Wos added another two minutes later as the lead swelled to 56-24 before Cleary emptied his bench.
“That last freshman group really held their own out there,” Cleary said. “In a tournament like this, you’re going to need everybody. I’ve told them that before and it’s going to hold true.”
With the win, the Eagles advance to the semifinals and will host No. 3 Winchester Thurston (12-3) Tuesday at 6 p.m.
“They were in our section the last couple years. We know them and they know us. We’ll break down the film and get ready to go,” Cleary said. “I know they still have some talent, so it will be a much different game.”
