HOLLIDAYSBURG - Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic's Elyssa Ehredt and Halee Adams have been a one-two punch known to give teams problems in most, if not all, aspects of the game.
Ehredt and Adams not only led the offensive production on Thursday, but they also had a lot of help, offensively and defensively.
Led by Ehredt and Adams, BG was able to capitalize on several scoring chances as the Lady Marauders routed Blacklick Valley, 72-22, in the District 6 Class A quarterfinals at the Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School Gymnasium.
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Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
BG’s Brittany Boslet gets around BV’s Maura Smay.
Coach Mark Moschella was impressed with how his team came out following a first-round bye, especially on offense.
"I thought that offensively we got off to a great start in the first quarter," Moschella said. "It took us a few minutes to get settled defensively, but once we did, especially the last three quarters, we played very well."
Ehredt scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds for BG, and Adams added her game-high 16 points.
Moschella attributed much of BG's early success to forwards Courtney Becker and Kate Meck.
"I think that all started with rebounding,'' he said. "I thought Courtney Becker and Kate Meck did a great job getting us out of the gate."
The opening quarter showed signs of being a shootout as each team was able to score at prime opportunities. The Lady Marauders took a 25-16 into the second period.
Moschella credited much of Blacklick's first quarter success to Alison Verba. Verba scored a team-high 10 points.
"They have a lot of nice athletes on their team," he said. "[Verba's] a presence inside. It took us a little bit to understand what their strengths were, and I think our kids made great adjustments."
Once the second quarter got started, the Lady Marauders' offense was able to score at will.
BG outscored Blacklick, 19-4, in the second quarter, which was capped off by a follow-up by Ehredt from Becker. BG led, 44-20, at the intermission.
Ehredt credited Becker and Meck for the opportunities they created for her and her teammates.
"We always focus on rebounds," Ehredt said. "If [Becker and Meck] rebound the ball, we know they will get the ball to us up the court."
Adams and Ehredt hold high respect for each other's play.
"Elyssa runs the floor so well. She gets the rebounds," Adams said. "She's the first one down the court, and she never takes a play off. I love playing with her."
"We complement each other well," Ehredt said.
The Lady Marauders made matters even more difficult for the Lady Vikings by shutting them out, 17-0, in the third quarter.
"Coach always tells us the third quarter is the most important quarter of the game," Ehredt said. "We knew we had to come out with great defense, and that's what we did."
It took until the 6:47 mark of the game's closing quarter for the Lady Vikings to score again. BG outscored them in the second half, 28-2.
The Lady Marauders move on to the semifinals where they will meet fifth seed Conemaugh Valley at a site, date and time to be announced.
"The semifinals is probably one of the most important games you are going to play because if you win, that puts you into a guarantee that you will be in the state tournament," Moschella said.
Game notes: Bishop Guilfoyle was 16-of-22 from the foul line. The Marauders had two additional scorers in double figures as Brittany Boslet scored 13 points and Devin Stessney added 12. Blacklick Valley coach Larry Narin declined to comment.
BLACKLICK VALLEY (22): Smay 0 0-0 0, Verba 5 0-1 10, Hancharick 0 0-0 0, Marsh 1 0-0 2, Rhoades 2 1-1 6, Kish 0 0-0 0, Sheesley 0 0-0 0, Campbell 0 0-0 0, Fenchack 0 0-0 0, Goldian 0 0-0 0, Roberts 1 1-3 4. Totals - 9 1-3 22
BISHOP GUILFOYLE (72): H. Adams 6 3-4 16, Ehredt 5 4-6 14, Bates 2 0-0 4, Stessney 4 2-4 12, Meck 2 0-0 4, Becker 1 4-4 6, Boslet 5 1-2 13, Bender 0 0-0 0, Craig 1 1-2 3. Totals - 26 16-22 72
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Blacklick Valley16 4 0 2 - 22
Bishop Guilfoyle25 19 17 11 - 72
3-point field goals: Blacklick Valley 2 (Rhoades, Roberts); Bishop Guilfoyle 4 (Stessney 2, Boslet 2)
Records: Blacklick Valley (13-11); Bishop Guilfoyle (21-2).
Officials: Enoch Ferencz, Ray Hoppel, Rex Maylor.
