Altoona entry knocks off Williamsburg for title
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By Michael Boytim
mboytim@altoonamirror.com
HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Williamsburg coach Amy Hileman said her team was using the Blair Regional YMCA Summer Basketball League to challenge itself against higher-level high school basketball and alumni-team competition.
But in Thursday's high school girls championship game, it was Altoona's entry using Williamsburg for some major regular-season preparation.
Beard Legal Group used a full-court press early to score the first 10 points of the game and get the ball out of Williamsburg point guard LeeAnna Royer's hands and then used a zone to combat incoming freshman forward Levada Gorsuch, who was at least a head taller than any Altoona players, in a 45-26 victory.
"We just wanted to get the ball out of (Royer's) hands," Beard Legal Group coach Chris Fleegle said. "Every article in the paper between Building II and here has been about her, so we wanted to let other people do something early and keep her from getting going. I think it helped and we did that."
The zone defense worked inside as Gorsuch was held to three points.
"We played a lot of zone, which is not something we have done much of at Altoona the last four years," Fleegle said. "We have been working on that this summer and should be able to use it this year. We're obviously not that big, and in the Mid Penn, there are a couple teams that have 6-foot players or multiple 6-foot players. In order for us to stay in those games, we have good enough guards, but we have to eliminate the size difference we face."
Altoona played several young players last season who got their feet wet in the YMCA league. Now, they're veterans like Melana Eyer, who scored 16 points, including two 3-pointers during Beard Legal Group's game-opening 10-0 run.
"As a team, we have grown from last year," Eyer said. "We know how to play with each other better. We have grown a lot more confident. We're very skilled, and we play hard. That combined can win championships."
Williamsburg was led by Anastasia Ranalli's 16 points. Ranalli saw limited varsity minutes last season but is ready to contribute to next year's team. She, along with Royer, is left-handed, which makes the Lady Pirates' offense more versatile.
"It's definitely nice to attack both sides of the basket," Hileman said. "Most of the time, everyone wants to force you left. We'll take it. We should be able to attack from every position once the regular season starts."
No one else on Williamsburg scored more than four points.
"They learn about getting frustrated and not being able to do what you want to do at times," Hileman said. "They learn to keep playing through it. I always tell them to have the next-play mentality and not get upset. That's something kids learn as they go from being a freshman to a senior."
Williamsburg defeated State College in overtime on Tuesday to make Thursday's championship game.
"I am proud of the girls' growth this summer and the success we had," Hileman said. "To make it to the championship game in this league is a great achievement, especially when we are playing with one returning starter right now. These girls have come a long way in a short time. We lost tonight to a tough Altoona team, but our play overall this summer makes me hopeful for a great regular season to come."
Jaiden Krull added 12 points for Beard Legal Group, and Lanie Wilt scored nine points for the champions, who lost just one game in the league this summer.
"This feels good," Fleegle said. "We struggled to shoot a little tonight, but we played hard on the defensive end. In the second half, we kicked it into another gear and got some separation."
BEARD LEGAL GROUP (ALTOONA) (45): M. Eyer 5 2-2 16, Hollabaugh 0 0-0 0, Krull 6 0-2 12, Wilt 3 3-6 9, Nguyen-Moore 3 0-0 6, Berardinelli 1 0-0 2, Knorr 0 0-0 0, Beltz 0 0-0 0, Cuspert 0 0-0 0, Harpster 0 0-0 0, L. Eyer 0 0-0 0, Alexander 0 0-0 0, Lantzy 0 0-0 0. Totals -- 18 5-10 45.
WILLIAMSBURG (26): L. Royer 1 1-2 4, R. Prough 0 0-0 0, Ranalli 6 4-7 16, Palmer 0 1-2 1, Gorsuch 1 1-2 3, Stewart 1 0-2 2, Carper 0 0-0 0, G. Colbert 0 0-0 0, A. Colbert 0 0-0 0. Totals -- 9 7-15 26.
SCORE BY HALVES
Beard Legal Group 23 22 -- 45
Williamsburg 11 15 -- 26
3-point goals: Beard Legal Group 4 (M. Eyer 4); Williamsburg 1 (L. Royer).
Officials: Craig Andros, Bill Pfeffer, Dan Amrhein.