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By Michael Boytim
mboytim@altoonamirror.com
WILLIAMSBURG -- After Bishop Guilfoyle Academy edged Williamsburg in both the District 6 Class 1A championship game and the PIAA semifinals last year, the atmosphere was electric for BG's visit to the Lady Pirates' gymnasium on Monday.
LeeAnna Royer provided an early spark for Williamsburg, which raised the decibel level even higher.
But just like last year, Bishop Guilfoyle was up for the challenge, and the Lady Marauders' defense smothered all of the home team's excitement -- and more importantly, its offense.
The Lady Blue Pirates were held to just one point in the second quarter, six points in the fourth quarter and 10 total field goals as Bishop Guilfoyle left with a 48-37 victory.
"We have really challenged our kids with the physicality that we play," BG coach Kristi Kaack said. "We have felt like in that past, Williamsburg has dominated us in that area. We made that a key over the summer of getting in the weight room and toughening up. A lot of our kids took that to heart and got a lot stronger."
That strength was evident in the job done inside on Williamsburg star sophomore Levada Gorsuch, who did not make a field goal until 2:13 remained in the game. She finished with nine points after going 7-for-10 from the foul line.
"It was really hard on Vada," Williamsburg coach Angela Detwiler said. "Every time we were trying to throw it into her, there was a double team. Even if we tried to work it around, it seemed like they kept double teaming her. It was very physical, and she was getting bumped around a lot."
BG junior Stella Yeskey spent the majority of her time on the floor shadowing Gorsuch.
"I was really proud of my kids," Kaack said. "We knew that was a big job for one person to do on their own. We just talked about that early help with whoever was guarding her. I thought Stella did a nice job, but we got into foul trouble and had to throw a couple different kids at her. I thought they all stepped up and that the help around them was really good."
Yeskey picked up her fourth foul with 6:15 to play in the third quarter, and Gorsuch made three free throws that cut BG's lead to 27-24.
Anberlyn Petrecca, who also provided good size inside and an offensive spark with 14 points, made a basket to get it back to a five-point margin before Royer and Anastasia Ranalli made back-to-back baskets that made the score 29-28 BG midway through the third.
Royer finished with a game-high 20 points before fouling out with 1:07 left.
"I think LeeAnna has the ability to do that," Detwiler said. "She worked on this little in between jumper over the summer, and she now can drive, pull up for that jumper and also shoot 3-pointers. She's a diverse point guard and can also dish the ball really well."
Petrecca's 3-pointer with 3:44 left in the third quarter followed by Morgan Ruggery's two free throws extended the lead to six, and this time Williamsburg did not recover.
"It felt really good," said Ruggery, who finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds. "We won it last year, and so we have been working really hard and trying to prepare as best we can for this game."
Williamsburg had just two field goals in the final quarter.
"Most of it is that we compete hard against each other at practice," Ruggery said. "We can kind of imitate what other teams' defenses are like when we play them."
BG improved to 2-0 despite also struggling to find its shooting form at times.
"It's great, but we tell our kids that it's only the second game of the season," Kaack said. "We don't want to get too high or too low. In fact, I thought we shot the ball very poorly tonight, so to get a win on the road and shoot the way we did -- we're just happy to walk away with a win."
Williamsburg, which beat Indiana and Forest Hills earlier this season, fell to 3-1.
"We need to work on our mental toughness," Detwiler said. "When we get down, we need to come together as a team and really push forward. Our first three wins this season, we played really good team basketball. We had some people getting double teamed tonight, and that's when we really need to work the ball around. It seemed like we were hesitant and not cutting as much if our initial play wasn't working. In the future, we have to be mentally tough and play as a team. But I'm really proud of the girls. They competed today. We lost a good group of seniors and only brought in one ninth grader. They played hard."
BISHOP GUILFOYLE (48): Adams 2 0-0 4, Querry 3 0-1 7, Ruggery 2 7-9 11, Petrecca 6 1-3 14, Yeskey 5 0-0 10, Gofus 0 0-0 0, Haigh 0 0-0 0, Homan 1 0-0 2. Totals -- 19 8-13 48.
WILLIAMSBURG (37): Royer 6 5-6 20, Prough 1 0-0 3, Gorsuch 1 7-10 9, Ranalli 1 0-0 2, G. Colbert 1 0-0 3, Kagarise 0 0-0 0, A. Colbert 0 0-0 0. Totals -- 10 12-16 37.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Bishop Guilfoyle 16 9 11 12 -- 48
Williamsburg 17 1 13 6 -- 37
3-point goals: Bishop Guilfoyle 2 (Querry, Petrecca); Williamsburg 5 (Royer 3, Prough, G. Colbert).
Records: Bishop Guilfoyle (2-0); Williamsburg (3-1).
JV: Bishop Guilfoyle, 30-6. High scorers--Raina Alexander, W, 6; Alyssa Hite, BG, 12.
Officials: Bill Musser, Tracy Cornelius, Joe Scialabba.