PIAA basketball tournament: How North Catholic girls’ scout team has driven Trojanettes into semifinals
CRANBERRY TWP — If North Catholic’s girls basketball team makes its first PIAA final since 2019, the work that goes on behind the curtain will be a large reason why.
Senior Lyndsay Luff, sophomores Alexa Stolz and Maggie Tatar, and freshmen Mia McDowell and Khristina Rushak have all worked behind the scenes to help the Trojanettes’ varsity team, simulating upcoming opponents as part of the scout team.
“Would you rather be out there playing in the game?” North Catholic coach Molly Rottmann asked rhetorically after her team’s practice Tuesday. “But, they’re freshmen and sophomores, and it’s a great experience — and they do a really great job at it. They’re engaged on the bench because they know what the other team is running, so, on Saturday (against Blackhawk), they were yelling stuff out and helping their teammates.”
Members of the scout team step into the shoes of a certain opposing players, running the upcoming opponent’s plays to display their tendencies.
“Just trying to be the best version of them that I can show to the starters,” Tatar said.
“You have to have a good mindset of, ‘You have to do what is expected and play hard, play well,’” Rushak said.
Stolz enjoys watching film and trying to simulate what she digests on the court, giving her a perspective of how other players operate. The Trojanettes (25-4) will square off with District 12 third-place finisher Lansdale Catholic (22-5) Saturday for a trip to the PIAA Class 4A title game.
Forward Grace McDonough, point guard Sanyiah Littlejohn and shooting guard Nadia Yemola star for the Crusaders. McDonough (James Madison) and Littlejohn (George Mason) are Division I pledges, while Yemola (Kutztown) is headed to the PSAC.
“(Lansdale Catholic coach Tom Lonergan will) run sets to try to get the big, McDonough, isolated in the post,” Rottmann said. “He’ll try to get sets where he’ll get Littlejohn to get 1-on-1 on a clear-out. As far as us, with our scout, we are working on defending the post and making sure we’re in the gaps. ... They’ll learn a bunch of the sets that they run, and we’ll work on where we want to be and how we want to defend them.”
Rushak will fill McDonough’s role during the rest of Trojanettes’ practices leading up to Saturday. Tatar will act as Littlejohn.
Unlike the varsity players, the scout team players have to manage double the workload, compartmentalizing other teams’ strategies and their own.
The Crusaders also run a mix of defenses, including man-to-man, a 1-3-1 half-court trap, and a 2-3. This season, North Catholic has had trouble breaking pressure at times. Rottmann cheers on the scout team as it frustrates her varsity group, knowing it benefits both groups.
“They put in so much time on the court, and they’re high-level players,” Rushak said. “Knowing that we can give them a little bit of trouble sometimes is confidence-building.”
“If we can get you rattled, if we can get you out of your comfort zone, you’re going to be better in an actual game,” Rottmann said.
Rottmann added Saturday’s 51-44 comeback win against Blackhawk was a “direct reflection” of practices. The scout team, Rushak said, memorized 13 of the Cougars’ plays. The Trojanettes trailed them by 12 points halfway through the second quarter, then outscored them 40-33 the rest of the way.
“I knew we were gonna come back,” Luff said.
“I think we do have a big part in it,” Stolz said. “Just being there for the starters and giving them a challenge. ... I think it prepares them.”
In turn, it’s getting the younger players ready for their turn. Rottmann said she anticipates each member of the underclassman quartet making an impact next season.
“I feel like it just gives us the mentality of how hard we have to work, even if we’re not playing,” McDowell said. “There are still so many different factors that go into winning a game.”
Rottmann lauded Luff’s unselfish nature. Luff has been around for two other state semifinal runs and another quarterfinal push. She hopes to get over the hump this time.
“I just like being here with all of my friends,” Luff said. “I think, as a senior, I want them to win and succeed. I’ve been here for four years, and they’ve been close to making the (state) championship. I think it’s important to make them work hard so they have a chance.”
PIAA Class 4A Girls Basketball Semifinal
Game time: 1 p.m. Saturday, Chambersburg High School
Lansdale Catholic’s top players: Grace McDonough (sr. F, James Madison commit); Sanyiah Littlejohn (sr. G, George Mason commit); Nadia Yemola (sr. G, Kutztown commit)
North Catholic’s top players: Sarah Loughry (sr. G, Cedarville commit); Brady Wehner (so. G); Sam Weir (fr. G)
Key to the game: Rottmann said McDonough is “more of a back to the basket” player than Blackhawk’s Aubree Hupp was. Guarding the paint will be crucial.
