North Catholic caps perfect section season
JEFFERSON TWP — Playing North Catholic’s girls basketball team is difficult enough anytime.
Doing so without three of your starters? Virtually impossible.
Knoch’s girls were faced with such a challenge Thursday night in their own gym, falling behind 20-0 in the first six minutes and dropping a 56-29 decision to the Trojanettes.
“They were without three of their starters and that’s obviously a huge factor tonight,” North Catholic coach Molly Rottmann said. “Take three starters away from any basketball team and that team is going to struggle.”
Knoch (12-9, 7-5) played without starters Karlee Buterbaugh, CeCe Kosecki and Neah Ewing. Buterbaugh and Kosecki are out with injuries and Ewing was ill.
“Our girls went out and played hard, didn’t back down at all,” Knoch coach Shane McGraw said. “I just respect how good that North Catholic team is. I’m impressed by their focus and intensity.
“You can tell by watching them warm up how into the game they are. They take their basketball very seriously, they work at it all year long and it shows in the way they play.”
North Catholic (14-6, 12-0) capped a perfect Section 1-4A season in winning its 103rd consecutive section game. That streak will now carry over into next season.
The Trojanettes had a 15-0 lead before the Knights were able tro get off a field-goal attempt. Knoch turned the ball over on its first six possessions. The Knights got on the scoreboard with a pair of Neveah Ewing free throws with 1:52 left in the opening quarter.
“They are so tenacious on defense,” McGraw said. “They are as well-coached as they are talented.”
Knoch managed only two field goals in the first half as the Trojanettes took a 40-9 lead into halftime. The mercy clock ran for the entire second half.
“We had 12 assists on our 17 field goals in the first half,” Rottmann said. “That’s an outstanding ratio. We were making the extra pass.”
The Trojanettes enjoyed a 35-8 rebounding advantage. Freshman forward Lauren Reitz led North with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Alayna Rocco contributed 16 points, sinking four treys, and Brady Wehner had 13 points, five assists and five steals.
Emma Shoemaker came off the bench to snare nine rebounds for the Trojanettes. Sarah Loughry had six assists and three steals.
“Lauren had a double-double by halftime, an outstanding game for her,” Rottmann said. “We haven’t had Ava Walker (injury) and Alayna didn’t play a couple of games because her legs were bothering her.
“We talked to Lauren about having to step up and do more. She responded tonight.”
Knoch outscored North Cathol;ic 20-16 in the second half. Ewing had eight points and Adah Fuiller seven to lead the Knights.
“We just kept playing basketball,” McGraw said. “You never stop working. You never stop trying. I’m proud of the effort our girls put out there tonight.
“We’re hoping to have all Karlee, Neah and CeCe all back next week. We should be fully healthy for the playoffs.”
NORTH CATHOLIC 56
Leah Larson 0-0 0-0 0, Brady Wehner 6-11 0-0 13, Alayna Rocco 6-11 0-0 16, Sarah Loughry 0-3 0-0 0, Lyndsay Luff 1-3 0-0 2, Lauren Reitz 7-11 3-4 17, Lauren Mihm 3-4 0-0 6, Emma Shoemaker 1-2 0-0 2, Alexa Stoltz 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 24-46 3-4 56.
KNOCH 29
Adah Fuller 2-12 2-3 7, Nayurelle Ewing 2-9 3-4 8, Olivia Foster 2-4 0-0n5, Lauren Bowser 2-5 0-0 6, Jada Burgard 1-2 0-0 3, Abby Hawk 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 9-32 5-7 29.
N. Catholic 22 18 8 8 — 56
Knoch 6 3 8 12 — 29
3-point goals: North Catholic 5 (Wehner, Rocco 4), Knoch 6 (Fuller, Ewing, Foster, Bowser 2, Burgard)
JV: North Catholic, 54-13 (NC: Alexa Stoltz 11, K: Jada Burgard 8)
Saturday: North Catholic at Oakland Catholic
Monday: Laurel at Knoch
