In basketball, Perhaps the cruelest thing a team can do to another squad is give them false hope. That is exactly what the Bishop Guilfoyle Lady Marauders for a quarter on Friday night in Altoona.
The Lady Blue Devils jumped out to an early 7-6 lead, and for the first 8:00, thought they could play with the second-ranked AA girls team in the state.
The Lady Marauders quickly put that thought out of their minds.
A balanced Bishop Guilfoyle attack led them on a 19-4 run in the second quarter that pretty much put the game out of reach even before the halftime buzzer sounded.
Bellwood-Antis showed some sign of life early in the third quarter as center Katie Gardner posted three quick buckets and Rachael Meredith recorded one of her own to go alone with two made free throws.
However, Gardner’s effort was matched by BG’s veteran point guard Angela Greaser, who led another Marauder run with six points of her own and, in the process, gave the Lady Marauders an insurmountable 41-21 lead at the end of the third period.
The Lady Marauders then made their free throws down the stretch, including an eight-for-eight performance from senior Kylie McDougal in the fourth quarter alone, to finish off the Lady Blue Devils.
McDougal scored a team-high 11 points for the Marauders who also received nine points from Emily Kirsch and seven from Erin McGowan. BG used the win to up its regular season record to 18-7.
Bellwood-Antis was led by Katie Gardner, who scored a game high 12 points. Also contributing for the Lady Devils were Rachael Meredith with six points and Trista Sprankle with five. The loss ends Bellwood’s regular season with a 14-10 record.
The Lady Blue Devils will play a first round playoff game with Southern Huntingdon on Tuesday, February 8. The game will be held at Huntingdon High School and will tip off at 6:00.
Junior Varsity
BG’s Lauren Lestochi and Megan Sral, scoring eight and seven points respectively, led the Lady Marauders jayvees past the Lady Blue Devils 40-28. BG also received six points from both Alicia Shields and Rebecca Filler.
Jamie Smith’s eight points led Bellwood-Antis. Lauren Carter added six points for the Lady Devils who finished the season with a record of 15-7.
Bishop Guilfoyle 55 Bellwood-Antis 29
BELLWOOD-ANTIS (29): Gardner 6 0-1 12, A. Smith 1 0-0 2, Meredith 2 2-4 6, Sprankle 2 1-1 5, Worthing 0 0-0 0, Erickson 0 0-0 0, Ridgeway 0-0 0, Swanson 0 0-0 0, Claar 0 0-0 0, Ralston 0 0-0 0, Sinisi 0 0-0 0, Carter 1 0-1 2, J. Smith 1 0-0 2. Totals 13 3-7 29.
BISHOP GUILFOYLE (55): Greaser 3 0-0 6, Gartmann 2 1-2 5, Kirsch 4 1-2 9, Geishauser 1 0-0 3, McDougal 1 8-8 11, McGowan 3 0-0 7, Conner 2 1-2 5, Nagle 2 0-0 5, Sissler 0 0-0 0, Sral 0 0-0 0, Baumgartner 0 0-0 0, Filler 0 2-2 2, Rose 1 0-0 2, Lestochi 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 13-16 55.
Score By Quarters
Bellwood-Antis 7 4 10 8 – 29
Bishop Guilfoyle 6 19 16 14 – 55
3-Point Goals: Bellwood-Antis 0; Bishop Guilfoyle 4 (McGowan, Nagle, Geishauser, McDougal).
Records: Bellwood-Antis (14-10); Bishop Guilfoyle (18-7)
