BY MIKE MASTOVICH
SIDMAN — Both Forest Hills and West York enter the second round of the PIAA Class AAA girls basketball playoffs in unfamiliar territory.
The District 6 Class AAA champion Rangers (19-6) won their first state playoff game, 48-42, over Manheim Central. Likewise, West York was a 42-38 winner over Mount St. Joseph Academy in the Bulldogs’ first-ever tournament appearance.
Rangers coach Carol Cecere knows her team has the tools to advance even deeper in the playoffs. She wanted to make sure her players understood as much before their imminent encounter against a 28-2 District 3 team.
“We started practicing Monday, and things were a little too quiet,” Cecere said as her Rangers prepared for tonight’s 7 o’clock game at Chambersburg Area High School. “I said, ‘Girls, we’re here too. This isn’t a fluke.’ At this point it can be anybody’s game. Everybody is good at this point.”
The Bulldogs are good – and balanced. Paige Elliott, a 5-foot-8 senior guard, has a team-best 14.3 scoring average. Senior Ann Deibert, who stands 6-1, averages 8.9 points and 5.2 rebounds a game. Senior guard Zona Smith (7.6 points a game), senior guard Liz Kane (6.8), senior guard Marlee Folckomer (5.5) and sophomore guard Olivia Manges (4.4) each contribute to the offense. Smith averages 5.4 assists and four steals, and Elliott hauls in seven rebounds a game.
“We know they have five solid seniors that start. They’ve been grooming these girls for success,” Cecere said. “This is the first time they’ve entered the PIAA tournament in school history. I see some similarities. The difference is I have a pretty young team with some seniors who definitely contribute. They have five seniors and a sophomore off of the bench.
“They only have two losses. We’ve practiced very hard to control their stellar point guard, Zona Smith. Casey Gallaher and Becky Bard are working on containing her dribble penetration. They have a 6-foot-1 girl (Deibert), a lefty, who likes to shoot from the high post a lot. They’re a full-court, man-to-man pressure team. Paige Elliott has a real nice turn-around jump shot from the block. We’re trying to keep her further out. Trinity beat them by keeping them further out. They like to drive the lane.”
Sophomore Becky Bard tops the Rangers with 11.5 points a game and also chips in with 2.5 steals and 2.2 assists a game. Senior 1,000-point scorer Teddi Burkett averages 10.7 points and 6.3 rebounds a game. Gallaher, a freshman, scores 10.4 points a game and averages 3.4 assists and 2.8 steals. Junior Amy Wiesheier pulled down 6.7 rebounds a game, and senior Chloe Wieczorek averages four boards and 6.2 points a night. Sophomore Jess Diflauro has a 5.6 rebound average and 4.8 points a game.
“We take it one game at a time. We’re very focused on getting the job done,” Cecere said. “I have a great group of girls. It’s fun to be around them. They’re good basketball players. Some of them are great basketball players. They’re really good kids. This team is just a very special one. No matter what happens, the season has been truly successful for them. I think they’re still hungry.”
