WINDBER —
Instead of having to depend on one player, the Conemaugh Township girls are blessed with an offensive arsenal from which to choose.
On Wednesday night at Windber, the Indians had seven players score at least three points led by 25 from Megan Boyer, as Township defeated the Ramblers 65-38 in the WestPAC North contest.
“It definitely helps that we can spread the ball around,” Boyer said. “If someone is having an off game, they know that someone else is going to be there to pick them up. We all get along as a team and really work well together.
“Tougher defense and pushing up the intensity of the game helps get us going. Our game is running, so we use that a lot.”
Township coach Stacey Hazlett realizes that she is fortunate to have the luxury of so many talented choices.
“It’s great as a coach to know that if someone doesn’t have it on a certain night that someone else will pick it up,” Hazlett said. “We are truly a team in every single way, on and off the floor. The girls work hard together and pick each other up. I’m very happy with the girls coming off the bench. They are really producing the way that I had hoped.”
Kayla Luprek added 14 points for the Indians (10-2), who also got eight from Lyndy Baer and seven from Kelsey Smith. Windber was led by 15 points, including three 3-pointers, from Steph Ponczek.
Conemaugh Township never trailed in the game and there was just one tie at two early in the contest as the Indians rolled out to a 21-12 first-quarter edge.
In the second quarter, the Ramblers forced a few Township turnovers and turned them into points on the other end, narrowing the gap to eight, 29-21, at the half.
Windber crept as close as six points, 34-29 on a Ponczek jumper with 2:37 left in the third, but Township responded with a 12-0 run to end the frame and headed into the fourth with a 46-29 lead.
“We switched up our offense to make their defense do a couple different things and spread them out and the girls executed very well and that changed the game right there,” Hazlett said. “That’s one thing I always tell them. If offense isn’t flowing, which is going to happen, I tell them to pick up their defensive intensity and all of a sudden that offense starts coming.”
Township forced 33 Windber turnovers, including nine in the third quarter.
“They do a good job of rushing the tempo and forcing us to turn the ball over,” Windber coach Cory Pavlosky said. “The first half I thought we handled it pretty well and were patient with the ball. We rotated and got the ball inside and drew some fouls and sort of controlled the pace a little bit. We missed some bunnies and some free throws.
“In the second half, we sort of got out of what we do.”
The Ramblers (6-8) held an edge in rebounding, 34-24, with Hannah Navarro grabbing nine and Kortney Lampel, seven. Luprek topped the Indians with eight boards.
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Related Photos
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Conemaugh Township’s Megan Boyer drives around Windber’s Lauren Vasas during Wednesday’s game at Windber. John Rucosky
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Windber’s Cassie Wentz drives around Conemaugh Township’s Megan Boyer during Wednesday’s game at Windber. John Rucosky
Discussion
Teamwork carries Conemaugh Twp. past Windber girls
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