Bartman, B-C upset Wash High, head to playoffs
FREDERICKTOWN – Beth-Center’s girls basketball senior class fought through two consecutive losing seasons after making the WPIAL playoffs as freshmen in 2012.
Anna Bartman, Ally Trippy and Madison Darney never doubted the Bulldogs’ ability to return to the playoffs, especially with a promising freshman class arriving this season.
Their hard work and perseverance has paid off as Beth-Center is headed to the Class AA playoffs. Monday night’s performance over Washington should catch the attention of the playoff seeding committee and the Bulldogs’ eventual first-round opponent.
Beth-Center forced 27 turnovers, allowed just one field goal in the second half and Bartman almost eclipsed the Prexies’ point total with a game-high 22 as the Bulldogs defeated Wash High, 49-23, in a Section 4-AA game on Senior Night.
“I never saw this coming,” Bartman said of the Bulldogs’ resurgence. “We had high hopes for the freshmen coming up though and we knew with them we could win. We’re a team this year. Everyone does their part.”
The victory could jeopardize first-place Wash High’s hopes of winning a section title, while Beth-Center (8-3, 11-4) could force a three-way tie for the section championship with a win Thursday over Bentworth and help.
“We talked before the game that we didn’t want to see the seniors go,” Beth-Center head coach Stephen Beyer said. “Those girls struggled through the last two years and helped turn this around. We played for them tonight.”
Bartman shined with 22 points, including 5 of 6 from the foul line and three three-pointers, while Darney scored four points and Trippy added six.
Junior forward Destini Irey also had six points and 12 rebounds.
“Tonight was a total team win. We got contributions from everyone,” Beyer said. “Irey was a beast down low, and when Anna wasn’t making shots she was finding an open teammate.”
After a 14-point loss to Wash High (9-2, 12-8) last month, the Bulldogs wanted to attack defensively using a simple man-to-man scheme. The formula worked early and often as the Prexies had nine first-quarter turnovers and Beth-Center jumped out to a 10-0 lead in less than three minutes.
The Prexies trailed 15-6 at the end of the first and climbed to within eight points before Bartman went on a tear, scoring the final 10 points of the first half to give Beth-Center a 32-16 lead at halftime.
“That’s been the way we’ve played all year,” Wash High head coach Mike Maltony said of the turnovers. “If you can’t control the turnovers, you can’t win the game. I think Beth-Center was more excited about this game than we were. They’re playing for second place and even a shot at the section title. It’s going to be interesting and we have a lot to figure out.”
Prexies junior forward Tajah Gordon scored the first two points of the second half on free throws before Wash High’s offense went stagnant again while Bartman could not miss. The Bulldogs finished the third quarter on an 8-0 run despite having six turnovers of their own.
Wash High was led by senior forward Emmalea Beck’s six points.
Beth-Center had seven turnovers in the final eight minutes, but Wash High’s ineffective ofense did not allow the Prexies to take advantage as they attempted contested shots and deep three-pointers.
Bartman, a four-year starter, scored three more points in the fourth quarter and walked off the court to a standing ovation.
“It’s unreal to say we are undefeated at home in my last season and that it’s almost over,” Bartman said. “It’s surreal that I’ve been playing here for four years. It feels like four weeks, but we’re looking to get to the playoffs and to keep playing as long as we can.”