Feb 26, 2015 4 min read

CANONSBURG – Starting three freshmen and one sophomore often indicates a rebuilding year in WPIAL girls basketball.

On paper, Chartiers-Houston’s girls basketball team appears to lack experience, but don’t tell the Bucs that.

They believe age is only a number.

Unfortunately for the Bucs’ opponent Thursday night, games are won by making big shots and playing tough defense.

That’s exactly what they did at Canon-McMillan High School in a game to determine the WPIAL’s seventh and final entry into the PIAA Class AA playoffs.

Freshman Jules Vulcano scored seven fourth-quarter points, including two free throws with 27 seconds remaining and a game-clinching layup, to secure a 48-45 victory over eight-seeded Neshannock to advance to the state playoffs.

Chartiers-Houston (17-9) will face the District 10 champion, Harbor Creek or West Middlesex, next Friday at a site and time to be determined. The Lancers’ season ended with a 19-6 overall record.

The Bucs led by 18 points midway through the third quarter, but a combination of turnovers and Neshannock senior Madison McHale’s 19 second-half points drew the Lancers to within two points with 1:45 remaining.

Vulcano capitalized on a one-and-one opportunity with 27.7 seconds to give C-H a 46-42 lead. The Lancers answered when senior Erin Warvell drained a deep three-pointer off a double ball screen, but Vulcano, who finished with 11 points, stormed down the court and sank a layup with eight seconds left.

When McHale’s desperation three-pointer fell short, Chartiers-Houston secured the win and a state playoff appearance.

“I think I held my breath for a minute and a half at the end there,” Bucs first-year head coach Laura Montecalvo joked. “We should have never let it get to that. We had some really dumb turnovers. It was a nail-biter, but that’s what this is all about.”

Chartiers-Houston had 11 second-half turnovers, including seven in the third quarter, to allow the Lancers to narrow the deficit to nine points entering the final eight minutes.

The Bucs increased their lead to 10 points with 5:10 remaining before Neshannock answered with an 11-3 run. The run was sparked when the Lancers switched to a half-court trap defense. Though McHale dominated the second half, Chartiers-Houston’s youth was not evident for much of the game, especially the final seconds.

“It was very nerve-racking,” Vulcano said. “We had to play great defense and not let (McHale) score any more points. We had to play our best. It’s very exciting. We might not get this opportunity again, so we have to make the most of it.”

Sophomore Jala Youngblood, who scored 12 points, set up Vulcano’s late layup, and freshman forward Alexa Williamson scored a team-high 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

Chartiers-Houston outrebounded the Lancers, 29-16, including 20-4 in the first half. The result was countless second-chance points, and the Bucs capitalized often during the first 16 minutes.

“We knew we had to rebound more than they did, but they were just so much more athletic and got up over us almost every time,” Neshannock head coach Luann Grybowski said. “We tried everything we could. You have to give them credit. Vulcano scored seven points in the fourth and I thought that was the key to the game.”

Youngblood sparked a 16-0 run with eight first-half rebounds to send Chartiers-Houston to a 26-12 lead at halftime.

McHale was held to just one point in the first quarter and Neshannock, which started four seniors, was careless on offense against C-H’s zone defense. The Lancers had 20 turnovers, including five during the Bucs’ second quarter spurt.

“I’m not sure that they really knew what to do at first against that zone and I think that really helped us break away to make that lead,” Montecalvo said. “Thank goodness we had that lead because that saved us in the end.”

Montecalvo has urged her young team to box out, play with energy and outwork opponents on every possession. Facing the two teams in the WPIAL title game during section play, Seton-La Salle and Bishop Canevin, can speed up the maturation process.

“I never know what to expect and sometimes I think that’s what adds to our nerves as a staff,” Montecalvo said. “Sometimes they just make freshmen mistakes and we have to account for it in other ways. (Myers) and (Kraushaar) made great hustle plays on defense. Those things help out.”