Jan 15, 2015 4 min read

FREDERICKTOWN – Beth-Center’s girls basketball program had fallen on tough times. Despite having one of the best players in the area in Anna Bartman, the Bulldogs finished with a combined record of 6-33 the past two seasons.

Competing in the WPIAL playoffs was an afterthought. That changed with the arrival of a strong freshman class this season.

Though point guard Kinlee Whited is the lone freshman starter for Beth-Center, the class has combined with a strong group of returners to turn the Bulldogs into a contender.

Thursday night dotted the exclamation point on Beth-Center’s season.

Bartman and Whited combined for 29 points, and the Bulldogs used a relentless defensive effort, to defeat Charleroi, 43-38, in a Section 4-AA game.

The victory catapults Beth-Center (5-2, 7-3) into a tie for second place with the Cougars (5-2, 9-6), who won the first meeting between the teams Dec. 11, 47-39, when the Bulldogs were shut out in the second quarter.

“This is a huge win for us,” Bartman said. “It puts us at the top of the section and keeps us going. Going from 3-15 to 3-18 to 7-3 is a huge jump. Our freshmen have made the difference.”

Beth-Center led throughout, but the Cougars climbed to within three points with 4:28 remaining. The Bulldogs turned to Bartman, one of the best guards in the area.

Bartman, who finished with a team-high 16 points, drove the baseline, sank a layup and made the ensuing foul shot for a three-point play with 3:04 left to give the Bulldogs a six-point lead. Charleroi climbed to within four points on freshman Kaitlyn Riley’s baseline jumper. Bartman then took the ball down the floor and dribbled around the Cougars, from the right baseline to the left, draining 30 seconds off the clock and drawing a foul. She sank two of four free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.

“We have a good mix of young players and seniors,” Beth-Center head coach Stephen Beyer said. “Kinlee did a great job getting the ball to the basket in the first half and really disrupted their defense. When the game was close, Anna wanted the ball and took over the game.”

The difference this time was the growth of Whited, who showed little fear driving into Charleroi’s pressure-heavy defense. The 5-8 guard scored 12 of her 13 points in the first half to help Beth-Center grab a 25-20 lead at halftime.

The Bulldogs started the game on a 9-2 run behind senior Ally Trippy, who forced two turnovers in the first three minutes and converted with points in transition. The Cougars pulled to within three when Whited dribbled around a defender and through the zone defense for two easy layins.

Charleroi fought back behind freshman forward Sierra Short, who scored a game-high 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, but Whited’s three-point play with 3:20 before halftime gave the Bulldogs a three-point lead.

“We had a tough time guarding (Whited),” Charleroi head coach Joe Grodz said. “She was penetrating our pressure defense way too easily and that defeats the purpose of that defense. They played a heck of a game. Beth-Center came out intense and ready to play.”

The Bulldogs were aware of the Cougars’ high-scoring offense. Charleroi entered Thursday averaging almost 50 points per game with its offense centering around the play of Short inside. Beyer used a 3-2 zone to contain her and challenge the Cougars to make shots from the outside.

Charleroi did not make a three-pointer and was held at bay behind the tough play of Beth-Center’s guards. The Bulldogs also outrebounded the Cougars, 28-20.

Though the season is far from over, Beth-Center is in second place in its section and is aiming for its first section title since 2010. Having a nine-player rotation, including three freshman receiving key minutes, the Bulldogs are thriving.

“The first few games of the season were rough,” Bartman said. “The freshmen have gotten the experience under them and they have really trusted the upper classmen. They’re confident with the ball and it makes a big difference.”