Baldwin deals blow to C-M’s playoff hopes
Canon-McMillan’s Erika Haugh fights for a second-quarter rebound with Baldwin’s Alexandra Barr Monday.
Canon-McMillan’s Daniell Parker fights for a shot through the defense of Baldwin’s Amanda Larkin during the first quarter Monday.
Katie Roupe / Observer-Reporter Canon-McMillan's Cheyenne Trest pulls up for a jump shot over Baldwin's Abigail Barr during the second quarter Monday.
CANONSBURG – Facing a team for the second time in a season can be beneficial. Tendencies are exposed, strategies are tested and coaches often find the centerpiece of their opponent’s offense.
Baldwin High School girls basketball coach Gavin Prosser does not remember every detail from the Highlanders’ seven-point win over Canon-McMillan last month, but one thing stood out – Big Macs sophomore Cheyenne Trest is difficult to stop.
Prosser mobilized his players in every fashion to contain the 5-8 guard Monday night. Though he was not entirely successful, Baldwin made eight three-pointers in the first half and the Big Macs could not overcome a difficult third quarter as the Highlanders won, 57-51, in a Section 4-AAAA game.
Baldwin (8-3, 12-7), which moved into second place with the win, made 10 three-pointers and was led by senior guard Amanda Larkin’s 16 points.
“We came out shooting really well,” Prosser said. “It was something we didn’t do well the first time we played them. It gave us confidence to keep shooting, but we almost lost it there. We found a way to get a big road win.”
Trest scored a game-high 20 points, including three three-pointers in the first half, but the Big Macs (5-6, 10-7) had trouble with turnovers in the third quarter, which had them scrambling in the closing minutes.
Canon-McMillan trailed by as many as nine points in the third quarter before a switch to a trap defense upset the Highlanders’ rhythm, forcing five turnovers. The Big Macs, however, were unable to make a field goal in the quarter, scoring all nine of their points on free throws and committing turnovers on five straight possessions.
The Big Macs made 18 of 22 attempts from the line and Trest’s two free throws with 3:16 remaining drew C-M to within one point. The full-court trap caused another turnover, but Baldwin’s Lauren Gilbert followed with a steal and her fast-break layup gave the Highlanders a 49-45 lead.
Freshman Taylor Waller’s putback with 1:55 remaining closed the gap to one point, but Baldwin made six of seven free throws in the final 90 seconds to seal the key section win.
“We took a pretty good hit in that first quarter, but to the team’s credit, they were able to fight back,” Canon-McMillan head coach Frank Zebrasky said. “This was a very important game. It makes it much, much more difficult to make the playoffs. It’s not unattainable, but Thursday’s game against Mt. Lebanon is another playoff game now.”
Baldwin’s Alex Barr started the game with a three-pointer, but Trest answered with the next five points to give Canon-McMillan the lead. The Big Macs were effective offensively in the first, but they could not keep up with the Highlanders’ shooting. Baldwin led 18-15 at the end of the quarter with all of its points coming off three-pointers.
Canon-McMillan grabbed the lead again with seven unanswered points to start the second quarter before the Highlanders went on a 14-5 run to enter halftime with a 32-27 lead.
Though Baldwin focused its defense on Trest, the sophomore kept the Big Macs in the game with 13 first-half points.
“We focused on Trest. Our girls know what Trest is capable of and to her credit, she was still able to score 20 points,” Prosser said. “That says a lot about what kind of player she is.”
Senior forward Danielle Parker scored 11 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for Canon-McMillan, and King finished with eight points.