Rebounding does the trick again for Washington in win
Charleroi’s Aislyn Lee shot gets her shot block by Washington’s Tajah Gordon during a game at Charleroi High School Thursday.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Washington High assistant coach Greg Papson, left, and head coach Mike Maltoney talks to their players during a game at Charleroi High School on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016.
Washington’s Torri Finley (24) takes a shot against Charleroi’s Maria Claybaugh during Thursday’s game.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Washington's Torri Finley tries to block Charleroi's Kaitlyn Riley during a game at Charleroi High School on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Washington's Carley Allen tries to get past Charleroi's Adrianna Gottheld during a game at Charleroi High School on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Washington's Tajah Gordon-Heley tries to get past Charleroi's Kaitlyn Riley during a game at Charleroi High School on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016.
CHARLEROI – Every play and every swing of momentum seemed to be going according to plan for Charleroi head coach Kevin Lee.
His press defense was effective, Washington was struggling to make shots and most important, the Prexies were in foul trouble for much of this key Section 4-AA game.
All the Cougars had to do was execute on offense – make layups, take advantage of free throws and capitalize in transition.
All three proved to be elusive and for the second time this season, it was the Prexies’ rebounding that made the difference.
Wash High created second chances, limited Charleroi’s open looks and sealed a 40-36 win at the free throw line in front of a large crowd on the road.
The victory put the Prexies (9-1, 15-4) in sole possession of first place and the opportunity to clinch a second consecutive section title. The Cougars (8-2, 14-6) saw another opportunity slip through their grasp.
Wash High held a 47-18 rebounding advantage, including a game-high 19 by senior forward Mikala Maltony, and made 7 of 9 free throws in the final eight minutes to secure its fifth consecutive win.
“That’s the game right there,” Wash High head coach Mike Maltony said of rebounding. “We controlled the boards and we knew coming in that we had to win the inside game to beat them on the road. That made the difference on a night like this.”
It was a night where the Prexies had four players with at least two personal fouls at halftime, their starting point guard fouled out in the third quarter and their leading scorer, senior forward Tajah Gordon, was in foul trouble for much of the game.
Wash High led 15-11 at halftime and increased that by as many as nine points in the third quarter before Charleroi’s outside shooting began to work and the turnovers continued to pile up for the Prexies. Cougars sophomore guard Kaitlyn Riley, who had all 11 of her points in the second half, had four in the third.
After four consecutive Wash High turnovers, Charleroi sophomore Maria Claybaugh’s turnaround jump shot cut the deficit to two points heading to the fourth quarter and Riley tied it 25-25 with a fast break layup off a steal less than a minute later. Claybaugh finished with 11 points for the Cougars.
That’s when the Prexies’ inside game took over. Gordon, who had a game-high 15 points with 15 rebounds, checked back in with three fouls and scored seven fourth-quarter points, including four in the lane within a three-minute span to give the Prexies an eight-point advantage.
Riley helped trim the deficit to five points again, but Gordon and Wash High freshman guard Haylea Ellis combined for seven free throws to secure the win. On the other hand, Charleroi was just 11 of 28 from the free throw line and struggled from the field in the fourth quarter.
“If you don’t put the ball in the basket you can’t win,” Charleroi head coach Kevin Lee said. “Defensively, we played well enough to win. We had them in foul trouble all game. We played well enough to win. I just don’t know what else we could have asked for.”
Unlike the two teams’ first meeting earlier this month, Charleroi’s press defense was effective from the opening tip. The Cougars forced 25 turnovers, making Wash High scramble defensively and leading to fouls.
Charleroi couldn’t’ take advantage. The Cougars looked tentative against Wash High’s 2-3 zone and were forcing shots from around the perimeter.
They made just one field goal, were 4 of 10 from the free throw line in the second quarter and Wash High capitalized with an 8-2 run, capped by a driving and finger-roll layup by freshman Torri Finley.
“This game was crazy with all the people here and it was just big,” Mikala Maltony said. “A lot of our fouls put our heads down, but we hung in there and everyone stepped up. Winning this kind of game gave our young players the experience of an atmosphere like this. We’ll need that.”