Big Macs feel right at home, advance to semifinals
By Dave Whipkey
For The Observer-Reporter
CANONSBURG – Regardless of what happened Tuesday evening at Canon-McMillan High School, this basketball season would be considered a historical success.
The Big Macs hosted their first WPIAL postseason game against Butler, an achievement that most assuredly would be celebrated. But they had business to attend to as they faced a chance at advancing to the Class 6A semifinals.
Business was taken care of emphatically by the Big Macs as they defended their home court with gusto by virtue of a 58-41 win. Nine different Big Macs put their name in the scoring column as they added to an already tremendous season for Canon-McMillan (14-8).
The Big Macs will play the winner of tonight’s Norwin-North Allegheny game in the semifinals Tuesday at a site and time to be determined.
Butler (11-11) has its season come to an end.
“We’ve been a good team all season at home,” Big Macs coach John Fontana said. “We’re physically fit. I believe we are 10-1 in our last 11 here. We just did our thing in the second half.”
The Golden Tornado got out to a fast start, outscoring Canon-McMillan 10-2 in the game’s early stages. Cameryn Booher led the way with eight first-quarter points for the visitors.
But Canon-McMillan got off the canvas and began hitting back as they finished the half outscoring Butler 21-10. Izabella Bobitski paced the turnaround with seven first-half points off the bench to help stem the tide.
“She’s a freshman and an outstanding athlete,” Fontana said. “She really jump-started our offense.”
The dagger for Canon-McMillan though occurred right before halftime, when Lauren Borella launched a half-court shot at the buzzer that swished to give the Big Macs a 23-17 lead at intermission. The shot seemed to inject energy into Canon-McMillan and drain some from the Golden Tornado.
“We actually practice that shot and have a lot of fun with it in practice,” Fontana said. “And when she was looking at the clock, then it went up and I thought it had a good chance of going in and it did. Once that went in, I kind of thought that was a backbreaker for them.”
The shot capped a 15-4 second quarter for the Big Macs. Two Samantha Miller three-pointers kept the momentum for the hosts as they took a 37-27 lead into the final quarter.
Madison Clair then went to work in the fourth quarter as she scored six of her game-high 16 points and the Big Macs pulled away.
“Madison is a great player. She can play on all three levels, and Sam, I think, is the best shooter in the WPIAL,” Fontana noted. “When she gets hot, she can shoot it around 40 percent from behind the arc.”
Miller finished with 13 points. The Big Macs made nine three-pointers. After a slow start on the glass, Canon-McMillan outrebounded the Golden Tornado 33-25.
“They came out and shot the ball really well early,” Fontana said regarding Butler’s fast start. “They’re a good team and well-coached. But generally on the road those things tend to turn around. I told our girls just keep doing what you’re doing and it will turn around.”
Booher led Butler with 12 points while Avery Maier and Amelia McMichael added 10 each for the visitors.