Waynesburg has right mix to beat McGuffey

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Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter Waynesburg's Kaley Rohanna drives through traffic past Highlander Hailee Kay at the top of the key as the Raiders drive past McGuffey 62-32 at Waynesburg January 4. Rohanna led the Raiders with 26 points.

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Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter Waynesburg's Emma Kindervater puts in two points that expand the Raiders' late third quarter lead to 43-21 over visiting McGuffey on January 4.

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Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter Waynesburg's Emma Kindervater breaks in against McGuffey's Taylor Schumacher for a late-game steal, keeping the Raiders' offense rolling in the 62-32 victory over the visiting Highlanders on January 4.

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Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter Avery Davis lanches the buzzer beater from beyond half court that put the Raiders up 48-23 at the end of the third quarter over the visiting McGuffey Highlanders on January 4.

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Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter Avery Davis drives the baseline past McGuffey's Maura Janovich on the way to two of the 17 points she scored as the Raiders domiinated the visiting Highlanders with a 62-32 victory on January 4.

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Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter Raider Kaley Rohanna jumps past Highlander Ashlyn Moore in the the first quarter of Waynesburg's 62-32 victory over visiting McGuffey, scoring two of her team-leading 26 points in the January 4 game.

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By Joe Tuscano

For the Observer-Reporter

dugan@observer-reporter.com

WAYNESBURG – She’s the straw that stirs the drink.

And Kaley Rohanna doesn’t mind the pressure that comes along with that label.

The 5-5 senior guard from Waynesburg dropped in 26 points Thursday night to lead a 62-32 rout of McGuffey on the Raiders home floor in a Section 4 game in Class 3A.

The win raises Waynesburg to 11-1 overall and 2-0 in the section. McGuffey fell to 9-2 over and lost its second straight section game.

“I could tell in warmups (it was going to be a good game),” said Rohanna. “Everyone was making their shots so I knew we were going to have a good game. I don’t think there is a lot of pressure on me to score. We have a lot of good players, like Josie (Horne) and Peyton (Cowell) are really good in the post. I can kick it out to Addie (Blair) for a three and Emma (Kindervater) is really good at cutting. So I just play and whatever the defense does, I just pass it and know they are going to take care of it.”

Rohanna said she is now approximately 200 points from the school scoring record, held by Tammy McIntire at 1,592 points.

“I have no idea how close I am,” said Rohanna. “I can’t keep track.”

Waynesburg had to feel good about this game, not only because of Rohanna’s game-high 26 points but also because of Avery Davis. The 5-7 junior guard tossed one in from midcourt as the buzzer sounded to end the third quarter.

“I knew how much time was left and my coach said throw it to Kaley,” Davis said. “I was going to but I threw it in and I just lost it. I’ve tried that shot three times in a game and it wasn’t close. Everyone got real excited on the bench.”

Davis finished with 17 points.

“I think this was a huge game,” said Waynesburg head coach Chris Minerd. “Our section is hugely competitive and I think McGuffey is one of the top teams in the section. I explained to the girls that it’s important to win the first time around, when you’re at home so the pressure isn’t too bad the second time. We have a lot of good teams in our section and I’m proud of the way they played tonight.”

On the first offensive play for Waynesburg, Rohanna let loose a pretty three-point shot that touched nothing but the net. It just got worse for McGuffey as Rohanna finished the quarter with 14 of Waynesburg’s 18 points. The Raiders led by 15 points at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter wasn’t much better for McGuffey, which got outscored 16-10 and trailed 34-13 at halftime. Davis scored the last six points for the Raiders as Rohanna was held to six and 20 for the half.

McGuffey didn’t score its first points until 2:21 left in the first quarter. By that time, Waynesburg led 15-0.

“I’m a little disappointed with our effort tonight,” said McGuffey head coach Andrew Kurzawski. “We came out really lackadaisical. We really wanted to try to focus on Rohanna. She’s a great player and we didn’t do a very good job blocking her in and paying attention to the scouting report.”