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Wildcats’ season concludes

HERSHEY — On pi(e) day, fully baked ingredients made all the difference in Greenwood’s 54-24 loss to Lebanon Catholic in the second round of the PIAA Class A girls basketball tournament.

“(Lebanon Catholic) has all the necessary ingredients needed for a great team,” Greenwood coach Jeff Deitz said. “They have shooters, rebounders, defenders, passers and one (Alexis Hill) who can do a little bit of everything. They have eight seniors and are going to win the state championship. They have been here before and know how to handle these moments.”

Hill –who has committed to Division I Northeastern– is a flashy forward who tallied 23 points, collected nine boards and seven steals. She also blocked a pair of shots

While it may have been pie day, the Beavers feasted on turnovers as their relentless press generated 32 of them — or one per minute.

The turnovers and a slew of offensive rebounds allowed the Beavers to get off a staggering 71 field goal attempts of which 23 rang true. Meanwhile, the Wildcats managed just 10-of-33 from the floor.

“We played (Greenwood) before, and wanted to something a little bit different,” Lebanon Catholic coach Patti Hower said. “We got some things off of that and it gave us an early lead.”

Hower’s squad downed the Wildcats 58-20 in the second round of the District tournament.

“I think we had the right game plan for tonight,” Deitz said. “However, we needed to be a little strong mentally for the press. We did not execute the way we needed to against it. When we did execute against them mentally, we got behind it and got layups.”

Sophomore Kenedy Stroup continued to shine in the postseason by leading the team with 11 points while pulling in eight rebounds and three steals.

“Stroup is everything and more you want in a point guard,” Deitz said. “She is a tough grinder of a work horse.”

Hower was also complimentary of Stroup.

“Stroup is very quick, but I think our man-to-man defense did a good job on her,” she said. “She did split the defense a few times when we went zone. She takes off so we knew we had to get back.”

The Wildcats baking was effected by a few key missing ingredients, Alli Walton and Grace Lesh, who were both injured.

“Walton was definitely missed on the glass tonight, and when they went zone in the second half, Grace’s decision making on the perimeter was also missed.” Deitz said.

Walton’s absence put more of the inside burden on junior Mallory Kauffman, who responded with nine points and 11 rebounds and a block.

Hayley Engle and Allison Crockett each secured six boards for the ‘Cats. Despite being short-handed, the game’s total rebounds came out even at 40 a side. Engle — the lone Wildcat senior — also contributed a basket and steal in the team’s finale.

After a Kauffman bucket tied things up at two, the Beavers launched an 11-4 run to finish the quarter. Hill scored eight in the frame with Jasmine Turner adding five more including a 3-pointer.

Hill added eight more points in the second as the lead stretched to 27-13 by halftime. Taylor Bossert hit her first of two 3-point goals in the frame and finished with eight points.

The Beavers took care of things after the break. outscoring Greenwood 17-3 in the third quarter to build an a steep 44-16 lead.

Celine Mars scored 11 of her 14 in the second half. The senior collected eight boards and four steals for the Beavers. Neesha Pierre was an effective facilitator for the Beavers as well finishing with seven rebounds, six steals and four points.

Greenwood finished the season with a 15-14 overall record-their first winning campaign since 2012 and first state tournament win since 2010.

“I am proud of my girls,” Deitz said. “We are excited (about the future). We achieved every goal we set this season but one (making the final of Perry County Tournament). We made the state tournament, we won a state game, and we made the league playoffs. We started 1-5 and finished 15-14 with one senior. I’ll take it.”

Lebanon Catholic 54, Greenwood 24

GREENWOOD

Kenedy Stroup 5 1-5 11, Hayley Engle 1 0-0 2, Alli Crockett 0 0-4 0, Jenna Sherrick 0 2-4 2, Mallory Kauffman 4 1-3 9. Totals: 10 4-16 24.

Did not score: Kiersten Burch, Mercedees McNaughton, Abby Taylor, Ella Brummer.

LEBANON CATHOLIC

Taylor Bossert 3 0-0 8, Neesha Pierre 2 0-2 4, Alexis Hill 10 3-4 23, Jasmine Turner 2 0-0 5, Celine MArs 6 2-4 14. Totals: 23 5-10 54.

3-point goals: Bossert 2, Turner.

Score by quarters

Greenwood 6-7-3-8 — 24

Lebanon Catholic 13-14-17-10 — 54

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