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By JOHN ERZAR jerzar@leader.net
Thursday, March 06, 2003 Page: 1B
Bishop Hoban and Meyers came into the District 2 girls basketball
tournament with Wyoming Valley Conference divisional titles. They left without
adding to their championship resumes.
Neither, though, is dwelling on last Saturday’s loss. Instead, the two
teams are looking forward to the PIAA playoffs.
“The spirits are high and they are really excited to play the game,” said
Meyers coach Curt Lloyd, whose team won the WVC Division III title with a 14-0
mark. “Teamwise, I think we’re still motivated to get a win in the state
playoffs unlike last year, when we were a little disheartened having to travel
to Gettysburg to play Delone Catholic, who was No. 1 in the state.”
Despite finishing as the second seed, Meyers gets what amounts to a home
game. The Mohawks face District 11 Class 2A runner-up Notre Dame Green Pond at
6 p.m. tomorrow at King’s College. Last season, the Mohawks finished third in
the district and were overwhelmed by eventual state semifinalist Delone 59-27.
On Saturday, District 2 Class 3A runner-up Hoban plays District 11
runner-up Southern Lehigh at 1 p.m. at Hazleton Area High School. Coach Bob
Schuler remained upbeat after losing to Dallas in the championship game after
finishing undefeated in the WVC to capture the Division II title.
“I forgot about it because there is nothing we can do,” Schuler said.
“If I go in there talking negative, they’ll start feeling negative. I don’t
believe in that. You have to learn from your mistakes. Sometimes that makes
you stronger.”
In other state games involving WVC teams, District 2 Class 3A champion
Dallas plays District 3 sixth seed Palmyra at 1 p.m. Saturday at Wilkes
University, and District 2, Class A runner-up Bishop O’Reilly faces District
11 champion Cardinal Brennan at 3:30 p.m. at Martz Hall in Pottsville.
Dallas (22-5) vs. Palmyra (23-5)
Dallas received more than a District 2 Class 3A title by defeating North
Pocono and Bishop Hoban. The Mountaineers gained experience against two tough
6-foot-2 post players – North Pocono’s Laura Franceski and Hoban’s Meredith
Alexis.
Neither of Palmyra’s inside players, 5-11 senior Jess Uhrich and 5-10
senior Kaitlin Stoner, measures up to Dallas’ past opponents. However, Uhrich
is a 1,000-point scorer. The Cougars have also played well after starting the
season with two losses in their first three games. They rely on defense to win
games.
The winner plays Wednesday against either District 1 runner-up Nazareth
Academy (19-8) or District 3 third seed ELCO (26-4).
Bishop Hoban (24-3) vs. Southern Lehigh (18-9)
The key matchup will be inside as Bishop Hoban 6-foot-2 senior Meredith
Alexis goes eye-to-eye with Southern Lehigh 6-2 sophomore Erin Owens. Alexis
averages 34 points per game; Owens about half that.
Hoban, the District 2 Class 3A runner-up, comes off a disappointing loss to
Dallas in the championship game after winning both WVC regular-season games.
As expected, Southern Lehigh was pummeled by two-time defending Class 3A state
champion Allentown Central Catholic 61-20 in the District 11 title contest.
Owens had just four points vs. ACC, but did get experience against three
ACC players who measured 6-foot through 6-4. Point guard Julie Sterrett is the
on-court leader, but was just 1-of-11 from the field vs. ACC. She is usually
good for about 11 points. Backcourt mate Tarah Lockner scores 13 per game.
The winner plays Wednesday against either District 3 champion Trinity
(27-3) or District 1 third seed Villa Maria (23-2).
Meyers (25-3) vs. Notre Dame-Green Pond (22-6)
Don’t blink, you may miss something.
Notre Dame, the District 11 Class 2A second seed, loves to play fast-paced
basketball. Then again, so does District 2 runner-up Meyers, so don’t expect
much deliberate half-court basketball.
Notre Dame’s main weapons are guards Emily Cerankowski and Jenna Stampf,
who combine to score about 28 points per game. The Crusaders also have a very
good post player in 5-foot-10 Cody Fedorishen.
The key for Meyers is whether point guard Mary Mushock can play. She
suffered a broken nose in the district title game, and the Mohawks’ fortunes
tumbled once she left.
The winner plays Tuesday against either District 2 third seed Carbondale
(19-9) or District 4 champion Southern Columbia (20-7).
Bishop O’Reilly (18-8) vs. Cardinal Brennan (24-5)
The young Bishop O’Reilly Queenswomen received a break … sort of. At
least they won’t face District 11’s Pottsville Nativity, which has made four
consecutive trips to the Class A state finals. However, they get Cardinal
Brennan, which ended Nativity’s six-year district reign with a 50-49 semifinal
victory.
Brennan then proceeded to win its first District 11 crown with a victory
over Marian Catholic, a perennial district runner-up.
O’Reilly played five-time District 2 champion Forest City strongly before
falling 52-46. The Queenswomen’s task will differ Saturday as they won’t have
a distinct height advantage. Brennan’s top scorer is 5-foot-11 sophomore
center Kelly Joyce, who averages 16 points. Guard Rachel Weidensaul, a 5-10
sophomore, adds 10 per game. Junior guard Colleen Cannon is another threat
with a 14-point average.
The winner plays Wednesday against either District 1 champion Sacred Heart
(13-13) or District 3 third seed Antietam (19-6).