Meadowbrook Christian opens states with rout

Mar. 9—WILLIAMSPORT — For about a dozen dribbles in a late-game possession Saturday night, Nativity BVM unknowingly played with six girls on the floor.

Tough to say if it would have made a difference had the Green Wave been allowed to use an extra player from the start of the PIAA Class A first-round game.

Meadowbrook Christian, anxious to get past a difficult loss in its district final, ran roughshod over the once-dominant "Golden Girls," dropping 20 or more points in each of the first two quarters en route to a 53-25 win at St. John Neumann Regional Academy.

"It was fun just to play basketball and it be fun," said Lions senior Kailey Devlin. "That's the only way to say it, to be honest."

Devlin scored 21 first-half points on 8-of-14 shooting, Audrey Millett started just as hot in netting a season-high 13 points, and Meadowbrook Christian moved into the state's second round for the second consecutive season.

"It really was nice to have a whole week just to get back to basics and fundamentals and some of the stuff that got away from us these last two games," said Lions coach Shane Devlin. "The girls really focused ... and I feel like they really came prepared. All the credit to the girls."

Meadowbrook Christian (26-2) will play District 3 fourth-place Greenwood (16-11) on Wednesday at a site and time to be announced. The Wildcats also knocked off a Class A heavyweight Saturday, routing District 1 champion Jenkintown, 40-21.

"Coming out strong as a team in the first round of states, it just makes the whole team excited and ready to play for the rest of the season we have left," said Lions senior Alayna Smith. "Seeing how well we played tonight is going to bring a lot of confidence into the next game."

Shane Devlin asked for patience on offense from the sideline early in Saturday's game, and his girls delivered two points on each of their first four trips for an 8-2 lead. Kailey Devlin converted a dump down from Smith; Millett scored following an offense rebound; Emma George knocked down a 10-footer; and Devlin canned a pair of free throws in a span of 2-plus minutes.

The margin soon shot to 15-4 with Millett starting 3-for-3, including a 3-pointer. Kailey Devlin closed the 20-6 period with five straight points, getting a triple to carom high off the rim and drop through the net.

"We weren't expecting that, but we knew we needed to come out strong. It's states, and every team's going to be good," said Kailey Devlin. "I think because we came out with that strength and had everyone getting shots up, I think that's how we (took control)."

Nativity BVM (7-18) was crowned District 11 champion by beating Bethlehem Christian in the Districts 2/11 subregional third-place game. The Green Wave started a freshman and a sophomore, then played a freshman first off the bench. They were 0-for-3 from the field with six turnovers in the first quarter, scoring only six points at the foul line. The struggle continued in the second quarter (1-for-10), when they missed six 3-pointers after Emmalee Pinkey's early hoop.

Meadowbrook had no such trouble. Kailey Devlin ignited her 12-point quarter with a pair of 3-pointers, and Maddy Fasnacht chipped in all five of her points to pump the lead to 41-9 at the break.

Nativity didn't make its second basket of the game until the 3:17 mark of the third quarter when Delaney Walborn drilled the first of her two treys. Her six points backed Pinkey's team-high eight.

Kailey Devlin matched Smith with six rebounds, while Fasnacht, Millett and Hannah Millett all pulled four boards.

"I felt like our girls asserted themselves, and that's what we talked about all week was coming out and making sure we play the kind of basketball we're capable of. They really did in the first half," said Shane Devlin. "I was a little surprised that we were able to extend (the lead) the way we did, but that combination of defense — making them shoot over us — along with hitting the shot and seeing the ball go through the hoop on offense was really powerful for us."

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PIAA CLASS A GIRLS BASKETBALL

FIRST ROUND

At St. John Neumann Regional Academy

MEADOWBROOK CHRISTIAN 53, NATIVITY BVM 25

Nativity BVM (7-18) 25

Emmalee Pinkey 3 2-2 8, Reagan Bennett 0 2-2 2, Grace Brennan 1 3-6 5, Delaney Walborn 2 0-0 6, Hannah Zimerofsky 1 2-2 4. Totals 7 9-12 25.

3-point goals: Walborn 2.

Did not score: Madeline Daynorowicz, Finley McNamara, Katelynn Pinkey, Janelle Ziegmont, Abbey Leskin, Chloe Zulick.

Meadowbrook Christian (26-2) 53

Kailey Devlin 8 2-4 21, Emma George 2 0-0 4, Maddy Fasnacht 2 1-2 5, Audrey Millett 6 0-0 13, Alayna Smith 2 0-0 4, Hannah Millett 2 0-0 4, Addison Nevius 1 0-0 2. Totals 23 3-6 53.

3-point goals: Devlin 3, A. Millett.

Did not score: Taylor Nevius, Cassidy Miller, Faith Lubold, Taylor Nevius.

Score by quarters

Nativity BVM;6;3;6;10 — 25

Meadowbrook Chr.;20;21;6;6 — 53