RUN AND DONE
By Tom Williams
McDonald’s press was too much for visiting Wellsville
McDONALD — Despite a left leg injury suffered by senior guard Ari-Anna Williams, the McDonald High girls basketball team had little trouble turning up the heat Thursday against Wellsville.
Ahead 10-8, the Blue Devils switched from man-to-man coverage to the press, igniting a 17-0 run that turned the Inter Tri-County League Tier Two contest into a 58-41 rout.
Williams, the Blue Devils’ third-leading rebounder, left the game midway through the first quarter after crashing to the floor.
“They hit some shots so we started to pressure,” McDonald coach Rob Hilbun said of the switch. “And that turned the tide.
“We try to keep our press off, but if we need it ...,” Hilbun said. “It really got us going offensively and made them work for their shots.
Senior Lindsay Repp, who led the unbeaten Blue Devils (6-0, 3-0) with 13 points, five rebounds and two steals, said her team is trying to keep their strong start in perspective.
“We don’t have any expectations to go undefeated,” Repp said. “Our goal pretty much is to play [well] together. It’s not as important to get [back] to the regional as playing hard as a team.”
During the 17-0 run, Repp, Joh’Vonnie Mosley and Joey Courtney each contributed five points.
“I thought our girls performed very well without [Williams],” Hilbun said. “It’s a huge loss — we’re [hoping] she’s going to be OK. We really need her in there.
“We were pressing and the ball was up in the air,” Hilbun said of the play that knocked out the three-year starter.
“That experience is hard to come by — she plays so hard and went up to get it. She came down on her knee.”
Minus Williams, Hilbun sent in freshman Taylor Stanley who finished with nine points and two rebounds.
“She’s been getting better every game,” said Hilbun, who also praised senior point guard Callie Garland for taking an increased role.
Garland scored 12 points and pulled down nine rebounds.
Eight of Mosley’s 12 points were scored from the free-throw line.
“That’s what she does,” Hilbun said. “She’s probably [already] shot 80 free throws this year. She’s quick, a lot of people try to block her shot and she gets to the line. And she shoots about 70 percent”
Repp says Mosley at the line is reassuring.
“We’re comfortable with however she makes her shots,” Repp said.
The unbeaten start pleases Mosley.
“We lost two good players from last year [Emily Dolsak, Cassie Garland] and some probably thought we wouldn’t do well,” Mosley said. “But we are proving ourselves.”
Mosley hopes Williams is back real soon.
“She’s a big part of the team,” said Mosley who made 14 rebounds. “She’s an all-around good player — we’re going to need her.”
Repp agreed.
“We care about her a lot so when we saw her get hurt, we wanted to win for her,” Repp said.
P.J. Williams led Wellsville (1-5, 0-3) with 10 points, three rebounds, two steals and a block.
The Tigers’ other league losses were to Lowellville and Western Reserve. Wellsville coach Randy Young declined to answer when asked which of those contending teams appeared to be the strongest.
“We lost all three games — all three are good,” said Young, adding that the Blue Devils ”ran their offensive at will. We expected the press, we just didn’t handle it very well.”
williams@vindy.com