Saturday, November 29, 2008
The Blue Devils’ junior also grabbed 12 rebounds in the 48-31 win.
GIRARD — McDonald High junior Joh’vonnie Mosley knows it is her time to step up as the leader of the Blue Devils girls basketball team.
The successful Division IV program and defending district champions graduated standout Emily Dolsak from last year’s team.
Mosley showed she may be ready to lead the Blue Devils to another successful season after scoring 21 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a 48-31 win over backyard rival Girard in the season opener for both teams.
“This is [Mosley’s] third year starting and we need someone to step up and [show] she’s the girl,” McDonald coach Rob Hilbun said. “She learned from some good players she played with in the past and that is what we are going to need from her every night.
“She’s ready.”
Mosley and teammate Lindsay Repp were too much for the Indians to handle in the paint and they will likely be a handful for most teams in the Inter Tri-County Tier II league this season.
Mosley connected on eight field goals and five free throws while Repp tallied 12 points and eight rebounds as McDonald dominated in the paint and outrebounded the Indians 43-34.
Mosley scored 12 points in the first half but Girard was able to stay within five points, 26-21, at the break.
“Those two will present matchup problems for most of the teams we face this year,” Hilbun said. “I’m sure teams will try to pressure our guards and make us shoot outside.”
That could be a problem for future opponents as well because Joey Courtney showed she could light it up from beyond the three-point line where she made four baskets for 12 points.
Taylor Stanley, Ari-Anna Williams and Callie Garland also played well in the back court for the Blue Devils.
“We have a great team,” Mosley said. “I’m ready to be a leader but we have some great seniors for that role also.
“I’m anxious to see how well we continue to grow as a team this year.”
After a close first half, the Blue Devils started to take control in the third quarter with some pressure defense.
“I thought we played well in the first half,” Girard coach Andy Saxon said. “I think they wore us down because we didn’t play very many girls tonight.”
“They were tough to stop on the inside but I thought our girls did a nice job of playing under control.”
McDonald’s defense held the Indians scoreless for the final 4:30 of the third quarter and outscored Girard 11-5 to open up a 37-26 lead heading into the final quarter.
The Blue Devils continued to attack defensively and Girard managed just five more points in the final quarter as McDonald pulled away to a convincing win.
“This is a big backyard rivalry for us,” Hilbun said. “We always play Girard early in the year and they always give us a tough battle.”
The Indians were led in scoring by Emily Smerchansky with 11 points while Chelsea Guerrieri added nine points and six rebounds.