Joseph, Homa help McDonald avenge big loss to Columbiana

By Greg Gulas

sports @vindy.com

McDONALD

Sara Joseph scored 19 points, Samantha Homa added 16 and McDonald used a 20-5 run to close the game as the Blue Devils defeated the Columbiana Clippers 46-35 in an Inter-Tri County, intra-division girls basketball game Monday night at Robert H. McClary Gymnasium.

Joseph, who scored 13 of her game-high 19 points after intermission, said the Blue Devils’ seniors came out determined to correct a 76-point dismantling suffered at the hands of the Clippers two seasons ago on their home court.

“We came out wanting revenge. We said we’d never let that happen again to us and this was the last time that our seniors had an opportunity to prove that we weren’t that same team,” Joseph said. “We had way too many turnovers in the first half and coach [Amy Dolsak] told us at the half just to keep our composure, do what we know how to do and that’s what we did.”

A bucket by Homa just under a minute into the game gave the Blue Devils (3-0) the early 2-0 advantage, but the Clippers (2-1) reeled off the next 13 points, including six by Kennedy Fullum as Columbiana forged a 13-6 lead after the first quarter.

Fullum, the only Columbiana player to score in double figures, ended up with 14 points.

Eight more points by Homa in the second quarter helped the Blue Devils to a 16-point frame as they cut the Clippers’ margin to 27-22 at the half.

“We were a determined group tonight and wanted this game very bad. We struggled at the outset, were able to cut into their lead in the second period and at the half made our adjustments,” Homa said. “In the second half we moved our feet much better, hit the boards and settled down. We also had much better communication.”

A bucket and free throw by Fullum to start the second half increased the Clippers’ lead to 30-22 at the 7:24 mark, but a 10-0 run by McDonald that concluded with a Homa bucket at 1:34 of the stanza gave the Blue Devils their second lead of the game at 32-30.

They settled for a 34-32 advantage heading to the final quarter of play.

“We had the motivation, but that run at the outset of the second half simply gave us confidence,” Dolsak said. “Sam is our post player and someone who runs the floor better than any post player I’ve seen. She was aggressive and finished her shots tonight while Sara is our motivator and leader who really cares about the game.”

A bucket by Abbie Matig and two free throws by Joseph increased the McDonald lead to 38-32 just 44 seconds into the final frame, but a bucket from beyond the arc by Columbiana’s Tessa Ligget then cut the Blue Devils lead to three points, 38-35 with 5:55 remaining.

Four points by Homa and bucket by Joseph rounded out the scoring while McDonald’s stingy defense held Columbiana scoreless the rest of the way.

“That 20-5 run really killed us tonight. They beat us on the boards because we didn’t play a physical game,” Columbiana head coach Ron Moschella said. “We need to get more aggressive, box out and must work on some individual skills. We still have a lot to work on and there are things that we must correct if we expect to be a good team as we move forward.”

The Blue Devils held a 26-15 rebound advantage as they won their home opener.

Columbiana had a game-high 13 steals in its first road test of the campaign.