WEXFORD – The used a fast start on offense and stifling defense inside to easily defeat Beaver 62-42 in their opening round WPIAL playoff game at North Allegheny High School.
Jenna Devinney hit three 3-pointers in the first two-and-half minutes of the game and helped Chartiers Valley run out to a 15-3 lead. She finished the game with 15 points and only trailed Mariah Wells, who had 16 points, in scoring.
“When Jenna and Kassidy (O’Keefe) heat up there’s not a lot you can do to stop them,” coach Spencer Stefko said. “The kids played their tails off.”
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Stefko said it was important for his team to control Beaver’s talented forward Emily Kondracki early, ultimately holding her to just 10 points, most of which came in the final quarter. The Bobcats scored on their first possession in the quarter and did not score again for more than five minutes until a free throw. Good defense inside forced many off-balance shots behind the line.
“That was an area of concern,” Stefko said, praising the tough inside defense by Kristin McGeough. “Being assertive against her was a big factor.”
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The Lady Colts cruised to a 31-10 lead at halftime and continued to pour it on in the third quarter. Things started picking up again for the Lady Colts in the third quarter when Wells scored on two easy layups that were bookended by Beaver 3-pointers. But Devinney followed with back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Bobcates away.
The Lady Colts will play Uniontown on Saturday. A time and location has not been established.
CV Lady Colts – 17-14-22-9
Beaver Bobcats – 5-5-14-18
Mariah Wells – 16 points
Jenna Devinney – 15 points
Kristina Coyne – 8 ponits
Alexa Golden – 6 points
Kristin McGeough – 6 points
Kassidy O’Keefe – 3 points
Kasey Fiedler – 3 points
Ali Dames – 3 poinits
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