ST. MARYS – If the game wasn’t a literal victory, it certainly
was a figurative one.
District 7 third-place finisher Moon won the game 67-32 but
Bradford’s appearance in the PIAA Class AAA first-round game was a
victory in itself.
The Lady Owls certainly aren’t happy with just making it to the
tournament, but they have to be pleased with the overall results of
the 2006-07 campaign in which they finished 19-7 and won a District
9 championship.
“It’s disappointing to end the season this way, but we had a
great season and we made a lot of strides forward,” declared Doug
Lloyd, Bradford coach. “There’s a lot to be proud of, but right now
you’re not looking at that.”
The mostly undersized Lady Owls, although lightning quick, could
not keep pace with the bigger and more experienced Moon Tigers.
Moon had Bradford’s deficit at 10 points (16-6) by the end of
the first quarter and they never looked back on the way to the
35-point win.
Helping the Tigers’ case was the fact that they shot a high
(undetermined) percentage from the field.
“Moon is a good team with a lot of size,” Lloyd pointed out. “I
think we were a little quicker, but they shot the lights out.
“Our defense wasn’t bad, they just hit the shots. In the second
half they must’ve shot 80 percent.”
The Tigers used their size to get up in the passing lanes and
pressure Bradford’s guards, taking the Lady Owls out of their
offensive rhythm.
“We knew they were going to pressure us going in and we prepared
for it, but it’s different when you get in the game and see that
kind of size,” Lloyd explained.
“They made us look pedestrian at times, but they’ve been here
(the state tournament) a lot of times and they look it. They’re
well coached and have some great players.”
Division I Delaware-bound Gracie Palucis scored 13 points in the
game and Julie Gebhard (set to play at Division I Niagara) added 11
marks. Also in doubles for Moon were Rebecca Pollack with 17 and
Laura Magnelli with 13.
Career 1,000 point-scorer Whitney Cline was the lone Lady Owl in
double figures with 11 marks.
“Whitney had a good game today, but I think the situation got
the best of us,” Lloyd said. “I think it might’ve been a little
different if we’d played them during the regular season.
“With the pressure of being here we didn’t play our best, but
having been here we now realize what it takes.”
Lady Owl underclassmen can look forward to building on their
successful campaign and to what the coming season might bring,
while the seniors can now reflect on how far they have brought the
program.
“Looking back from four years ago – I don’t know what our record
was – to today, there’s no comparison,” Lloyd remarked. “Our
schedule’s gotten tougher and they have stepped up their games
every year.
“The dedication our five seniors (Cline, Nikki Siffrinn, Kayla
Murphey, Britani VanScoter, Megan Perschke) have put in over their
four years really showed this year,” Lloyd maintained. “Their hard
work has paid off.
“We’re crying tonight, but in a couple of days we can look back
and be pretty happy about what we did.”
