03/08/25 Mirror Photography Patrick Waxmunski/Bishop Guilfoyle’s Laiona Williams shoots Clarion-Lameston’s Corinne Hepfl.
If there was rust on the women’s basketball team at Bishop Guilfoyle Academy on Saturday, there were no signs of it.
Playing in her first game 10 days later, District 6 champion Lady Maraus pushed Clarion Lie Meston into 18 first-half turnovers to a 62-19 victory in the first round of the PIAA 1A playoffs at Pleasant Valley Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
“When you’re used to playing three games in a week, I think it’s difficult to take long breaks between games,” BG director Kristi Kaack said. “I thought Clarion Limeston came out and was really offensive. They were definitely not afraid to try some other things. I thought it was good for our kids. We were pleased with the way they responded and the way they defended.”
The Lady Marauders led 42-10 at halftime, moving their running clock against the Lady Lions in the second half, finishing fourth from the 9th district.
“We wanted to play hard and play the game. “Yeah, we were late early, but they fought to the end. It’s a very good team. They’re eight or nine deep. They can all shoot. They’re a relentless defense.”
Clarion-Limestone has two seniors playing in the game, starting with three sophomores and freshmen.
“We’re a young team,” Beggs said. “These girls want to play basketball all year round. They’re good at other sports too. We expect to come back here every year now, and that’s what we’re trying to establish.”
All five BG starters entered the scoring column in the first four minutes of the game, jumping out for an 11-2 lead.
Later in the quarter, Gia Adams, who came out of the bench after returning from an injury recently, put a three-pointer on the team to double digits. Adams scored seven points in the game.
“I’m hoping for that from Gia,” Kaack said. “She’s one of the hardest working kids I’ve ever coached. At both ends of the floor, I think the team will do whatever it takes for her.”
From there, Morgan Lugger took over the first half as he led the Lady Mowders to a 32-point halftime lead. Ruggery scored 16 points leading BG in the afternoon.
“We need to keep on playing games like this, we just have to defend well and play as a team,” Ruggery said.
“We’re not very selfish now,” Cuck said. “I think the team game that plays on both ends of the floor makes this group special. There aren’t many individual goals. It’s very team-oriented. I’m proud to be a part of it.”
BG will face Aquinas Academy in the second round at Armstrong High School in Kitanning at 6pm on Wednesday. Aquinas Academy is the WPIAL third-placed team, beating Fannett-Metal, 65-22 on Saturday.
Clarion-Limestone (19): Ferguson 0 0-0 0, Schwabenbauer 1 0-0 2, Hepfl 0 0-0 0, Beggs 5 2-2 12, Simpson 0 3-4 3, Dunn 0 0-0 0, Aaron 0 0-0 0, Love 0 0-0 0, Meals 0 0-0 0 Total – 6 7-8 19.
Bishop Guilfoyle (62): Williams 3 0-0 6, Hay1 1-2 3, Query4 0-0 8, ruggery 6 4-5 16, Petrecca 3 0-0 6, Adams 3 0-0 7, Gofus 1 2-2 4, Homan 3 0-0 8, Height1 1-1 3 25 9-12 62.
Quarterly score
Clarion-Limestone 6 4 4 5 – 19
Bishop Guilfoil 21 21 11 9 – 62
3-point target: Clarion-Limestone 0; Bishop Guilfoyle 3 (Adams, Homan 2).
Records: Clarion-Limestone (15-10); Bishop Guilfoyle (26-2).
Officials: Todd Parker, Craig Ambross, Dan Solomon.
