Blue Devils Singe Black Hawks For Section 4 Win, 44-38

Posted on: by Big 56 Conference

It was a game of runs on Monday night and Mt. Lebanon’s 23-3 run in the middle quarters helped the host Blue Devils to an important 44-38 victory over the Bethel Park Black Hawks. The lead changed hands only three times but the extended runs kept the game close throughout in an exciting Section 4-AAAA contest.

Mt. Lebanon opened the game with a prompt layup by sophomore Jess Wilhelm for a 2-0 lead but the Black Hawks soared ahead with a 13-0 run in the first quarter. Three perimeter jumpers from senior Megan Horgan sparked the run and Bethel Park held a 20-10 lead midway through the second quarter thanks in part to seven points from senior Cailey Klink.

The Blue Devils were ice cold from the field in the first quarter but began to find their rhythm in the second quarter and ended the half on a 9-0 run to trim the BP lead to 20-19 by intermission. The final points of the half were scored on a runner by senior Maura Wallace at the buzzer.

Wallace and the Blue Devils scorched the Black Hawks by extending their run to 23-3 in the third quarter and held a 36-23 advantage late in the period. Wallace scored 8 of her 10 points in the second half, and junior McKenzie Bushee posted 12 points and three blocked shots in the third quarter alone. For her efforts on both sides of the ball, Bushee was named the Player of the Game by Quad-A Sports.

Undaunted, Bethel Park erased Mt. Lebanon’s 13-point advantage and cut the score to 38-36 by late in the fourth quarter. Shannon Conely was steady for BP and tallied a team-high 12 points, while junior Justina Mascaro scored all 10 of her points in the second half to help lead the rally. However, Bethel Park’s comeback bid fell short as Mt. Lebanon junior Kate Sramac put the game away with clutch free throws down the stretch to finish off a 44-38 triumph. Sramac scored a game-high 16 points for the Blue Devils.

After a slow start, Mt. Lebanon has won seven of their last nine games and improves to 10-7 overall and 8-3 in Section 4-AAAA. Bethel Park falls to 13-4 overall and 8-3 in the section.

Plum vs. Gateway Game Summary

SCORE BY QUARTERS1st2nd3rd4thFINAL
Plum109111646
Gateway1186934