News

By Patrick McKay

The Quad A Sports Network and MSA Sports Network featured a double header in our Game of the Week between Fox Chapel and Gateway.  In the early edition the ladies tipped off at 6pm as Gateway played host in both contests.  The Lady Foxes were seeking an outright Section Title and redemption from last year where Gateway had taken both contests and five of the last seven.  This season however the Foxes would get their revenge sweeping Gateway on the season and claiming the Section 2 Title outright for themselves.

The game was a defensive battle from the beginning with Gateway posting their lowest point total of the season and Fox Chapel putting up their fewest points since the season opener.  Clearly these teams knew each other well as Gateway stifled Fox Chapel’s leading scorer Erin Mathias with double teams and box outs that kept her away from the basket limiting her to just four field goals on the night. Mathias was able to go 4 of 4 from the foul line in the first half and scoring eight of the Foxes 13 first half points.  Her defensive effort kept Gateway at bay as well with numerous blocks and the Foxes took a 13-8 lead into halftime.

The second half was not much different than the first as neither team was able find much rhythm on offense.  Each team featured one player in double digits on the night, Mathias would finish with 13 and junior Gator guard London Wade finished the evening with 10 points respectively.  Senior Gator guard Jada Epps, the team’s season scoring leader was held to just two points on the night.  Mathias was supported with strong play from sophomore guards Kayla Slovenic (six points), Taylor Cohen (five points) and freshman Gabriella Radway (five points) and that would be enough to hold off the Gators for a 32-20 victory and their first outright Section Title.  For her efforts, Erin Mathias was named the Quad A Sports network Player of the Game.

Fox Chapel improved their record to 16-3 overall and a perfect 11-0 in Section 2 play.  Gateway falls to 10-7 overall and 6-5 in Section play which is still good enough to punch their ticket to the WPIAL Playoffs.  Fox Chapel will conclude Section play Tuesday night at home versus Plum where they seek to keep their perfect Section record and improve their playoff seeding. Gateway will host non-section Oakland Catholic Saturday, tip is set for 3pm.