Boff makes 18 free throws as Belle Vernon’s Fairman wins 100th
BALDWIN – Belle Vernon High School girls basketball coach Lisa Fairman makes her players shoot free throws for minutes on end at practice.
For Keira Boff, the practice paid off as the senior made 18 of 20 free throws to lead sixth-seeded Belle Vernon to a 54-45 WPIAL Class AAAA first round win Saturday afternoon over Knoch.
“That is remarkable and unbelievable,” Fairman said of Boff’s performance. “They didn’t want to foul her at the end and it worked to our advantage because we were able to shed time off of the clock, considering we weren’t hitting shots. She was pivotal and drove hard to the hoop and was able to draw the fouls.”
Boff’s performance was much-needed because the rest of the Leopards made only one out of 10 free throws.
The 5-6 Boff, who finished with 23 points, said she was confident going to the free-throw line late in the game.
“I was calm and when it is crunch time. I want the ball and to get fouled,” she said. “Coach has me get the ball and the pressure all season long helped get me ready for the playoffs at the line.
“This feels really good to have at least another week to play with my classmates, who I have played with since the third grade.”
Belle Vernon’s starting five, which is all seniors, contributed in many ways.
“I knew coming in to this season that we wanted to give it everything we had because teams like this just don’t come by all that often,” Fairman said. “It is a special group and you kind of never want to let go, and never let it end, and that’s where we are right now.”
Taylor Kovatch controlled the floor early as she had five assists and four steals in the first half to help the Leopards (18-5) open a 21-14 lead after one quarter and a 36-25 advantage at halftime.
Emily Green, who was in early foul trouble, led Belle Vernon with 11 rebounds. Rylie Campbell had 10 points and eight rebounds.
The fifth senior starter, Caitlyn Trombley, played her typical tenacious defense, harassing the Knoch players.
Along with the senior starters, junior Lindsay Steeber, sophomore Rachel Wobrak, and freshmen Grace Henderson and Taylor Rodriguez each played for pivotal stretches as the Leopards were in foul trouble most of the game.
Steeber, who Fairman has referred to as a “sixth starter” on numerous occasions, contributed nine points and helped pressure Knoch along with Kovatch, Boff and Pasternak while Green and Campbell battled the taller Knoch team under the rim.
The Leopards forced 17 Knoch turnovers.
Leading 23-18 two minutes into the second quarter, the Leopards went on an 11-5 run that helped them open a 36-25 lead at halftime.
The teams played relatively even in the third quarter until Boff and Steeber made back-to-back three-pointers for Belle Vernon in the final minute of the quarter, giving the Leopards a 48-33 advantage.
Steeber’s three would be Belle Vernon’s last basket of the game as its six points in the fourth quarter came at the foul line with Boff scoring five and Green one.
In the fourth quarter, Knoch used a 10-2 run to trim Belle Vernon’s lead to 50-45 with less than a minute to go. Boff, however, made three free throws and Green one of two to give Belle Vernon the victory and Fairman her 100th win as the head coach at Belle Vernon.
However, in typical Fairman fashion, she deflected all praise.
“I have been blessed with great players who work had and great assistants,” she said. “This is about the girls and I am so happy for them.”
The team, however, felt differently as it doused Fairman with water upon her arrival in the locker room after the game.
The Leopards play third-seeded Beaver (16-5) Thursday in the quarterfinals.