Belle Vernon gets KO’d despite Steeber’s 25
Belle Vernon vs. Keystone Oaks
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Belle Vernon’s Lindsay Steeber makes a pass away from Keystone Oaks’ Isobela Bogdan (3) and Gabby Harris (32) during Monday’s Class 4A first-round playoff game at Peters Township High School.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Belle Vernon’s Rachel Wobrak steals the ball from Keystone Oaks’ Erin Feeney, left, and Isabela Bogdan during Monday’s playoff game at Peters Township High School.
Belle Vernon vs. Keystone Oaks
Belle Vernon’s Lindsay Steeber scores two against Keystone Oaks’ Gillian Piccolino (30) and Erin Feeney (33)
Belle Vernon vs. Keystone Oaks
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Belle Vernon’s Grace Henderson scores against Keystone Oaks during Monday night’s Class 4A playoff game.
McMURRAY – Heading into Belle Vernon’s WPIAL Class 4A first-round game against Keystone Oaks Monday night, Lindsay Steeber was the lone Leopard with any significant playoff experience.
The senior did her part as she scored a game-high 25 points and grabbed seven rebounds, but it wasn’t enough as Belle Vernon lost, 51-41, at Peters Township High School.
“Lindsay has carried us all year,” said Belle Vernon coach Ronnie Drennen. “She is such a wonderful kid, wonderful person, incredible teammate and incredible leader.
“She really put this team on her back and the other girls knew how important this one was for her.”
Steeber finished eight-of-12 from the floor while the rest of the team only made four out of 26 shots.
Despite the lack of playoff experience compared to Keystone Oaks, Drennen was impressed with what his team showed.
“I never question our hearts and we were prepared and ready to go,” Drennen said. “I will never second guess our toughness, attitude and effort.
“I think there were times when we let the best of us get us and we didn’t value the ball at times, didn’t box out at times and they went on a couple of runs.”
Belle Vernon (14-9) turned the ball over 20 times compared to 11 by Keystone Oaks.
“They scored off of our turnovers,” Drennen said. “We stressed to keep them out of the paint but they got in there.”
Keystone Oaks played a diamond-and-one against Steeber.
“It was the first time we saw it, but we were prepared for it,” Drennen said.
Steeber came out on a mission in the first quarter as she scored seven points to pace Belle Vernon to a 13-12 lead.
“I thought we started the game well and managed the press break well,” Drennen said of the first quarter. “We executed, but they have a good team and I thought they were a little deeper than us.”
The Leopards went cold in the second quarter and could only muster a single basket, a three-pointer by Steeber, while the Golden Eagles had five baskets and made nine of 11 free throws.
Foul problems plagued the Leopards in the second quarter. By the end of the half, Vienna Bertram had four fouls and Taylor Rodriguez had three.
Keystone Oaks took a 29-21 into halftime.
Steeber scored eight of Belle Vernon’s 10 points in the third quarter and the Leopards used a spirited defensive effort to limit the Golden Eagles (14-8) to seven points in the frame and cut the gap to 36-31.
Keystone Oaks put the game away as it opened the fourth with a 12-3 run, with BVA’s only points during the run coming on a Rachel Wobrak three-pointer.
The Golden Eagles were clutch down the stretch at the foul line, and it was impressive all night at the charity stripe as it hit 20 of 28 attempts.
In fact, Keystone Oaks shot 80 percent, 20 out of 25, from the line until the last minute of the game.
While Steeber was the lone Belle Vernon player with major playoff experience, the same could not be said for Keystone Oaks as its three senior starters each scored in double figures. Isabella Bogden led the way with 18 points, Jaylen Hoffman had 15 and Gillian Piccolino, who will play Division I basketball at Kennesaw State, finished with 14.
Steeber scored all but four of the Leopards’ baskets as Grace Henderson hit a pair, Wobrak hit a three-pointer and Kaci Bitonti hit a jumper.
Henderson added 12 rebounds.
Drennen pointed out Steeber and fellow senior Kyla Williams and what they brought to the team.
“This team has nothing to hang their heads about and nothing to be ashamed of,” he said. “With Ky, she is a great teammate and constantly cheers people on and is looking to just do her job.”
When asked about the future of his program, which will see at least three players enter their freshmen year next season, Drennen hit the pause button.
“The future is looking good but I am not going to overlook what we were able to do this year,” he said. “There is so much love in that locker room and I told them not to be sad.
“I know it is going to hurt a little, but they should be very proud of what they have done as this team did more than anyone expected and it was because of their leadership and the team’s dedication and time in the gym.”