Mar 9, 2019 3 min read

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MT. LEBANON – Though it was not the result they wanted, the Trinity High School girls basketball team can take solace knowing this young group took some steps to perhaps becoming something special next season.

The Hillers (12-13) fell to section foe Thomas Jefferson 50-44 Saturday evening at Mt. Lebanon High School in the opening round of the PIAA Class 5A girls basketball tournament. It was the third time this season the Jaguars beat the Hillers, but this contest was much more competitive than the first two as Trinity fought throughout.

“If it is one thing that we do, it’s that we do play hard,” Hillers coach Bob Miles said after the game. “I thought defensively, throughout, we played very well. We just need to score the ball better next season.”

Playing with a bulky knee brace, Riley DeRubbo finished with 15 points, but the rugged Jaguars made sure she worked extra hard to score as the junior was held to 4-of-22 shooting for the evening.

“They did a great job collapsing on her and making sure nothing she got was easy,” Miles noted.

Courtney Dahlquist finished with 12 points for the Hillers.

Thomas Jefferson was paced by Jenna Clark’s 22 points. Fellow Jaguar Alyssa DeAngelo also reached double-figures with 11 points.

Clark did most of her damage in the fourth quarter as she tallied 10 of the Jaguars 19 points. She was able to break down the Hillers man defense by coming off screens and getting the hoop where she would flick in soft shots over the Trinity front court.

She did exactly that on three straight possessions that helped crack open a 46-39 for the Jaguars late in the fourth.

But the Hillers would not go away as Ashley Durig made a three-pointer from the corner to slice the Jaguars’ lead to four with 35 seconds remaining. Alyssa Clutter then cut the Jaguars’ advantage to two with a basket off a steal, giving the Hillers life with less than 30 seconds left.

Clark, however, sealed the win for the Jaguars with two free throws, sending TJ (20-7) onto the second round of the PIAA tourney.

Both squads struggled to establish any offensive rhythm in the game’s first half as the the score was deadlocked at 20 at the half. Trinity held the Jaguars to 8-for-27 from the field in the opening half. Dahlquist was a catalyst for the Hillers as she scored six first-half points on a perfect three-for-three shooting performance. The sophomore forward is expected to be a team leader next season along with DeRubbo, who will be a senior.

Miles noted that entire squad is expected back next season as no seniors are on the roster, making for a bright future ahead.

“We’ll have to get to work in the offseason for sure,” Miles said. “We definitely need to improve our shooting because that hurt us this year. But I expect us to get better.”