Mt. Lebanon reaches WPIAL finals
By Eleanor Bailey/Almanac Sports Editor/ebailey@thealmanac.net
Ashleigh Connor (15) splits Bethel Park defenders Mary Boff (4) and Emma Dzieziegowski as she drives to the basket during WPIAL Class 6A semifinal playoff action. Connor fired in 10 points to help Mt. Lebanon dispatch the Black Hawks, 52-33, and advance to their first championship game in 10 years.
By Eleanor Bailey/Almanac Sports Editor/ebailey@thealmanac.net
Brooke Collins receives a warm embrace from her coach Dori Oldaker after scoring 10 points in Mt. Lebanon’s 52-33 victory against Bethel Park in the WPIAL Class 6A semfinals.
Reagan Murdoch (24) makes her move to the basket during WPIAL Class 6A semifinal playoff action against Bethel Park. She scored 10 points to help Mt. Lebanon to victory, 52-33.
A determined Ava Dziubek (2) makes her way past Bethel Park defender Riley Miller (2) during WPIAL Class 6A semifinal playoff action. Dziubek scored seven points in Mt. Lebanon's 52-33 triumph over the Black Hawks.
Gina Smith (5) receives congratulations from the Mt. Lebanon coaches after her defense helped keep Bethel Park in check. Smith limited leading scorer Emma Dziezgowski to 11 points as the Blue Devils defeated the Black Hawks, 52-33, in the WPIAL Class 6A semifinals.
Bethel Park's Ella Sabatos puts up a shot against Mt. Lebanon's Gina Smith during WPIAL Class 6A semifinal girls' basketball playoff action. Lebo defeated BP, 52-33, to advance to the finals.
After being eliminated in the last two semifinal games, Mt. Lebanon cleared that hurdle and reached the WPIAL championship in girls basketball.
The Blue Devils defeated Bethel Park, 52-33, in a Class 6A Final Four contest played Feb. 26 at the UPMC Events Center on the Robert Morris University campus.
“We’re been knocking on the door for a few years,” said Lebo coach Dori Oldaker. “It’s nice to get there.”
Behind the senior efforts of Ashleigh Connor, Reagan Murdoch and Brooke Collins, the Blue Devils easily handled their section rival.
“Those three have unbelievable leadership qualities,” Oldaker said. “They feed off each other.
“Those three seniors have been through the ringer. They have wanted this and they were focused.”
Connor led all scorers, firing in 16 points. She also dominated the glass.
“Ashleigh is an incredible athlete and she kept plugging away. She did a phenomenal. It’s not just all offense with her. She did a great job rebounding, too.”
Murdoch and Collins both pitched in with 10 tallies each.
“They did a great job,” Oldaker said.
Though the Blue Devils had beaten the Black Hawks in two previous outings, 58-38 and 55-29, they had some improvements to make, especially on the boards and on defending BP’s standouts Emma Dziezgowski, a 20-point-per-game scorer, and Riley Miller. She did not play in the second meeting because of a lacrosse recruiting visit.
“We did not take them lightly,” Oldaker said. “We were concerned because Riley is a talented point guard and we hadn’t rebounded well. We worked on that. Our focus was taking care of the boards.”
With the game tied, 7-7, after one quarter, Lebo dominated the action. The Blue Devils outscored the Black Hawks, 17-6, in the second stanza to take a 24-13 lead into halftime. A 15-6 edge in the third quarter salted away the victory for Lebo.
Gina Smith limited Dziezgowski to 11 points.
Ava Dziubek contributed seven points and Payton Collins contributed nine tallies off the bench for the Blue Devils.
“All these kids contributed,” Oldaker said. “Gina with her lockdown defense. Ava off the bench, taking care of the ball and performing her assignments.”
With the win, Lebo improved to 22-1 overall. The lone loss was to USC.
Lebo last won a WPIAL championship in 2012. The Blue Devils also won titles in 2009 and 2010.
“Every year I think we have a quality team,” said Oldaker. “We battle and we grind it out.”
As semifinalists, Lebo and Bethel Park (12-10) are both qualified for the PIAA tournament. State playoff action commences March 8.
Mt. Lebanon met Upper St. Clair in the WPIAL Class 6A girls’ basketball championship game on March 4. The result of the game was too late for publication.