The replacements: Oldaker, Rossi save day for South Fayette
McMURRAY – All season, even when senior standouts Maddie Weber and Ava Leroux were overwhelming opponents with their scoring exploits, South Fayette girls basketball coach Bryan Bennett said he had confidence in his bench and wasn’t afraid to utilize it in a close game.
The Lions found themselves in such a situation March 21 early in the fourth quarter of the PIAA Class 5A semifinals against Oakland Catholic at Peters Township’s AHN Arena. And Bennett showed confidence in his bench players, and they came through during the biggest win in South Fayette basketball history.
With Lions point guard Lainey Yater saddled with four fouls, South Fayette was clinging to a two-point lead and Bennett didn’t hesitate to play a little offense-defense substituting with his reserves. The results were exactly what South Fayette needed as two backup guards played key roles in helping South Fayette pull out a 58-54 victory.
As Yater headed to the bench with 5:50 remaining, South Fayette (28-2) was leading 46-44. Bennett then inserted freshman Ryan Oldaker into the game. Oldaker. She had spent much of the previous hour sitting on the bench and cheering. But with the Lions draining precious time off the clock, Oldaker found herself alone at the top of the key and with the basketball. She calmly made a clutch three-point shot that pushed the Lions’ lead to 49-44. It was Oldaker’s only shot of the game.
“I had total confidence that Ryan was going to make that shot,” Webber said. “She’s a great shooter and you see that from her every day in practice. That shot gave us some momentum.”
Oakland Catholic, however, refused to fold. The Eagles never led in the game but finally tied it at 49-49 when guard Rachel Haver drove for a basket with 4:15 remaining.
On Oakland Catholic’s next possession, South Fayette backup guard Julianna Rossi, who was inserted each time the Lions were on defense in the fourth quarter, forced a key five-second violation with some tight defense against Haver at the top of the key.
“Julianna is a tough kid,” said Bennett. “She’s not afraid to stick her nose in there. She’s a defensive specialist.”
The five-second call set up two free throws by Leroux and gave the Lions the lead for good at 51-49.
Oh, the Lions had plenty of Webber, too. The Villanova recruit made the game’s most important basket, a three-pointer with 1:56 left that put South Fayette up 54-49. Webber finished with a game-high 24 points, including 10 in the opening quarter.
Oakland Catholic (25-5) climbed back to within two points at 56-54, but Leroux sealed a trip to Hershey for the state finals by draining two free throws with eight seconds left.
“I was nervous,” Leroux said. “I had to compose myself. This is so exciting. This has never happened at our school.”
South Fayette was scheduled to play District 12 champion Archbishop Wood (24-5) in the state title game. (Results occurred too late for publication in March 26 edition of The Almanac). Archbishop Wood defeated West Chester Rustin, 52-35, in the other semifinal.