BY JEFF FALK
PALMYRA – Can you shoot too many three-point shots? Yes!
But you can never shoot too many free throws. Or play too much defense.
On Tuesday night, the Palmyra girls’ basketball team’s free shooting, stout defense – and yes, three-point shooting – carried it to a critical 44-31 home triumph over Lower Dauphin. The Cougars netted just three two-point baskets throughout the contest, but outscored their rival Falcons 24-3 from beyond the arc and 14-2 at the stripe.
The outcome was crucial in that both teams entered the action tied atop the Mid-Penn Keystone Division Standings. As it now stands, Palmyra is 9-4 overall and 6-1 in the Keystone, while Lower Dauphin is 8-4 on the campaign and 5-2 in the circuit.
The Cougars’ win was their fourth straight, after having dropped three in-a-row.
“I didn’t know we made eight threes,” said Palmyra rookie head coach Mary Manlove. “I knew we made some jump shots. We didn’t think that way. They (the Falcons) play good defense. They’re sound defensively. They were good shots for us tonight. Tonight we were hot.
“We just said, ‘Lower Dauphin’s defense is tremendous. When you get a good look, take it,'” continued Manlove. ” ‘Be poised and take it’. We made good decisions tonight.”
Fifteen of the Cougars’ first-half total of 16 points came from three-point land. But it was their defense which was responsible for their 16-11 intermission advantage.
Despite suffering through a score-less drought of 6:29 in the first quarter, Palmyra led 6-4 on an Amelia Baldo trey late in the period. The Cougars also registered the final six points of the second stanza, on three-balls from Olivia Richardson and Hayley Schultz..
The Cougars finished the first half five-of-nine from three-point land, and 0-for-ten on two-point field goals.
“Yes, I thought we played well,” said Manlove. “I’m happiest with our defense. At halftime, they (the Falcons) had eleven, and they’re a very dangerous team. We just tried to keep them in front of us and identify their shooters.
“I definitely challenged Olivia Richardson to step up,” Manlove continued, “and I thought she responded. She plays against great talent (in AAU basketball) six months a year.”
Baldo pumped in 12 points to show the way for the Cougars, and Richardson netted ten. Palmyra made 61 percent of its three-point field goals for the game and held Lower Dauphin to just four free throw attempts.
“We didn’t treat it as a rivalry,” said Manlove. “I tried to take it out of it as much as possible. I thought they (her players) were really, really focused for the game. They hold each other accountable, which is part of the maturation process.
“We didn’t make it an important game,” added Manlove. “We made it another game. It was another opportunity to get better.”
The Cougars managed to extend their lead in the third quarter.
Richardson came out of the locker room and knocked down a jumper to make Palmyra’s lead seven points, at 18-11.
Then the Cougars held Lower Dauphin without a point for a 6:34 stretch that spanned from late in the third quarter to midway through the fourth. The resulting 8-0 run featured a Schultz three-pointer, three free throws from Annabelle Copeland and an inside move by Richardson, and moved the Cougars’ margin to 34-20.
“No, the transition period isn’t over. It’s still going on,” said Manlove. “It’ll probably be a full year. In my mind, I made it a full season, May to May. Then I will understand what we’re doing here. Until then, I’m going to continue to ask questions and learn.
“Our three losses in-a-row helped us tonight,” Manlove added. “A win is wonderful. We’re happy when we get a win.”
Free throws from Baldo and Hannah McLucas gave Palmyra a 40-27 lead, with 1:41 to go.
“Our goal is to reach our fullest potential,” said Manlove. “That is open ended, so you can’t possibly disappoint anyone. They (her players) have to challenge themselves in practice. They have to come into practice focused. Games are where we show what we learned in practice.
“We just have to stay focused on one practice at a time,” continued Manlove. “We’re a lot less worried about other teams than what we are doing. It’s getting better. Practices are getting stronger and more
competitive.”
To purchase images in this article email jkfalk2005@yahoo.com, or to view more go to www.https://lebanonsportsbuzz.com/photo-gallery/.
2016-17 Palmyra Girls’ Basketball Results
| DATE |
OPPONENT |
TIME |
RESULT |
|
|
| 12/09 # |
@Kennard-Dale
|
5:00 PM |
W 51-18 |
|
|
| 12/10 # |
@Northern Lebanon
|
7:00 PM |
L 24-43 |
|
|
| 12/13 * |
@Mechanicsburg
|
7:30 PM |
W 37-30 |
|
|
| 12/14 |
Hempfield
|
7:30 PM |
W 45-41 |
|
|
| 12/16 * |
@Susquehanna Twp.
|
7:30 PM |
W 49-38 |
|
|
| 12/19 * |
Cedar Cliff
|
7:30 PM |
W 48-43 |
|
|
| 12/21 * |
Bishop McDevitt
|
7:30 PM |
L 40-44 |
|
|
| 12/23 |
@Cocalico
|
7:30 PM |
L 35-40 |
|
|
| 12/27 # |
@Manheim Twp.
|
2:00 PM |
L 41-50 |
|
|
| 12/28 |
@Ephrata
|
2:00 PM |
W 53-36 |
|
|
| 01/03 * |
Red Land
|
7:30 PM |
W 48-27 |
|
|
| 01/04 |
@Elco
|
7:30 PM |
— |
|
|
| 01/06 * |
@Hershey
|
7:30 PM |
W 40-25 |
|
|
| 01/10 * |
Lower Dauphin
|
7:30 PM |
W 44-31 |
|
|
| DATE |
OPPONENT |
TIME |
LOCATION |
|
| 01/13 * |
Mechanicsburg
|
7:30 PM |
Palmyra High School |
|
| 01/17 * |
Susquehanna Twp.
|
7:30 PM |
Palmyra High School |
|
| 01/20 * |
@Cedar Cliff
|
7:30 PM |
Cedar Cliff High School |
|
| 01/24 * |
@Bishop McDevitt
|
7:30 PM |
Bishop McDevitt High School |
|
| 01/24 |
Cedar Crest
|
7:30 PM |
Palmyra High School |
|
| 01/27 * |
@Red Land
|
7:30 PM |
Red Land High School |
|
| 01/31 * |
Hershey
|
7:30 PM |
Palmyra High School |
|
| 02/03 * |
@Lower Dauphin
|
7:30 PM |
Lower Dauphin High School |
|
| 02/07 |
Milton Hershey
|
7:30 PM |
Palmyra High School |
|
Mid-Penn Conference
Keystone Division Standings
| TEAM |
LEAGUE |
OVERALL |
| Cedar Cliff |
6-1 |
9-3 |
| Palmyra |
6-1 |
9-4 |
| Bishop McDevitt |
5-2 |
9-3 |
| Lower Dauphin |
5-2 |
8-4 |
| Susquehanna Twp. |
2-5 |
4-6 |
| Mechanicsburg |
2-5 |
4-7 |
| Hershey |
2-5 |
4-8 |
| Red Land |
0-7 |
2-10 |
PIAA District Three
Class AAAAA Power Rankings
| AAAAA |
School |
W |
L |
T |
Rating |
TWP |
OWP |
| 1 |
Harrisburg |
9- |
1- |
0 |
0.805743 |
0.935345 |
0.647340 |
| 2 |
Dover Area |
11- |
1- |
0 |
0.756564 |
0.934615 |
0.538945 |
| 3 |
New Oxford |
10- |
2- |
0 |
0.735349 |
0.873134 |
0.566945 |
| 4 |
Greencastle Antrim |
10- |
1- |
0 |
0.729686 |
0.932271 |
0.482082 |
| 5 |
Lampeter Strasburg |
9- |
1- |
0 |
0.719801 |
0.915929 |
0.480090 |
| 6 |
Lower Dauphin |
8- |
3- |
0 |
0.716319 |
0.792952 |
0.622657 |
| 7 |
Twin Valley |
7- |
2- |
0 |
0.708755 |
0.834197 |
0.555436 |
| 8 |
Susquehannock |
9- |
3- |
0 |
0.702699 |
0.805556 |
0.576986 |
| 9 |
Palmyra Area |
8- |
4- |
0 |
0.679522 |
0.726563 |
0.622028 |
| 10 |
West York Area |
8- |
4- |
0 |
0.672111 |
0.717742 |
0.616340 |
| 11 |
Cocalico |
9- |
3- |
0 |
0.670106 |
0.816406 |
0.491294 |
| 12 |
Fleetwood Area |
7- |
2- |
0 |
0.662737 |
0.821990 |
0.468095 |
| 13 |
Milton Hershey |
6- |
2- |
0 |
0.636413 |
0.746988 |
0.501266 |
| 14 |
Muhlenberg |
6- |
4- |
0 |
0.588034 |
0.639175 |
0.525528 |
| 15 |
Donegal |
7- |
4- |
0 |
0.587478 |
0.671362 |
0.484955 |
| 16 |
Northern York |
6- |
6- |
0 |
0.543861 |
0.545455 |
0.541913 |
| 17 |
Mechanicsburg Area |
4- |
7- |
0 |
0.522337 |
0.454106 |
0.605730 |
| 18 |
South Western |
4- |
8- |
0 |
0.514826 |
0.421053 |
0.629438 |
| 19 |
Solanco |
6- |
7- |
0 |
0.505347 |
0.541176 |
0.461555 |
| 20 |
Gettysburg Area |
5- |
7- |
0 |
0.505194 |
0.465217 |
0.554054 |
| 21 |
Shippensburg Area |
4- |
7- |
0 |
0.496022 |
0.440191 |
0.564258 |
| 22 |
Daniel Boone |
4- |
7- |
0 |
0.464470 |
0.421053 |
0.517536 |
| 23 |
Spring Grove Area |
3- |
9- |
0 |
0.463116 |
0.319820 |
0.638255 |
| 24 |
Hershey |
3- |
8- |
0 |
0.432981 |
0.320574 |
0.570367 |
| 25 |
Conrad Weiser |
2- |
8- |
0 |
0.389535 |
0.260870 |
0.546792 |
| 26 |
Big Spring |
2- |
7- |
0 |
0.386542 |
0.257669 |
0.544053 |
| 27 |
Red Land |
2- |
10- |
0 |
0.378232 |
0.196262 |
0.600640 |
| 28 |
Garden Spot |
2- |
10- |
0 |
0.375174 |
0.214953 |
0.571000 |
| 29 |
Northeastern |
1- |
13- |
0 |
0.341445 |
0.082677 |
0.657717 |
| 30 |
Manheim Central |
2- |
9- |
0 |
0.339640 |
0.211055 |
0.496800 |
| 31 |
Lebanon |
0- |
11- |
0 |
0.275448 |
0.000000 |
0.612107 |
|
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